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The Weekender/Mountaingrown Original Music Series will turn seven years old in just a few weeks. And throughout all of the shows that we’ve done, the focus has always been the same: showcasing the songwriting and musical talents of local artists.

That won’t change when we note our seventh birthday next month. But for our last show of 2010, which will take place on Dec. 22, we’re shifting gears just a bit.

We won’t have one act on the bill. We’ll have 10.

And — Ho! Ho! Ho! — rather than focus on just original material, all of the artists will be performing holiday songs. We figured since the show was so close to Christmas, we may as well join in the festive spirit, and thus you’ll be hearing old Christmas standards as well as holiday favorites from the pop and rock era. And the acts say they can’t wait to play.

“I have many great memories of my whole family sitting around my Nana’s kitchen table singing Christmas songs late into the night on Christmas Eve,” says Mike Miz, who will perform two numbers at the show. “I’m a big fan of Christmas in general, and it’s a rare chance to get all these musicians in the same room. I’m really looking forward to hanging out and talking with some great people and supporting the local music scene.”

Mike Krakosky of Plus 3 agrees.

“It gives us a chance to try something different, since we usually don’t include Christmas songs in our regular setlist,” he says. “Also, it gives us a chance to put our own little spin on a few of our favorite Christmas songs, and in a setting that allows not only the people at the club to hear it, but anybody who can’t make it to the show or who are out of the area … they can listen live on the radio.”

Other acts on the bill are Dustin Drevitch, Bret Alexander, k8, Ed and Dawn Randazzo, Shawn Z., Nowhere Slow, OurAfter and Underground Saints. All of the artists picked the songs they’d like to play, and while we don’t want to reveal the entire setlist or spoil the fun by letting you know who’s playing what, some of the songs being rehearsed include “Please Be Home For Christmas” by The Eagles, “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” by Elvis Presley, “Happy X-Mas/War Is Over” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono and “Little Drummer Boy” by David Bowie and Bing Crosby. Some of the acts are also working on some lesser-known holiday gems, while others will be playing traditional numbers such as “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “White Christmas” and “Frosty The Snowman.”

Krakosky says even a great holiday standard can be subject to change. “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” for example, which made its debut in 1934, was practically reinvented by Bruce Springsteen in 1978. “I like how many different forms a Christmas song can take,” he says. “I like to hear the different interpretations. Plus, it helps to get me in the true spirit of the season.”

Local songwriter k8 also sees the show as a way for musicians to come together and spread some holiday joy.

“I’m excited to play on a bill with the likes of these guys anytime of year, but to do it at Christmas — which for me, is all about spending time with family and friends — makes it even better,” she said. “We’ve got this great musical family here in the W-B and we’re usually all so busy playing our own gigs that we don’t get to hang out and play music with each other. It’s our own little company holiday party, live on the radio!”

A.J. Jump, who will perform with members of his band, Underground Saints, says he loves the “vibe, spirit, honesty and simplicity” of Christmas. Shawn Z. says he’s looking forward to giving something back to local music fans, and Ed Randazzo, who will perform with his sister, Dawn, says he’s a fan of every act on the bill. Rick Gillette of Nowhere Slow says he can’t wait to hear what holiday songs the other acts on the bill have chosen to play, and John Phillips of OurAfter — borrowing from the movie “Scrooged” — says “Christmas is the one time of the year when become the people we’ve always wanted to be.”

“There’s just something about Christmas music that puts you in that holiday frame of mind,” adds k8. “Hot chocolate, warm fires, hanging out with the family … just about every Christmas song I hear takes me back to some happy little Christmas memory.”

Weekender/Mountaingrown Original Music Series Holiday Special, Wed. Dec. 22, 10-11 p.m., followed by M80 at The Woodlands Inn (1073 Route 315, Plains Twp.). Live broadcast on 102.3-FM The Mountain and www.102themountain.com. Info: facebook.com/weekender.mountaingrown