Mike Sakash will present his popular jazz history course, focused this year on the “Big Bands of the 1950s and ‘60s,” on Tuesdays, 5:15 to 6:30 pm, as a real-time, interactive, online Zoom class through Mountain Top Music.

With everything going on right now, including the pandemic and the last week of protests and violence in the wake of the tragic death of George Floyd, who was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer, it feels inappropriate to write about entertainment.

CONWAY —  “'Embraceable You' on four. One, two, three, four,” and the Mountain Top Music Adult Jazz Band is off and “zooming” online.

With local restaurants and bars closed or only doing take-out due to the COVID-19 crisis, musicians who regularly perform throughout the valley have taken to the Internet.

CONWAY — Inspired by the confusing times brought on by the coronavirus, Conway singer/songwriter and pianist Heather Pierson posted the “The Toilet Paper Song” on YouTube to send a bit of humor into the world.

While there are hundreds of Christmas songs, there are far fewer songs about New Year’s Day, but that doesn’t mean we’re all stuck singing “Auld Lang Syne,” yet again, as the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31. Here are 10 songs to get acquainted with before the year ends.

Punk rock and Christmas oddly fit together surprisingly well. Whether it is a cover of a classic or an original song bemoaning the season, punk music is a perfect antidote for too much Christmas cheer.

CONWAY — The beat goes on for high school sophomore Matthew Farrar, due in part to the generosity of a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting patriotism and providing financial help to individuals and causes.

CONWAY — Mike Sakash will be presenting his popular jazz history course, entitled “1959, The Year That Changed Jazz” this year, on Wednesdays from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. at the Journey Church at 15 Hutchins Drive in Conway (near the corner of Routes 302/Eastman Road and 113).

CONWAY — Arts Jubilee, the non-profit that presents a summer concert series at Cranmore Mountain Resort each year, has an additional mission to bring live music performers to area schools.

A few weeks ago, “Saturday Night Live” did a funny sketch about Weezer fans, with Lesley Jones playing a Weezer aficionado who only admires the band’s first two albums and host Matt Damon playing a Weezer enthusiast who loves their whole catalog. Their impassioned debate ruins a dinner party.

Every year, I try to find new Christmas music to act as an alternative to the usual songs played on repeat. I seek out songs with a sense of fun that subvert familiar holiday themes or even have an anti-Christmas message.