Allison Crowe comes home for her annual concert of Christmas songs.

At St. Andrew’s United Church, the Dec. 15 and 16 Tidings concerts will bring together some traditional Christmas carols and holiday favourites with an equal measure of Crowe’s uniquely original blend of rock, jazz, folk, gospel and soul.

Tidings is an annual fundraiser for The Mind’s Eye (the Nanaimo Youth Services Association youth newspaper) and Woodlands secondary school band and basketball programs.

Plus there’s a special partnership this year with the Nanaimo Women’s Centre.

As well, there’ll be the traditional gathering of warm clothing and items for the Every Day Angel Foundation’s Project Warmth.

In 2003, Tidings was created as an one-hour television special, which airs in December across Canada on A-Channel and its affiliates.

Special guest artists for the Dec. 15 concert will be vocalists Deanna Pulak, Laura Ashley Brunet and Brynn Newman, Briana Vojnovich, Christie Ross, and Lauren Bissonnette, each accompanied by pianist Chelsea Peckett.

The Dec. 16 performance will feature vocalists Samantha Cashmore, Jennifer Moffett, Sara Anderson and Crystal Cashmore, also with Peckett on piano.

The weekend concerts will offer audiences further delightful sounds with the appearance each night of jazz quartet members Matt Meredith, Adam Cormier, Sarah Parenteau, and Marty Hilchey.

Allison Crowe’s own band on the bill features a pair of top-flight rhythm-makers also heard on her latest album, This Little Bird. Dave Baird plays acoustic and electric bass with percussionist Laurent Boucher.

Advance tickets for the Dec. 15 and 16 Tidings benefit concerts can be purchased at Andrea Bertram Studios, Lobelia’s Lair, NYSA, Thrifty Foods and Woodlands secondary school.

Tickets are $20/adults and $15 for students and seniors.