Sun. Dec. 18

     It's the third year for Gary Sohmers' Rock N’ Soul Holiday Concert at Arlington's Regent Theatre. Where do you know Gary Sohmers' name? Well, if you were on Lansdowne Street in the '80s you may have known as the pith-helmeted productionmanager at the Metro/Spit from 1984-1991. Says Gary:
"Good times. The best shows? Prince on the 30" stage when he jumped into the audience onto a B3 organ wearing only a thong" - I was there too, when he was playing the "Dirty Mind" disc, ab-fab! - "Stevie Ray Vaughan, Cab Calloway, Red Hot Chili Peppers were some of my favorite shows." You might know Gary if you watched PBS's "Antique Roadshow." He was an appraiser, a collectibles expert and dispenser of wise advise about pop culture antiques. How much is the punk rock badge worth? That Beatles poster? This is what he does professionally at Wex Rex Collectibles in Hudson. He buys and sells vintage radios, rock memorabilia, etc. Put it this way: The jobs have moved around, but his passion for music and music-related stuff remains and what's important here is what Sohmers is producing for Christmas, a multi-guest charity gig for Toys for Tots and Ernie Boch Jr.'s Music Drives Us Foundation. On board for the 8 pm show Sunday Dec. 18 are Barrence Whitfield, Danny Klein’s Full House (in photo), The Fools, Charlie Farren, Professor Doug Bell, Casey Desmond, John Powhida, Chris Fitz, Streight Angular, Tsunami of Sound, Jamie Lynn Hart, and The Rock n' Soul Holiday All Stars - Wolf Ginandes, Cliff Goodwin, Marty Richards and Bill Holloman.
    "When I conceived this event a few years ago," says Sohmers, "it was to get the classic performers together with the next generation of New England talent for a holiday fund-raiser. Like in the 1980s, I asked my good friend and performing legend Barrence Whitfield to participate, and when he agreed, many others wanted to be on the show with him.  He is the humblest of humans with massive heart and soul with a voice and stage presence to match. 
The first show featured Barrence, Doug Bell, Sarah Borges, Mike Gent, Eli Paperboy Reed and many others. The second year we included a 5 camera HD video recording with 48 channel audio mix and produced a special for PBS featuring great New England performers Barrence with Doug Bell, Danny Klein’s Full House, Casey Desmond, The Fools and Sal Baglio.
This year we have classic and new comers including Streight Angular, Jamie Lynn Hart joining previous performers Casey Desmond, featured on NBC’s The Voice earlier this year and year one performer John  Powhida, who won this year’s Rock 'n' Roll Rumble."
   "When I conceived this event a few years ago," says Sohmers, "it was to get the classic performers together with the next generation of New England talent for a holiday fund-raiser. Like in the 1980s, I asked my good friend and performing legend Barrence Whitfield to participate, and when he agreed, many others wanted to be on the show with him.  He is the humblest of humans with massive heart and soul with a voice and stage presence to match. 
     The first show featured Barrence, Doug Bell, Sarah Borges, Mike Gent, Eli Paperboy Reed and many others. The second year we included a 5 camera HD video recording with 48 channel audio mix and produced a special for PBS featuring great New England performers Barrence with Doug Bell, Danny Klein’s Full House, Casey Desmond, The Fools and Sal Baglio. This year we have classic and new comers including Streight Angular, Jamie Lynn Hart joining previous performers Casey Desmond, featured on NBC’s The Voice earlier this year and year one performer John  Powhida, who won this year’s Rock 'n' Roll Rumble."

Tickets: $30/$20.

7 Medford St. Arlington, 781-646-4849 www.regenttheatre.com