Holiday concerts in Toronto are more than being dragged to see your little sister sing "O Come All Ye Faithful" with her high school choir. It's a time of year when cool bands call each other up and put together awesome concerts that often go the extra mile in donating towards good cause. Even if you're a bit of a grinch, the way these events combine loud live music, DJ's, beer, and cheery people will crack your winter scowl. Get yourself into the spirit at one of these 5 holiday concerts in Toronto.

The Andy Kim Christmas Show / December 11 / Mod Club (722 College Street) / 7pm / $30
Andy Kim has once again gone through his Rolodex and put together a Christmas show with a stacked lineup. Taking the Mod Club stage will be Gord Downie, Amy Millan, Ron Sexsmith, Kardinal Offishall, Dan Hill, Glass Tiger, The Trews, and members of Broken Social Scene. Tickets are available at Rotate This and Soundscapes.

Just Shows' 2nd Annual Christmas Show / December 14 / CineCycle (317 Spadina) / 9pm / $10
For the second year running, the concert website Just Shows will host its annual Christmas concert at CineCycle. The lineup includes Dog Day from Halifax, Toronto's Dilly Dally, Marine Dreams, and the alt-punkers Soft Hell. Welcome to the online-age - you must RSVP on Facebook to attend.

Kardinal Offishall's Annual Christmas Party / December 19 / 5 Saskatchewan Rd / 10pm / Invite only
Returning in support of Free The Children, Kardinal Offishall is hosting his 15th annual Christmas event. This year it will be co-hosted by Nelly Furtado, and will have special DJ guests DJ Babey Drew, Starting From Scratch, DJ Lisa Monet, and Court JJester. Before you get too excited about the "surprise celebrity appearances," note that it's invite only. Kardi, no more room at the inn?

The Little Match Girl Passion / December 20 / The Music Gallery (St George the Martyr Church, 197 John Street) / 8pm / $20
David Dacks of the Music Gallery is called this post classical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's classic Christmas Story "the feel-bad Xmas show of the year" - and to be honest that's all we need to hear. David Lang's Pulitzer Prizewinning The Little Match Girl Passion will be curator Gregory Oh's final show at the Music Gallery, and apparently he wants to leave a trail of misery in his wake, right in time for the holidays. Singers will accompany themselves on percussion. An excerpt is below, or you can hear a longer fragment of the Little Match Girl crying for help here.

The Wooden Sky's Annual Holiday Revue / December 29 / 918 Bathurst (918 Bathurst St) / 7:30pm / $20
The Wooden Sky present their Fourth Annual Holiday Revue Show alongside this year's musical guest Nick Ferrio. In the last three years they've raised over $6,000 for the Toronto Daily Bread Food Bank, and they're hoping to keep the generosity coming. Tickets are available online and will be on sale at Soundscapes, Sonic Boom and Rotate This.

Photos of The Wooden Sky by Dylan Leeder