Jeff Dunham's Bringing His Puppets

1. Puppets! Jeff Dunham will bring his Disorderly Conduct Tour to the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester this weekend! Be there on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 3 p.m. for all of the puppet madness! His television specials and series have been the highest rated programming in Comedy Central history, his DVD sales have reached seven million units, his videos have received a half a billion views on You Tube, and his live concerts have become mega-events played in front of sold-out arenas worldwide. Tickets at the door are $46.50.

2. Big talent! The Lakes Region Big Band have taken up residency on Thursday nights at Milly’s Tavern in Manchester. They are joining their Featured Live Bands on Fridays and Saturdays, and the funk cover band Manchuka on Tuesday nights. Every Thursday night from 7:30 - 10, Milly’s will be the hip venue for people to gather and enjoy fantastic live music by our 21 piece professional Big Band. They will be playing sophisticated arrangements of high energy contemporary jazz, fusion and rock, along with a selection of classic big band jazz for your entertainment. There will be floor space for dancing; freestyle, swing, even ballroom, as well as plenty of seating for relaxing and enjoying the entertainment along with great food and drinks. To further feed the sophisticated and fun vibe, they will be bringing in featured soloists and performers, both locals and regional musicians of many styles, to showcase their talent.

3. Thrilling! The Gibson's Bookstoreis pleased to welcome back thriller author Michael Palmer for an event for his new book, Political Suicide! Political Suicide is the sequel to Michael's hit political/medical thriller Oath of Office.  Palmer is the author of seventeen novels of medical suspense, all international bestsellers, and an associate director of the Massachusetts Medical Society Physical Health Services, devoted to helping physicians sidelined by mental illness, physical illness, behavioral issues, and chemical dependency. Can't make the event? Call them at (603-224-0562) or email (gibsons@totalnetnh.net) to have us put a copy aside to be signed for you

4. Hit the ice! The Manchester Monarchs will host the Albany Devils in the Verizon Wireless Arena at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets can be bought on their website.

5. Zoot suit...or ska riot! The Cherry Poppin Daddies will be playing at the Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry on Saturday at 8 p.m. After experimenting with narrative storytelling through shifting genres on Susquehanna in 2007 (Latin Pop, Swing, Ska, Glitter Rock), the band felt the need to put out something straight forward and fun, taking a cue from their 1998 compilation CD. "Just as our swing fans did before Zoot Suit Riot, fans of our Ska songs have been suggesting that we release all of them together", lead singer Steve Perry explained, "so they wouldn't have to press the skip button over a western swing song with a lap steel, or a Flamenco track. Now they can just throw a Cherry Poppin Daddies record on without having to explain, and possibly apologize for our eclecticism". With Skaboy the Daddies plan to reconnect with a Ska audience that is largely aware of the band as merely a swing band. "We toured with many of the iconic ska bands when we were coming up," Perry said, "the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Fishbone, Reel Big Fish, The Specials, No Doubt, Madness but at that time we were really touring behind Zoot Suit Riot, so we didn't play a ton of Ska in our sets, now we will." Tickets are $30.