Metallica, Abbey Road doc, Goose and plenty of Christmas specials top this week’s virtual music lineup

Now that Metallica has caught our attention with its 2023 album and tour announcement, the band is taking the stage this weekend — for all who want to see it.

The quartet’s Helping Hands concert, which benefits its All Within My Hands Foundation, takes place Friday at 8:30 p.m. at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles and will stream via Paramount+ Pluto TV and MTV’s YouTube channel. Greta Van Fleet opens, and Jimmy Kimmel will host. Streamers will have a chance to make donations and bid on auction items.

To date, All Within My Hands has donated more than nearly $6 million to a variety of organizations serving communities in need. The foundation’s Metallica Scholars Initiative also provided $5.9 million in grants to 33 community colleges across the country.

Metallica recently announced a new album, “72 Seasons,” for release on April 14 and released a new single, “Lux Aeterna.” The band launches its M72 World Tour in Europe in April, with North American dates beginning in August.

Other events (all subject to change)…

FRIDAY, DEC. 16

Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Elton John are just some of the luminaries featured in “If These Walls Could Sing,” a documentary about EMI’s Famed Abbey Road Studios directed by McCartney’s daughter Mary. The film will be streamed via Disney+.

An unlikely combination of opera great Andrea Bocelli and two of his children – son Matteo and daughter Virginia – make an unlikely pairing with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa et al for “The Simpsons Meet the Bocelli’s in ‘Feliz Navidad.’ ” a special now streaming via Disney+.

The a capella nonet Straight No Chaser is streaming its 25th anniversary show from Bloomington, Ind. — where the band started at Indiana University — at 8 p.m., with a pre-show VIP Q&A at 5:45 p.m. Tickets via mandolin.com .

Singer-songwriter Pete Yorn’s “Holiday Show. From my house to yours.” starts at 20:00 Tickets via veeps.com.

Vermont jammers Twiddle play from Burlington at 8 p.m. Tickets via fans.live.

Trio Settencento will play “A Baroque Family Christmas” at 20:00 Tickets via ourconcerts.live.

Awaken will play “A Tribute to the Music of Yes” at 9pm to benefit St. Jude’s Hospital. Tickets via stageit.com.

Americana jam band Goose plays Goosemas from Broomfield, Colo. at 10 p.m., and again on Saturday, Dec. 17, and at 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, from Boulder, Colo. Tickets for all three via nugs.net.

Troubadour Gabe Dixon performs a holiday show at 10 p.m. Tickets via mandolin.com.

SATURDAY, DEC. 17

Los Angeles pop group Hey Violet plays songs and answers fan questions at 6pm Tickets via veeps.com.

Veteran Americana group the Jayhawks are joined by members of the all-star Golden Smog from the Palace Theater in Saint Paul, Minn. at 8:30 p.m.

Singer Ana Everling presents her latest ensemble, the Romanian music group Taraf de Chicago, at 8:30 pm Tickets via ourconcerts.live.

Lady A, We The Kingdom and others perform from the Grande Ole Opry in Nashville at 9 p.m. Free via circleallaccess.com.

Pam Tillis is the guest on “Talking on Circles” with Clint Black at 10 p.m., free via circleallaccess.com.

Little Feat streams its “Waiting For Columbus” 45th anniversary tour stop from Boulder, Colo., at 11 p.m. Tickets via mandolin.com.

Lizzo steps in as this week’s musical guest on “Saturday Night Live” after the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were sidelined by illness. “Elvis” star Austin Butler hosts. 11:30pm on NBC. Check listings for local channel.

SUNDAY DEC. 18

The virtual platform Socially Distant Fest presents its 3rd Annual Holiday Spectacular, featuring 22 acts, starting at 11:30pm for free via the SDF Facebook page.

New Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Duran Duran is streaming its “A Hollywood High” concert that debuted earlier this year at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18. Tickets via veeps.com.

Violinist Frank Babbitt presents a period version of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at 3 p.m. Tickets via ourconcerts.live.

Jazz singer Kurt Elling streams live from City Winery Chicago at 6 p.m. Tickets via mandolin.com.

Pianist Mick Archer and his Trio present “A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Music of Vince Guaraldi” at 7:00 p.m. Tickets via ourconcerts.live.

Award-winning Christian duo For King + Country present “A Drummer Boy Christmas Tour: The 2022 LIVE Experience” at 8:00 p.m., followed by a virtual Q&A at 8:00 p.m. Sunday, December 18. Tickets for both via mandolin.com.

The quintet Melt will perform at the Troubadour in Los Angeles at 20:00. Tickets via mandolin.com.

TUESDAY DEC. 20

The 20th annual A Virtual Christmas Celtic Sojourn, hosted by Brian O’Donovan, begins its six-day run at 7.30pm, through Christmas itself. Tickets via mandolin.com.

“Mariah Carey — Merry Christmas Everyone” brings her Dec. 13 show from New York’s Madison Square Garden to CBS at 8 p.m. Check local channel listings. “Mariah Carey’s Winter Wonderland,” meanwhile, Wednesday, December 21 and runs until December 24 via the virtual reality platform Robblox.

Jessie James Decker’s April 28 concert at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium streams at 8:00 p.m. Tickets via mandolin.com.

Multi-instrumentalist Vince Giordana and the Nighthawks play from Birdland in New York City at 8:30 p.m. Tickets via flymachine.com.

“American Idol” Season 7 champion David Cook celebrates his 40th birthday with a concert at 9:30 pm from City Winery Chicago. Tickets via mandolin.com.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21

Pianist Jim Brickman presents A Very Merry Christmas with help from singers Anne Cochran and John Trones at 8:00 p.m. Tickets via mandolin.com.

Singer Faye Webster performs with a live band as well as her band from Atlanta at 8:30 p.m. Tickets via mandolin.com.

A capella favorites Pentatonix perform “A Christmas Extravaganza,” filmed during its Dec. 4 concert in Lexington, Ky., at 9 p.m. Tickets via veeps.com.

Matisyahu celebrates the Festival of Light at 21:00 with a Hanukah show from Brooklyn Bowl in New York. Tickets via fans.live.

Robyn Hitchcock’s weekly virtual performance takes place again at 9:00 p.m. Tickets via mandolin.com.

The Americana trio Spring of That joins the cellist Alexis Mahler for a “Winter Solstice Livesteam” at 21:00 Tickets via ourconcerts.live.

Canada’s Brian Doerksen & Friends deliver “Christmas at our home” at 9:00 p.m. Tickets via mandolin.com.

THURSDAY DEC. 22

Britain’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performs Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” in winter at 1 p.m. Tickets via onair.events.

The 13th annual “A Swinging Birdland Christmas” features Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch, live from New York. Tickets via flymachine.com.

Singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen travels “The Road to Christmas” at 8:30 p.m. Tickets via mandolin.com.

The Birdland stage in New York City opens for a second time at 8:30 pm with Monty Alexander and his trio’s “Island Holiday”. Tickets via flymachine.com.

Americana artists Drew & Ellie Holcomb present a “Neighborly Christmas” from Nashville at 8:30 p.m. Tickets via mandolin.com.

Singer Michael Allen Harrison is joined by Julianne Johnson and others for “Christmas at the Old Church” at 10:30 p.m. Tickets via mandolin.com.