• Birdy’s annual Xmas bash falls on Wednesday, Dec. 19 and promises to be a non-denominational (despite the name) celebration of all things festive. Expect members of Rebuilt, The Common, Ashworth, The Last Good Year, Peal, Mardelay, Vinyl Shriner and Lines of Nazca to take the stage, along with inevitable surprise guests. Only $5 to get in, with a dollar off if you bring canned goods to donate to Gleaners Food Bank. Doors at 7:30 p.m.

• Or if a freestyle battle gets you in the holiday spirit, Breaking the Ice at the Ice Ultra Lounge on Thursday, Dec. 20 is the event for you. An eight-man freestyle battle begins at 9 p.m., with performances throughout the night by Full Blooded, Philmo, Corey G. and plenty others. Admission is $5 (ladies free until 11 p.m.), 21+.

• The Lilly Endowment is giving $44 million to Indiana University to build and equip a North Studio addition to Bloomington’s Jacobs School of Music. The new building will “provide technologically and acoustically superior teaching and practice facilities to rival any music school or conservatory in the world,” according to the IU announcement.

• Congratulations to Indianapolis/Greencastle soul/blues singer Tad Robinson, who was nominated for two Blues Music Awards last week. He was nominated for Soul Blues Album of the Year (A New Point Of View, Severn Records) and for Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year. The BMAs are produced by the nonprofit organization The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tenn. These awards are the blues equivalent to the Grammys. The awards ceremony will be held May 8, 2008, in Tunica Resorts, Miss.