It might not normally occur to you, but the holiday season is one of the best times to go out and see live music. Think about it: What could be a more satisfying way to end a day of shopping, cooking and tree-trimming than with a beer (or soda, if you’re under 21) and a good band?

Sure, that fistfight in the middle of Best Buy over the last Nintendo Wii was pretty entertaining, but what are you going to do after that? Not to mention the fact that the festivity quotient is higher now than any other time of year.

So cool off your shopper’s rage and then warm up from the cold with some handpicked musical happenings from all over the state, compiled by yours truly.

To start things off, at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, the loud and legendary indie rockers Dinosaur Jr will perform at the Big Easy in Portland. Though they garnered some early-’90’s mainstream recognition as one of the pioneers of alternative rock, the original lineup of J. Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph remained a cult favorite through the years, thanks to their fantastic 1980s albums “You’re Living All Over Me” and “Bug.” Dinosaur Jr reformed in 2006, nearly eight years after breaking up, for this reunion tour and a possible new album.

For jam fans, there are several options in the coming weeks. Maine favorites Strangefolk will perform Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1-2, at the White Cap Lodge at Sunday River Ski Resort (www.sundayriver.com) in Bethel. The Sam Kininger Band will play Friday, Dec. 1, at Colby College in Waterville, featuring the eponymous sax man, formerly of jazz-jam bands Lettuce and Soulive. And reggae-pop group John Brown’s Body takes the stage Saturday, Dec. 9, at the King Pine Ballroom at Sugarloaf (www.sugarloaf.com).

The face that launched a thousand emo ships, Chris Carabba – aka Dashboard Confessional – plays at the Alfond Arena at the University of Maine on Monday, Dec. 4, with pop-punkers Brand New. His latest album, “Dusk and Summer,” was a departure for the typically earnest modern rocker, featuring expanded instrumentation and less heavy-handed, broken-hearted emo yelps.

Stone Mountain Arts Center (www.stonemountainartscenter.com)

continues to bring nationally known folk and roots-rock artists to its beautiful new facility in Brownfield, in western Maine. Poet, storyteller and songwriter Greg Brown stops in Sunday, Dec. 3. Other folk performers playing in Maine in the coming weeks include Dar Williams, who plays Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Chocolate Church Arts Center (www.chocolatechurcharts.org) in Bath.

After you’ve eaten the last shred of turkey and written your thank you notes, check out one of the best bands to come out of Boston in recent years – Apollo Sunshine, who’s shimmering, catchy, psychedelic indie-pop has garnered them highly favorite comparisons to the Flaming Lips and Violent Femmes. The four-piece performs Thursday, Dec. 28, with Maine’s own Pete Kilpatrick at the Space Gallery in Portland.

But once the tryptophan high has worn off, what will you do? Clubs, venues and promoters around the state have barely started getting their 2007 calendars together, but a few shows have been announced already: singer Erin McKeown plays songs from her new album, “Sing You Sinners,” featuring standards by Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer and Fats Waller, on Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Space Gallery. Alejandro Escovedo, renowned alt-country songwriter, takes the stage at the Grand Theatre (www.grandonline.org) in Ellsworth on Thursday, Feb. 1, in his second Maine appearance in two years.

Tickets for shows at the Big Easy and the Space Gallery can be purchased at Bull Moose Music stores, and Dashboard Confessional tickets can be purchased at the Alfond Arena ticket office. Heard about any cool new bands or coming shows? Let Emily Burnham know by e-mailing eburnham@bangordailynews.net.