Okay, maybe I’m a little bit biased because we’re in the midst of a collaboration with one of the bands playing this show, but HOLY SMOKES, what a line-up! Black Thai, Sidewalk Driver, Planetoid, and Walter Sickert & the ARmy of BRoken TOys, and hosted by Mary Widow.

Some trivia:

The Eschaton 2012: Black Thai, Sidewalk Driver, Planetoid, Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys, hosted by Mary Widow, March 16 @8, Brighton Music Hall, 158 Brighton Avenue, Boston, MA 02134, $12adv, 18+

We here at the LAB are big fans of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and madness. The OG (Original Greek) version of the Bacchanalia festival, the Dionysia, were - according to the all-knowing Wikipedia - the driving force behind Greek theater.

We’re also big fans of the Boston Circus Guild, our local modern-day purveyors of bacchanalian revelry and merry-making.

This week’s performances feature music from Johnny Blazes & the Pretty Boys and Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band. The press release also promises acrobat, aerialists, stilt-walkers, jugglers, and burlesque. Don’t miss it.

Bohemian Bacchanalia February 23 & 24 at 8pm OBERON, 2 Arrow St, Cambridge, MA $18 standing/$24 seated in advance, or $24 standing/$30 seated at the door 18+

Rogue Burlesque and Sirlesque! bring you Sirlesque! Guys, Gals & Glitter at Club Cafe in February.

What a line-up! I guess that’s why they’re calling it “a tour of Boston’s Best Burlesque.” If burlesquers were Boston landmarks, this would be the Freedom Tail.

Also: they’re promising fart jokes.

February 5, 8pm Oberon, 2 Arrow St, Cambridge, MA

Boston has any number of takes on Tchaikovsky’s seasonal classic, from the traditional Boston Ballet Nutcracker to the more recent hit, The Slutcracker. The most fun you will have at a -cracker this year, however, will be at The Buttcracker. Now in its second year, The Buttcracker features butt-themed drag, burlesque, spoken word, and other callipygian shenanigans.

Sunday, December 18th at The Midway Cafe in JP. Doors at 7:30, show at 8:00. $10, 18+

This year I am determined to see The Slutcracker. I missed it last year, and everyone RAVES about it. From the Facebook event:

“Boston-area performance artists band together to bring you The Slutcracker. This scene-by-scene retelling of the Nutcracker, resplendent with ribald parody, ‘whisks the audience away to a carefree realm of sexual fantasy.’”