Derik Vanderford|Daily Times The Union County Arts Center gallery was packed with musicians and audience members for its second-annual Monday Night Music Christmas Show.

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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Mother and daughter Ann and Kaitlyn White perform together during Monday's event.

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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Jean Young sings and plays keyboard while her husband, Terry Young, accompanies on guitar.

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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Harold Senn takes pride in picking out songs that most of the audience has never heard before.

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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Catherine Varner celebrated her birthday Monday by participating in the Union County Arts Council event.

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UNION – The Union County Arts Council’s music program continues its success with sing-alongs and jam sessions.

The council hosted its second annual Monday Night Music Christmas Show at the UCAC gallery on Main Street Monday evening.

Monday Night Music is held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. the third Monday of each month, and UCAC Co-coordinator Harold Senn said last Monday served as the Christmas edition. Musicians formed a semicircle and performed traditional Christmas favorites such as “Silent Night,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

Audience members were also treated to more obscure Christmas songs including Buck Owens’ “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy,” Steve Earle’s “Nothing But A Child,” and Jackson Browne’s “Rebel Jesus.”

Senn said he takes pride in introducing new songs to the audiences at Monday Night Music.

Two Monday Night Music musicians — Catherine Varner and Jim Hance — celebrated birthdays at the event, and artists and audience members alike were treated with birthday cake and other refreshments.

Coordinator Jackie Senn said she was pleased with the success of the event.

“We did this last year and had a great time,” she said. “We usually have 10 or 15 musicians attending our Monday night programs and they all look forward to the Christmas show.”

Monday Night Music is always free to attend, and everyone is invited to stop by and sing along or just listen.

The next Monday Night Music event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at the UCAC gallery.

“It just depends on how much fun everyone is having,” Jackie said. “If you are a local musician and would like to take part in the show you’re welcome to come sit in.”

Monday Night Music is part of the UCAC’s music program, which also includes “Jam with Lunch” events held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month. Senn said “Jam with Lunch” is basically a scaled-down, acoustic version of Monday Night Music, using no PA system.

For more information about this or other UCAC programs, call 864-429-2817 or email ucac@bellsouth.net. Also follow the UCAC on Facebook, Twitter and its website www.unioncountyartscouncil.com.

Staff Writer Derik Vanderford can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 29, or by email at dvanderford@heartlandpublications.com.