For the second year in a row, singer-songwriter James Lanman is traveling from Missoula, Montana, to perform his holiday concert, “The King of Christmas,” next week at the Bus Barn Theater in Los Altos.
A 2002 graduate of Los Altos High School, Lanman is known for his jazz music and his single “Merry Christmas Darling,” which has been streamed more than 850,000 times on Spotify. He has performed throughout the U.S. and Canada, appearing at major festivals like SXSW and CMJ. He also regularly performs corporate gigs for companies such as Google and DoorDash.
Growing up in Los Altos, Lanman said he performed in theatrical productions at Bus Barn. Now regularly performing at larger venues, Lanman said he chose the 99-seat Bus Barn Theater for his once-a-year show with hopes of creating a more public-facing experience for his Bay Area fans.
“I’ve learned to love and to lean into venues that really support the community aspect. When it comes to shows, I’d rather play a sold out show in a slightly smaller, more intimate venue than have a gigantic venue that’s only 50% full,” Lanman said, “It also just feels good to give back to the community I grew up in and contribute to the tapestry of arts and offerings in this local community.”
Lanman has simplified the lineup for his concert after last year, when he performed with multiple guest singers at Bus Barn. This year’s concert features Ren Geisick, an independent jazz singer-songwriter, along with a four-piece jazz band.
When Geisick performs her own annual holiday show at City Lights Theater in San Jose, she’s featured Lanman as a guest the last five years. The two have also recorded duets together, including “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” in 2022.
Geisick clearly enjoys performing with Lanman, who keeps her on her toes.
“He always has some fun thing up his sleeve,” she said. “He’s always looking for some way to make me laugh – he’ll change the line of a song just to make me and everyone else laugh. He just surprises me every time I play with him. He’s just a joy to be around and just really fun.”
Since Lanman’s duet single “Merry Christmas Darling” features another singer, Geisick will be joining onstage to perform it during his concert.
“(Geisick) adds a dynamic that makes it more interesting than just me singing,” Lanman said. “I try to keep my shows really entertaining – I’ll do a couple songs that are faster, then a more intimate and slower (song), have her jump in for a solo, and then she and I do a duet (together). It keeps the flow of the show really interesting.”
Lanman is changing it up this year, planning to perform new numbers along with his favorites. He added that he also intends to introduce elements of comedy, playful interactions with the audience and stage tricks to create a lively and engaging atmosphere.
“People forget how important live performances and art are to their mental well-being,” Lanman said. “My main hope is that people leave with a big smile on their face and have a great headspace going into what can be a really stressful time of the year.”
Lanman’s “The King of Christmas” is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Bus Barn Theater, 97 Hillview Ave. Monday’s show is sold out; tickets to Tuesday’s performance are $43.
For tickets and more information, visit tinyurl.com/jameslanmanholiday2025.
