It's always nice to be back home. That's surely the case for Hamilton band Arkells, who return to Steeltown – the city they got their start in – with a performance on January 20 at the Hamilton Convention Centre.

The band has been on the rise since forming in 2006, with performances at the 2009 National Hockey League awards party in Las Vegas and concerts with Tokyo Police Club, City and Colour and Alexisonfire, just to name a few. In 2008, Arkells released their full-length debut, Jackson Square.

The album was a hit and it spawned the extremely popular single “Oh, The Boss is Coming.” Earlier this year, the band followed it up with the release of their sophomore album Michigan Left. Its first single, “Whistleblower,” was another hit for the guys. And, it hasn't just been commercial success for Arkells with the band winning the 2009 Galaxie Rising Star Award from CBC and New Group of the Year at the 2010 Juno Awards. Tickets cost $30 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

All the rockers out there won't want to miss Gigantour when it rolls into Copps Coliseum on February 8. The tour features four of the bigger names in metal music: Megadeth, Motorhead, Volbeat and Lacuna Coil.

Megadeth won't need much introducing for metal fans. Dave Mustaine formed it more than two decades ago after he was asked to leave the band Metallica. Since then, Megadeth has released more than a dozen albums, live and studio, as well as two EPs and two compilations. The band's 1992 album Countdown to Extinction was nominated for a Grammy Award and also achieved double-platinum status in sales. The band has received seven Grammy nominations throughout its history and has many popular singles, including “Sweating Bullets,” “99 Ways to Die” and “Symphony of Destruction.” Tickets cost $55.25 to $72.25 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

That's not all that's happening in Hamilton. The Jim Cuddy Band comes to Hamilton Place on February 4. Cuddy is touring in support of his third solo album, Skyscraper Soul. Tickets cost $48 to $62. Canadian band Hedley will be joined by Classified, Karl Wolf and Kay Mines for a concert on February 25 at Copps Coliseum. Tickets cost $40.25 to $55.25. Jann Arden is at Hamilton Place on March 6. Tickets cost $62 to $98.

At the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Mavis Staples comes for a performance on January 28. She was a member of the American gospel, soul and R&B group The Staples Singers that performed hit songs “I'll Take You There,” “Let's Do It Again” and “Respect Yourself.” She's worked with artists such as Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Prince, and Bob Dylan, to name a few, and has carved out a successful solo career as well. Earlier this year, she received her first Grammy Award in the Best Americana Album category for You Are Not Alone. Tickets cost $50 to $55 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 905.681.6000.

All the romantics reading this won't want to miss Jill Barber when she comes to the centre on Valentine's Day. A winner of multiple East Coast Music Awards, the Juno Award-nominated singer released her latest album Mischievous Moon earlier this year. Tickets cost $35 to $40.

At the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, there's a presentation of Richard Scarry's Busytown on March 4. Based on the author's more than 300 children's books and a television series, the live show follows the adventures of Huckle and Sally Cat, Lowly Worm, Hilda Hippo, Pig Will, Pig Won't and others as they work together to solve the many mysteries of Busytown. The show is recommended for children aged two to five years. Tickets cost $22.99 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 905.815.2021.

The Living Arts Centre in Mississauga will highlight more than 5,000 years of Chinese culture when Shen Yun Performing Arts comes to the centre for shows January 19 to 22. Performers will present examples of classical Chinese dance as well as ethnic and folk dance and story-based dance while accompanied by a live orchestra. Expect plenty of colourful costumes and animated backdrops. The group was at the centre in 2010 but they're back this year with an all-new program. Tickets cost $50 to $150 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 905.306.6000.

If you'd prefer a few laughs, check out Gerry Dee when he presents Life After Teaching on February 18. Dee, the star of the new CBC sitcom Mr. D, is a former teacher who decided to try his hand at comedy. A past winner of the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Comic in Canada, Dee will talk about marriage, fatherhood, and his life as a teacher. Tickets cost $39 to $49.

The popular Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats will be performed at the centre over two nights, March 13 and 14. It has won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and produced the hit song “Memory”. Children's tickets start at $36. Adult tickets start at $60.

At Stage West Theatre in Mississauga, a tribute to the music of Motown with the musical revue Motown Gold continues until February 5. The show features songs like “Dancing in the Streets” and the music of The Temptations, The Jackson 5 and Stevie Wonder. It's followed by the show All Shook Up, which opens February 9 and continues until April 20. The musical features the music of Elvis Presley, based on a book by Joe DiPietro. It follows a pair of young lovers in small-town America in the 1950s. For show times and ticket prices, call the box office at 905.238.0042.

In Brampton, Canadian comedian Ron James comes for a performance at the Rose Theatre on February 29. Armed with a new 90-minute show, James will riff on everything from 20-somethings to aging baby boomers. Tickets cost $56 and can be purchased by calling the box office
at 905.874.2800.