Hearing voices

Carolling in the traditional sense is a lost art, both because few people travel door-to-door in their neighborhood anymore, and because Christmas music of late has spent most its time crashing into new genres. For evidence, look no further than Justin Bieber's recent holiday effort drenched in techno-electro effects.

Salt Lake City's Octappella ensemble, a group of seven young men sporting silky-smooth voices, keep their feet a little in both worlds. They maintain the tradition of a cappella to a tee, with no instruments allowed. But it's what they do with their voices that wins them creative points, beat-boxing their way through carols and thumping out backing beats well enough to get your feet tapping. Octappella's two Christmas concerts, Dec. 26 and 27 at Rose Wagner, promise all that and more.

Never heard of them? Don't worry. With three albums under their belt, including the requisite Christmas album in 2007, plus a performance during the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games, Octappella are as polished and professional as the resume suggests.

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Octappella Christmas

When • Dec. 26 and 27, 7:30 p.m.

Where • Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City.

Info • $14. Call 801-867-5980 or visit http://octappella.com for more information. —

Octappella Christmas

When • Dec. 26 and 27, 7:30 p.m.

Where • Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City.

Info • $14. Call 801-867-5980 or visit http://octappella.com for more information.