Singer and songwriter Christopher Bingham released three recordings of his own before making a switch that made a difference. He and his wife, vocalist Sue Tinney, started making music that celebrated life and the Earth, debuting Gaia Consort at the 1997 Nudestock. Their approach, according to their Web site, is “visionary music for the freethinking mystic in all of us, building culture that celebrates the living Earth.

Psychedelic rock with a string trio and a pagan twist in the tradition of Jethro Tull, Moody Blues and other hallucinogenic masters.” Gaia Consort, with a new CD, “Vitus Dance,” performs Saturday in Snohomish.

The co-founders are backed by several talented musicians with solid musical backgrounds and performance skills, including violinist Larry Golding, viola player Sunnie Reed, drummer TJ Morris, keyboardist Jay Kenney, cello player Betsy Tinney (who plays a five-string, free-standing instrument) and bassist Dan Mohler.

A Holiday with the Classics: Mezzo soprano Ute Freund will be joined by other area musicians for “A Holiday with the Classics,” a vocal and chamber music benefit for the Edmonds-based Max Foundation. Freund, Seattle Opera mezzo soprano Gail Neil, flutist Kim Breilein, pianist Mark Salman and the Northwest String Quartet will perform for an hour of Mozart, Vivaldi, Brahms, Chopin and selections from “The Messiah” and “Hansel and Gretel.” It will be followed by a singalong of carols.