Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison, Austin’s favorite musical couple, are returning to the historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin for their annual installment of “The Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison Holiday Show” at 7 p.m., Thursday, December 11, presented by the Paramount and Marsha Milam Music.

Tickets are on sale for $25 and $38 through the Paramount box office or by phoning GetTix ticket service at 866-4GET-TIX (or go online to www.gettix.net). Tickets may also be purchased at GetTix outlets (RunTex, Waterloo Records, the University Co-Op. and Sundance Records in San Marcos). The Paramount Theatre is located at 713 Congress Ave.

The almost-annual event that began in 1999--the couple took one year off for the birth of their twins—and has become a tradition for their family and the families of their fans. Bruce’s and Kelly’s holiday performance will find the husband-and-wife duo of singer-songwriters with a full band singing songs from their Christmas album Happy Holidays. But the show isn’t all about the holidays, it is also a showcase of the best of Kelly and Bruce’s solo careers which continue to flourish with Bruce’s latest CD “The New World,” released in September, and Kelly’s “Translated from Love” from 2007.  And having their show together, “Is a big deal to me,” says Bruce. “It’s the only thing in the whole year that we do together so that feels so special to me. Kelly sang on all the songs that I had do well. She was instrumental in their success. So it is special to me to hear them the way they ought to be with her singing with me.”

Kelly Willis announced earlier this year on her website that she would no longer be touring, so that makes this rare Kelly Willis’ performance an even more compelling reason to see this show.

Bruce says the shows each year are very special to the couple because of the way it brings back memories, “You think about the people you love, friends, family, how lucky you are to have known them.” He understands the wistfulness of the season and the dream of a Christmas that may have never been. “Growing up in a family of divorce, Kelly and I are making it up as we go. Our show is part of our attempt at the ideal Christmas.”.”

And, to add to the festive spirit, the venerable Paramount Theatre will be decked out in all of its holiday finery. Perfect for a family outing, the show starts early at 7 p.m.