Hidden behind Christmas's happy exterior, as most people know, is pure poignance. We often reflect on loved ones lost, on the humble birth of a soon-to-be great man and even the seasonal melodies have melancholy undercurrents.

This duality is not lost on Katonah native, Sloan Wainwright, who will be doing her annual holiday show this Saturday, at the Bedford Presbyterian Church. As joyful as the night is—and though she will be joined by son Sam McTavey, and niece, Martha Wainwright—the evening will be bittersweet.

This will be the first Christmas show Wainwright will perform since she lost her beloved husband, George McTavey.

"Yeah, it's been nearly a year," said Wainwright, in her naturally upbeat style. "It's been a hard transition for me and my boys (Gabe being the other). But performing, communally, is always therapeutic."

But let's rewind.

Ms. Wainwright, as you might know, is a strong, flowering branch of a musical family tree, that is larger, more eclectic and, yes, stranger than the Taylor clan. Sloan's older brother, Loudon, is one of the country's premiere, darkly-comic singer/songwriters. His kids include Rufus, pop star and melody wizard; Martha, who writes brilliantly acid folk songs and Lucy Wainwright Roche, a budding tunesmith, who, herself is the daughter of the fine songwriter Suzzy Roche. Throw in the McGarrigle sisters (Kate, deceased, was Rufus and Martha's mom) and a few others and one thing is certain:

If you ever decide to draw the Wainwright musical family tree, don't make any other plans that day.

Then there's Sloan. Growing up in Katonah has given her gloriously tuneful songs a more bucolic edge than, say her brother's. They are not barbed. But in their own elegant way, they capture the world around us as well as our hearts.

And the songs are finally coming again.

"George was in the hospital in Boston for 5 months last year and spent a good amount of time in bed when he was home," Wainwright said. "I just didn't have the heart or the strength to compose much during those awful months. I haven't put out an album of originals since 2006."

But, she says, that is finally changing.

"The songs have been speaking to me of late," said Wainwright. "They're telling me to write them. Obviously, they are full of the grief of the last year or so, but they're about all sorts of feelings. They finally have to come out and I'm letting them."

Music, in general, has been a blessing for Wainwright this past year. She tours, she teaches voice and does songwriting workshops, at places like Larchmont's Watercolor Cafe.

"It's amazing how therapeutic the music has been. I actually think it's kept me healthy, after the stress of caring for George. Music, thoughts have to be expressed. If you keep them in, they can make you ill."

As for her son, Sam, who will be unveiling his songs for the public this Saturday, Wainwright is justifiably proud.

"His day job is as a geologist, but he writes really sensitive tunes. As with my son Gabe, they've both been great to lean on during the grief-filled last year."

Wainwright is quick to state, though, that her big Christmas shindig will be no solemn affair.

"It's always fun and joyous to play the Bedford gig. There will be laughs and good spirits, as well as some seasonally poignant moments. The main thing is, I'm doing it. Putting one foot in front of the other. Moving on. And I know, for sure, that that is exactly what George would have wanted me to do."

Sloan Wainwright and Her Band, with special guests Sam McTavey, Anna Wainwright and Martha Wainwright, will be at The Bedford Presbyterian Church, this Saturday, December 11th at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $35. For more info, go to www.sloanwainwright.com