Tag Archives: Billy McLaughlin

SimpleGifts — December 5

Crossings brings SimpleGifts with Billy McLaughlin to Zumbrota's State Theatre on Friday, December 5, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $25 in advance, $28 at the door, and can be purchased online or by calling 507-732-7616. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

With little or no media attention, SimpleGifts has become arguably the most successful holiday project celebrating modern arrangements of traditional hymns and carols in MN. Fueled by passionate grassroots fans since 2001, the 2014 Holiday Tour includes 20 appearances between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Music from all five of the groups critically acclaimed CD releases will be featured including the most recent, Wintergrace, characterized by local music critic Jim Walsh:

"…one of the most elegant and listenable Christmas collections of this or any year — "WinterGrace" from the Billy McLaughlin-led local collective SimpleGifts"

With exceptional set and lighting design and an impeccable sound-system, SimpleGifts puts community celebration ahead of commercialization by pulling the audience into the sublime side of traditional repertoire in a truly meaningful Christmas event. Expect modern arrangements with an Old-World feel highlighting Billy's signature acoustic guitar, angelic three-part harmony vocals, bagpipes, celtic whistles, violin, piano and tasty atmospheric percussion.

There is nothing ordinary about the arrangements this team delivers both in the studio and in concert. Seen by over 20,000 live audience members last season, this group continues to grow in popularity throughout the Upper Midwest and has successfully transitioned from their early days in coffeehouses and small listening rooms to prestigious performing art centers and larger churches.

SimpleGifts

The State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota. For more information call 507-732-5210.

SimpleGifts with Billy McLaughlin — December 13

Crossings brings SimpleGifts with Billy McLaughlin to Zumbrota's State Theatre on Friday, December 13, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $25 in advance, $28 at the door, and can be purchased online or by calling 507-732-7616. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

SimpleGifts with Billy McLaughlin combines violin, celtic whistle, piano, acoustic guitar and percussion with angelic three-part female vocals to deliver a “modern Old World” sound in Christmas carols and hymns.

SimpleGifts, the six-member ensemble led by award-winning musician Billy McLaughlin, stays close to the heart of Christmas by avoiding commercial and pop holiday repertoire and instead balances sacred Christmas songs with warm, sentimental favorites. Children will enjoy hearing holiday classics, while adults are taken back to a quieter, simpler time with traditional songs and hymns.

With a new album, “WinterGrace,” the group continues to prove there is nothing ordinary about the arrangements they deliver both in the studio and in concert. Seen by more than 20,000 live audience members last season, SimpleGifts continues to grow in popularity throughout the Upper Midwest and has successfully transitioned from their early days in coffeehouses and small listening rooms to prestigious performing art centers and larger churches.

Familiar classics on the new CD include “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” and “Little Drummer Boy,” while the lesser-known title track provides a fresh but timeless melody from the hills of Appalachia.

New members Ashleigh Still, Torie Redpath and Amy Courts join returning members Heather Garborg, Billy O., Laura MacKenzie and Billy McLaughlin in a rotating sextet line-up for the 2013 “WinterGrace” Tour.

“SimpleGifts … has that special celestial sound that captures the magic, spirit and meditation of the Christmas season. Think of a Courier and Ives holiday setting: the music you hear playing is SimpleGifts with its richly woven tapestry of vocal harmonies and perfect instrumentation,” said McLaughlin.

SimpleGifts

The State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota. For more information call 507-732-5210.

SimpleGifts with Billy McLaughlin — December 1

SimpleGifts combines violin, celtic whistle, piano, acoustic guitar and percussion with angelic three-part female vocals to deliver traditional Christmas carols and hymns with a modern flair. Crossings is bringing SimpleGifts to Zumbrota's State Theatre on Saturday, December 1, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $25 in advance, $28 the day of the show. $12.50 for ages 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased by calling Crossings at (507)732-7616. Doors open at 6:30.

There is nothing ordinary about the arrangements this team delivers. Now entering its tenth holiday season, SimpleGifts with Billy McLaughlin continues to grow in popularity throughout the Upper Midwest.

“SimpleGifts … has that special celestial sound that captures the magic, spirit and meditation of the Christmas season. Think of a Courier and Ives holiday setting. The music you hear playing is SimpleGifts with its richly woven tapestry of vocal harmonies and perfect instrumentation,” said McLaughlin.