The magical sounds of traditional Christmas song and story will return to Owen Sound on December 22nd when Harp & Holly perform a family friendly concert at Central Westside United Church, 310 - 10th Street West.
"Our Christmas season doesn't begin until we've been to see Harp & Holly." said one happy concert-goer following last year's performance. "It's my family's new tradition."
New traditions is exactly what Harp & Holly's guitarist Terry Young, violinist Sandra Swannell, and Celtic harpist Sharlene Wallace wanted to create with their fresh and vibrant arrangements of ancient carols, lively jigs and reels, traditional Celtic music, and poignant storytelling.
Harp & Holly was formed in 2014 by veteran Grey-Bruce musicians Young, Swannell, and the trio's original harpist Mabel Williamson. After the release of their self-titled debut album and two seasons of performances, Williamson decided to retire from the group and the search for her replacement began. "Well, you can't have the holly without the harp!" laughs Sandra Swannell. "So, we needed to find a harpist with some serious technical skills and a flair for performance to take Mabel's place."
And so they did. Sharlene Wallace is arguably Canada's most prolific and influential Celtic harpist. She is the winner of the Lyon & Healy International Pop & Jazz Lever Harp Competition and the International Celtic Harp Festival Improvisation Competition in Dinan, France.
"I'm so thrilled and excited to have been invited to be part of Harp & Holly, and I can't wait for this upcoming season to begin." says Wallace. "Terry and Sandra have a way of infusing every piece of music with uplifting rhythms and painting ancient carols with a modern vibrancy."
Violinist/ singer Sandra Swannell and fingerstyle guitarist/ singer Terry Young are no strangers to the Ontario music scene. Both are Canadian Folk Music Award winners and former members of the iconic folk group Tanglefoot. Their regular concert season is spent touring the US and UK extensively with their folk-jazz-vaudeville group My Sweet Patootie.
Meaford Live Music said of a recent performance, "With their arsenal of instrumental virtuosity combined with alternating humour and sincerity and unflagging energy, they filled the hall with joy."
Harp & Holly will be sharing more of that joy with Owen Sound this December. This must-see musical holiday experience will soon become your new tradition.
Friday December 22nd at 7:30 pm
Central Westside United Church
310 10th Street West, Owen Sound, ON N4K 3R5
Admission is $20, children 12 and under free. Tickets will be available at the door and in advance by contacting Terry Young at 519-379-4495 or email [email protected]. Online tickets available at www.harpandholly.com.
source: media release
