The Lower Lights 2019

One of my very favorite Christmas traditions is to see the Lower Lights Christmas concert at Kingsbury Hall.  I was able to see the show last night and, as always, it was amazing and did much to restore my spirits.  The Lower Lights is a group of twenty insanely talented musicians, songwriters, and singers, many of whom are popular in their own right, who periodically join forces to record folk and bluegrass renditions of popular hymns and Christmas carols.  I really love their sound and I especially love their renditions of Christmas songs because, as you know, I really enjoy Christmas music performed live.  They began with "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" which was quite upbeat and then they performed beautiful versions of "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "Angels We Have Heard On High," and "Away in a Manger" which brought tears to my eyes.  Then they played an acoustic version of "Mary's Boy Child" which was so lovely.  Debra Fotheringham provided vocals on an incredible version of "River" which is one of my favorite songs (I love Sarah McLachlan's version on her Christmas album).  In the middle of their set they performed a number of their hymns, including "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy," "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder," and "Just A Closer Walk With Thee."  These songs basically turned Kingsbury Hall into an old fashioned revival with people singing and dancing in the aisles.  It was a lot of fun.  They continued with an acoustic version of "Maybe This Christmas"  and an instrumental version of "Carol of the Bells" featuring guitar, mandolin, and banjo that was incredibly stirring.  Next came one of my favorite Christmas songs, "Still, Still, Still," with vocals provided by Corinne Gentry, Kiki Sieger, and Marie Bradshaw.  The cost of a ticket to this show is worth it for this song alone because the three of them harmonize so beautifully that they give you chills!  Sarah Sample provided the vocals for "White Christmas" and they continued with "I Saw Three Ships" which is another favorite.  There was another gospel interlude with "The River of Jordan" and "I Hear a Call."  Dustin Christensen performed a beautiful version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" which was fun after seeing Meet Me In St. Louis recently.  The audience joined in on a rousing rendition of "Go Tell It On the Mountain," and they continued with "A Cradle in Bethlehem" and "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day."  They ended their set with bluesy renditions of "Working on a Building," "This Little Light of Mine," and "Calling You."  For the encore they performed "Happy X-Mas (War Is Over)" and then, as they always do, they had the audience join them for a beautiful acoustic version of "Silent Night."  I don't consider myself to be especially religious but there is just something about Christmas music and I am always moved by this concert.  I would highly recommend getting a ticket to one of the three remaining concerts (go here).