Minnesota’s Modern Old-World Sound
SimpleGifts combines violin, Celtic flutes and bagpipes, piano, acoustic guitar and percussion with angelic three part female vocals to create a “modern Old-World” sound.
20th Anniversary Christmas Tour Kicks Off December 1st!
It all started as a quartet in 2003. Carin Vagle, Jeni-Lyn Starr, Billy O and Billy McLaughin played concerts in Milwaukee, Duluth and a handful of shows around the Twin Cities that year. 20 years and 300 shows later, SimpleGifts with Billy McLaughlin is still ringing in the holidays with Carin Vagle, Karen Paurus, Amy Courts on vocals, Laura MacKenzie on assorted Celtic wind-powered instruments, Billy O on ornamental percussion, Enrique Toussaint on bass, Nathan Wilson on violin and mandolin, and Lisa Z on piano.
As one of the larger MN holiday ensembles still standing, SimpleGifts continues to grow a multi-generational fanbase through touring and streaming via online platforms that did not even exist in 2003. You can stream SimpleGifts on all streaming platforms, buy CDs at all 20th Anniversary shows along with new merch, and rumor has it there may be vinyl in the future for the 21st SimpleGifts Christmas Tour.
Special shows include the return of Jeni-Lyn Starr and Heather Garborg Moen at the Parkway only on Dec 17* and an extended-play show driven by fan requests dubbed “SimplePaLooza”only on Dec 22**.
2023 TOUR DATES:
01 DEC, FRIDAY – LAKEVILLE, MN
08 DEC, FRIDAY – PLYMOUTH, MN
09 DEC, SATURDAY – WORTHINGTON, MN
15 DEC, FRIDAY – ST PAUL, MN
*17 DEC, SUNDAY – REUNION EDITION – MINNEAPOLIS, MN
19 DEC, TUESDAY – MATINEE – MARINE-ON-ST-CROIX, MN
20 DEC, WEDNESDAY – MATINEE -MARINE-ON-ST-CROIX, MN
21 DEC, THURSDAY– MARINE-ON-ST-CROIX, MN
**22 DEC, FRIDAY – SIMPLEPALOOZA – MARINE-ON-ST-CROIX, MN
23 DEC, SATURDAY – MARINE-ON-ST-CROIX, MN
SimpleGifts with Billy McLaughlin Presents
“The Young and the Rest…” a tribute to Neil Young and the rest of your favorite acoustic acts from the 70’s!
This production is all about women bringing new life to music made famous by men. It’s a girl-powered reboot of acoustic hits and deep tracks by Neil Young, CSN, America, The Eagles and more.
Familiar songs shimmer anew under the spell of siren-voices Carin Vagle, Karen Paurus and Amy Courts. Celtic twist added by internationally renowned wind-powered artist, Laura MacKenzie. Acoustic guitar by Billy McLaughlin with Dan Ristrom (bass), Patrick Nelson (drums), Nathan Wilson (fiddle/mandolin) and Lisa Z (keyboards).
A full stage delivering a big muti-layered sound!
More About SimpleGifts
As long-time fans will tell you, SimpleGifts makes musical magic by bringing a modern flair to traditional Christmas carols and hymns. Staying close to the heart of Christmas by avoiding commercial and pop holiday repertoire has become the trademark of this award winning six-piece ensemble.
SimpleGifts combines violin, Celtic flutes and bagpipes, piano, acoustic guitar and percussion with angelic three part female vocals to create a “modern Old-World” sound. 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.
In 2018 the group started to expand their shows to year-round with a new project entitled The Young & The Rest… An acoustic tribute to Neil Young and the rest of your favorite artists who defined an era and whose popularity endures – Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Eagles, Joni Mitchell, America and more.
With little media attention, SimpleGifts is arguably the most successful MN holiday-themed project celebrating exclusively traditional hymns and carols interpreted in modern arrangements. Fueled by grassroots fans since 2001, the 18th Annual SimpleGifts 2019 Holiday “Christmastide” Tour includes close to 20 concerts between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve in the Twin Cities metro or close proximity. Music from the group’s most recent CD “This Christmastide” and previous five critically acclaimed releases will be featured. The ensemble’s previous CD, Wintergrace, is 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” – MinnPost
With exceptional set and lighting design and an impeccable sound-system, SimpleGifts puts community celebration ahead of commercialization – 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 flutes, violin, piano and tasty atmospheric percussion.
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Upcoming Shows
SimpleGifts News
20th Anniversary Christmas Tour Dates Announced!August 25, 2023 - 8:45 pm
Thank you!! That’s a wrap to 2022!December 31, 2022 - 12:00 pm
Harvest at the Parkway Preview on KBEMOctober 6, 2022 - 7:50 pm
Exciting news for upcoming shows!March 4, 2022 - 3:20 pm
Simplegifts “Christmas From Marine” Pay-per-view Concert Launches Early – Available Now!December 13, 2021 - 2:51 pm
News
- 20th Anniversary Christmas Tour Dates Announced!August 25, 2023 - 8:45 pm
- Thank you!! That’s a wrap to 2022!December 31, 2022 - 12:00 pm
- Harvest at the Parkway Preview on KBEMOctober 6, 2022 - 7:50 pm