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.
2022 Holiday Tour “Christmastide Homecoming” Announced
Nothing compares to the way Christmas brings family and friends back together. SimpleGifts leans into this truth by naming their annual metro holiday 2022 tour, “Christmastide Homecoming”. The group calls out for all to gather and feel at home again celebrating music of the season. For over two decades, SimpleGifts’ inspired arrangements have been shining light on families of devoted fans during the shortest days of the year. Everyone is welcome to sing along or simply take in the exceptional musicianship, audio system, lighting and set-design. A MN treasure not to be missed this holiday season.
A timely homecoming is happening on stage as well this year with the return of founding member, vocalist, Carin Vagle. SimpleGifts deeply appreciates our loyal followers understanding how growing families have created changes in band members over the years. Our 2022 tour will truly be a “Christmastide Homecoming”!
02 DEC, FRIDAY – LAKEVILLE, MN
09 DEC, FRIDAY – PLYMOUTH, MN
18 DEC, SUNDAY – MINNEAPOLIS, MN
22 DEC, THURSDAY – MARINE-ON-ST-CROIX, MN
23 DEC, FRIDAY – MARINE-ON-ST-CROIX, MN
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
Harvest at the Parkway – a celebration of Neil Young’s Harvest and Harvest Moon albums. Presented by SimpleGifts featuring Billy McLaughlin. Beloved songs of Neil Young shimmer anew under the spell of siren-voices Carin Vagle, Karen Paurus and Amy Courts. Ladies singing Neil Young and loving it! Celtic twist added by internationally renowned wind-powered artist, Laura MacKenzie. Acoustic guitar by Billy McLaughlin with Dan Ristrom (bass), Patrick Nelson (drums) and Nathan Wilson (fiddle/mandolin. Not to be missed among your tribute show choices!SimpleGifts News
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
Christmastide Goes Fireside!November 23, 2021 - 10:36 am
Timing is Everything – Shows Postponed…September 15, 2021 - 6:49 pm
Re-Watch the Spring 2021 Parkway SeriesMay 29, 2021 - 11:06 am
News
- 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
- Christmastide Goes Fireside!November 23, 2021 - 10:36 am
- Timing is Everything – Shows Postponed…September 15, 2021 - 6:49 pm
- Re-Watch the Spring 2021 Parkway SeriesMay 29, 2021 - 11:06 am