SAVE THE DATE:
MayDay in Marine – May 1
Harvest in Marine – September 25
More info and tickets coming soon.
All shows will include a livestream option.
Donations to support SimpleGifts during this challenging time are greatly appreciated.
“The Young and the Rest…” is all about women bringing new life to music made famous by men. Clearly a tribute, this show is better described as a girl-powered reboot of acoustic hits and deep tracks by Neil Young, CSN, America, The Eagles and more by the siren-voices of SimpleGifts (Heather Moen/Karen Paurus/Amy Courts) with a Celtic twist provided by Laura MacKenzie (whistles/flutes/bagpipe). Acoustic guitar by Billy McLaughlin with top-shelf bass and drums. Not to be missed among your tribute show choices! (See video below)
2021 Shows to be announced
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.
Heather Garborg Moen has displayed her heart with abundant love in SimpleGifts for over a decade. She now is displaying that same love to focus on her family — husband Lee, daughters Adeline and Esther. Heather is stepping away from the spotlight that she commanded with talent and charisma after contributing greatly to the evolution of SimpleGifts. I can’t be happier for her and equally sad for this chapter in all our lives to end!
Let’s all send love and cheers to Heather — the voice, the violinist, the pianist and Norwegian advocate; my long-time “co-pilot” and dear creative friend; nothing is meant to stay the same forever — but we sure DID make magic with you — and that magic lives on!
God Bless you Heather!
– Billy
Upcoming Shows at Parkway Soon, Livestreams and In Person TicketsJanuary 5, 2021 - 9:53 am
All SimpleGifts albums are available on Spotify, Apple and AmazonNovember 16, 2020 - 9:11 pm
SimpleGifts Stream-TeamSeptember 17, 2020 - 3:17 pm
SimpleGifts-2019--St-Paul-Photo-Co-314SimpleGifts Life-Line-FundSeptember 17, 2020 - 2:42 pm
Now Streaming!November 12, 2019 - 3:06 pmUpcoming Shows at Parkway Soon, Livestreams and In Person TicketsJanuary 5, 2021 - 9:53 amAll SimpleGifts albums are available on Spotify, Apple and AmazonNovember 16, 2020 - 9:11 pmSimpleGifts Stream-TeamSeptember 17, 2020 - 3:17 pmSimpleGifts-2019--St-Paul-Photo-Co-314SimpleGifts Life-Line-FundSeptember 17, 2020 - 2:42 pmNow Streaming!November 12, 2019 - 3:06 pm