Christmastide 2024 with SimpleGifts featuring Billy McLaughlin

Over 20 years of arranging, recording, and touring finds SimpleGifts in peak creative mode this holiday season. “We are more passionate than ever about bringing folks together around the traditional carols and hymns that we have lovingly reimagined like no other show,” says band-leader Billy McLaughlin.

Celtic whistles, violin, piano, acoustic guitar and percussion are topped off with angelic three-part harmonies giving this legendary ensemble its signature “Old-World Modern” sound. Audiences of all ages laugh, cry, celebrate and sing along to perhaps the most original versions of Christmas classics you will ever find – as heard on the group’s six outstanding holiday CD’s. Warm up your ears for the show on Spotify or wherever you stream your music.

Exquisite set-design, lighting and exceptional audio system exceed expectations nightly. Long-time fans look forward to welcoming you back or meeting you for the first time and just might have a Christmas cookie for you!

To learn more and purchase tickets, please visit SimpleGifts here!

 

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

Simple Gifts featuring Billy McLaughlin presents Harvest at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis, Sunday October 16 at 7PM. The show re-imagines songs of Neil Young, sung by Carin Vagle, Karen Paurus and Amy Courts, with a Celtic twist added by Laura MacKenzie, all under Bill McLaughlin’s direction. Phil Nusbaum sat down with members of the production, and when he did, Billy first addressed how this special show came into existence.

Listen to the eight-minute preview here!

Tickets for the show available here

We just couldn’t wait until December 23rd to share this terrific performance featuring joyful SimpleGifts favorites captured with multi-cameras in high-def. Thanks to Steve Keller at ProMediaProductions for getting this virtual concert recording ready to share early! We plan on performing live next season but want to share our very best moments to celebrate this year with you at home.

Dear Friends,

It’s not fun for me to share this news but here it is…all SimpleGifts shows will be postponed through the end of 2021. In the past two weeks not only has Covid sickened band members and their families but it has been clear at the box-office that folks are reluctant to attend upcoming indoor shows. The few tickets that were purchased will be refunded promptly.

This decision comes with extraordinary disappointment after extensive assessment and consideration of countless factors. Practicing self-care is critical for all of us and I need to focus on doing so myself for the remainder of 2021. We will miss you all until a better time comes to produce live indoor events.

Regarding Christmastide, I will be hosting a series of “Fireside” podcasts featuring previously recorded live holiday tracks and special guests. We hope you will join us when they begin after Thanksgiving. That schedule will be confirmed soon so please check back for updates. We remain dedicated to celebrating Christmas no matter what!

Thank you for all your support of SimpleGifts over the years. You are the reason we feel so passionate about the music we present.

We value every opportunity to share our music with you and are excited to do so again when the time is right.

Most sincerely,
Billy