New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Sunshine Sachs) Nashville insiders attended Trace Adkins' final rehearsal for The Christmas Show Tour last night at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, just hours before he hit the road with his holiday living room set and 12-piece "Sarepta Symphony." The hard-to-impress industry crowd was wowed as Adkins delivered a show that is both a one-man theatrical performance and a soul-stirring musical production for the whole family.
An expert in delivering a line, Trace deftly entertained with historical and humorous narration. Musically, Adkins' baritone blended with the lush instrumentation of a string section, uilleann pipe and acoustic elements which perfectly complemented the Celtic-infused carols. In total - the Tour, which starts Friday, Nov. 15 at the Effingham Performance Center, honorably celebrates the true meaning of Christmas.
Among the musicians on tour are Lily Costner and Andrea Zonn, both of whom take a turn with an Adkins duet, then a solo performance. Renowned Irish ensemble, The Chieftains and Scottish vocalist Alyth McCormack (who appear on Adkins' recently released holiday album, The King's Gift) are honored on the tour. A particularly riveting moment hits the audience as Ms. McCormack's studio performance in Gaelic is played.
On The Christmas Show Tour, as on the album, the keyboards, and the acoustic, mandolin and bass guitars of American folk music harmonize with the uilleann pipe, penny whistle, violin, viola, cello, harp, and organ.
"The Christmas Show" Tour begins a new Adkins holiday tradition inspired by Adkins’ annual hosting duties at Disney World’s Candlelight Processional. It has always been a highlight of Trace’s year and he is thrilled to bring his own unique version of this concept on tour. Tickets can be purchased at https://kingsgift.traceadkins.com/.
THE KING’S GIFT Track Listing: (with featured artists noted)
Wexford Carol
Tannenbaum
O' Come Emmanuel (with Emma Stevens)
Away In A Manger
I Saw Three Ships (w. The Chieftains feat. Alyth McCormack)
Silent Night (w. Kevin and Lily Costner)
We Three Kings (w. Sonya Isaacs)
Drummer Boy (w. Kenny Aronoff)
Oh Holy Night (w. The Isaacs)
What Child Is This
THE CHRISTMAS SHOW Tour Dates & Venues:
11/15 - Effingham, IL - Effingham Performance Center
11/16 - Van Wert, OH - Niswonger Performing Arts Center
11/17 - Greensburg, PA - Palace Theatre
11/19 - Red Bank, NJ - Count Basie Theatre
11/21 - Shippensburg, PA - H. Ric Luhrs PAC - Shippensburg Univ.
11/22 - Utica, NY - Stanley Center for the Performing Arts
11/23 - Sewell, NJ - TD Banks Arts Center
11/29 - Bethlehem, PA - Sands Bethlehem Event Center
11/30 - Wallingford, CT - Toyota Presents the Oakdale Theatre
12/1 - Westbury, NY - Theatre at Westbury
12/3 - Troy, OH - Hobart
12/4 - Youngstown, OH - Coveli Center
12/5 - Waukegan, IL - Genesee Theatre
12/13 - Rochester, MN - Mayo Civic
12/14 - Onamia, MN - Grand Casino Mille Lacs
12/15 - Carmel, IN - Palladium @ Carmel Center
12/17 - Hollywood, FL - Hard Rock Live at Seminole
12/18 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckhert Hall
Trace Adkins' trademark baritone has powered countless hits to the top of the charts and sold over 10 million albums, cumulatively. The Grammy-nominated member of the Grand Ole Opry is a TV personality, actor, author, spokesman for the Wounded Warrior Program and the American Red Cross, for whom he raised over $1.5 million dollars as winner of NBC's All-Star Celebrity Apprentice. As a dedicated supporter of the troops, Adkins has performed seven USO Tours.
His autobiography, A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck, recounts the former oil-rigger's rise to fame, battles with personal demons and life as a father of five daughters. Trace played a tough as nails biker in The Lincoln Lawyer (starring Matthew McConaughey), he developed and hosted GAC's "Great American Heroes" and in December, he will host the American Country Awards on FOX for the fourth consecutive year.
Adkins album of Celtic-infused Christmas carols, The King's Gift, was released October 29, 2013.
