“One of the most spectacular journeys in recent American music.” – The New York Times

“One of the most talented and imaginative artists working in music — any music — today.” – The Los Angeles Times

“Brilliantly original.” – The Seattle Times

Idaho Live presents an enchanted evening of holiday music with Grammy-winning violinist
Mark O’Connor as part of the acclaimed An Appalachian Christmas tour with the O’Connor Band on Sunday, December 11th at 7:00 p.m. at The Egyptian Theatre, located at 700 W. Main St. in downtown Bois. The performance features “elegant” (New York Times) interpretations of Christmas classics found on O’Connor’s celebrated album of the same name, which reached the top 20 on three Billboard charts (Bluegrass Albums, Crossover Albums, and Classical Albums) and which American Songwriter called “an absolute delight.” The touring ensemble performs hits from the album, delivering stunning vocal harmonies and sophisticated instrumentals within classic Christmas music. Their fresh and powerful sound has won over fans of every musical style from bluegrass to indie folk to Americana. Save the date now and let Idaho Live whisk you away from the holiday hype to the heart of Appalachia, where simplicity and beauty rule the season.

This is a reserved seating show and tickets are $35 BALCONY, $45 NAIN FLOOR in advance, $5 ticket increase day of show, plus a $4 service fee. Advance tickets will be available at The Record Exchange, The Egyptian Theatre box office,
and egyptiantheatre.net on Friday, Oct 7th at 10:00 a.m.

ABOUT AN APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS CONCERT TOUR
Grammy-winning composer and violinist Mark O’Connor has created several arrangements of Christmas classics and fashions a wondrous mixture of both instrumental and vocal music in bluegrass and other American music genres. Concertgoers are treated to fresh takes on traditional songs with a few original compositions included. His renditions are playful and joyous, but can be strikingly earnest too.

ABOUT AN APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS ALBUM
Mark O’Connor’s An Appalachian Christmas album (2011) reached the #1 ranking on Billboard’s Bluegrass Album charts and has been in the top five each year since. Hailed by critics from the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Los Angeles Times as a top 10 album of the holiday season, it has become a perennial classic Christmas recording.

O’Connor says, “Appalachia is the original melting pot of our country featuring more diverse styles of American music than just about anywhere. This theme makes for what is a trilogy of my “Appalachia” recordings now; ‘Appalachia Waltz,’ ‘Appalachian Journey’ and ‘An Appalachian Christmas.’ My album features well known carols as well as several Appalachian-themed songs about a beloved hunting dog, passing a fiddle down through the generations, and offering a new version of “Appalachia Waltz” itself with classical guitarist Sharon Isbin, one of my most well-known pieces. A few of my favorite Christmas centerpieces for the album include Renee Fleming’s soprano embraced by a mountain orchestra and fiddle solo, as well as the jazzy style of Jane Monheit with an all-acoustic string band.

The O’Connor Band features:
Mark O’Connor – fiddle
Forrest O’Connor – mandolin and vocals
Maggie O’Connor – fiddle
Kate Lee – fiddle and vocals
Joe Smart – guitar (Nat’l Flatpick Guitar Champion)
Geoff Saunders – bass and banjo