To me, what defines the Christmas season is always the music. I always find myself craving to hear songs of the Yuletide around this time of year.
They bring back the coziest Christmas memories to me and a reminder of how music can really bring people together. So, in the Spirit of the Season, I decided to catch up with two lovely and talented women who I am fortunate enough to call friends, Carly Martin and Katherine Nemec on how they plan to share their love of the season and its songs to our community.
After much success with their premier concert, Constellations: A Celebration of Canada’s Brightest Women of Song, Superior Theatre Festival (STF) is bringing back this starry concert for Constellations: An Evening of Holiday Classics & Festive Favourites. With the returning lineup of singers Fae Alexander, Jamie Sky and Carly Martin, these three talented singers will be bringing holiday classics to life at the beautiful and spacious McGillivray’s Landing at Fort William Historical Park.
“It was such a special experience putting the [previous] show together with Fae, Jamie, Wyeth (percussion) and Carter (guitar, piano),” says Carly Martin, performer and Superior Theatre Festival’s Outreach Manager. “I recall talking to STF’s Artistic and Managing Director, Donna Marie Barratta, a few days after we finished and we both agreed that we would have to do something like this again very soon and the holidays seemed like the perfect time to bring Constellations back,”
Constellations is just another step for STF to gain further traction in Thunder Bay. Normally operating solely in the summer, 2024 saw the festival begin in March with two workshop premieres of a play and musical written by local artists.
With the Constellations Christmas Concert, this will be a magical toast to welcome the season and celebrate all the accomplishments of the year through song.
“You’ll hear lots of holiday classics that you know and love and hopefully, discover some new favourites. We will also be reimagining some classic songs too,” says Martin.
For Martin, getting to both perform and work behind the scenes to develop this is truly a labour of love. From finding venues to rehearsals, each step offers up many exciting challenges and a payoff of a wonderful concert capturing Christmas magic for one night only.
“Audiences can expect an intimate, candlelit evening of thoughtful musical selections that celebrate the magic, joy, and hope of the holiday season,” says Martin.
Constellations: An Evening of Holiday Classics & Festive Favourites is on Wednesday, December 4th at McGillivray’s Landing in the Visitor Centre at Fort William Historical Park (1350 King Road). Tickets can be purchased online at superiortheatrefestival.com.
To keep up with Superior Theatre Festival and see what they are up to, follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @superiortheatre.
Despite how beautiful the snow can look this time of year, the lower temperatures can stop us from leaving our cozy abodes. Luckily, local singer-songwriter Katherine Nemec has the perfect set-up for those who, like her, don’t want to leave the house when it’s cold and dark out: a virtual musical countdown to Christmas!
“It’s an idea I’ve had for almost 10 years now,” says Nemec. “I remember as a teen seeing my favourite YouTubers post videos leading up to Christmas, and I thought; how fun would it be to do something similar but with all my favourite Christmas covers?”
Starting December 1st, Nemec will be posting Christmas Carols to her YouTube channel and sharing on her Facebook page every second day in December so viewers can catch her countdown to Christmas any time you feel like cozying up to some beautiful Christmas tunes.
“My favourite thing [about Christmas music] has to be the nostalgia that comes with it,” says Nemec. “There are certain songs that just bring me back to driving out to my Grandma’s on Christmas Eve or opening presents with my family Christmas morning. Some are silly but they mean a lot to my family so it makes me feel all warm and cozy inside.”
As for some songs that audiences will be able to enjoy, they will include something for everyone such as River by Joni Mitchell, I’ll Be Home For Christmas, and Nemec’s favourites including Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley, The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole and Where Are You Christmas from Jim Carrey’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Nemec’s favourite movie any time of year. Then to further the Christmas cheer, Nemec has enlisted some truly talented friends and collaborators to join her on some covers such as Jack Kotanen, Martina Vaillant, and Cady Dreger to name a few.
Needless to say, if you’re not feeling social or wanting to warm up the car, but crave some Christmas connection, Nemec’s Christmas concert will give you that.
“Not only Christmas music, but music in general has this unique way of tapping into our nostalgia,” says Nemec. “When we get this welling up of these bittersweet memories or this longing for a past experience, it’s only natural that you want to get together with those you care most about and share stories, create new memories, and share in that experience.”
To keep up with Katherine and catch her virtual countdown to Christmas, follow Katherine Nemec on Facebook and Instagram @katherinenemecmusic, and visit katherinenemecmusic.com or her YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@Katherine0301
