East Coast singer-songwriter Lennie Gallant is coming to Newmarket with his original Christmas show called The Innkeeper's Christmas.
The concert at the Newmarket Legion Nov. 25 will feature music from the Prince Edward Island musician's album Christmas Day on Planet Earth, which came out last year. It features all original music.
"I wanted to do something a little different rather than singing the songs everyone else has been putting out there every Christmas," Gallant said. "The reaction from it has been quite stellar, very positive. I'm really looking forward to getting to play for the people in that part of the world."
One of the songs on the album is called The Innkeeper, which inspired the name of the show. Gallant said it tells the nativity story from the innkeeper's point of view and is inspired by the stories of refugees today. He said the song has been a big hit, especially in his home province as a large Christmas pageant was put on in Charlottetown centred around that very song.
However, Gallant said it's not so much a religious song, rather a redemption story. It's the same for his show.
"It's not in any way a religious concert, by any means. We have a lot of fun and it's high energy. It's all elements of Christmas but there is a couple of moments of spirituality in it," he said.
For Gallant, his musical roots and his love of Christmas both go back to his family. His parents were both talented and along with their friends would do benefit concerts in small halls around P.E.I.
They were both in their local community choir as well, which despite being an amateur choir, Gallant said "they had something special. They sent chills down your spine, the way they sang. They sang with heart and people would come from miles around just to hear the choir at midnight mass."
That became a big part of his family's Christmas tradition. After the mass on Christmas Eve, they would all return home to these Acadian meat pies his mother had been making all day. They would eat, drink, play some songs, and open gifts until the early hours of the morning.
Then they would go to bed and wake up midday to get ready for a bigger family gathering with a turkey dinner, which again his mother had been making all day.
"It was always kind of a real fun time," Gallant said. "I was very lucky to have that experience."
In the past, Gallant has performed The Innkeeper’s Christmas throughout Atlantic Canada. This is the first time he will be bringing the tour to Ontario. With him he'll be bringing his band, featuring his partner and Acadian star Patricia Richard, multi-instrumental artist Keelin Wedge, and piano player Julien Robichaud.
“I’m very excited about taking this show on the road,” Gallant said. “I have a fabulous and energetic band with me, ready to play a Christmas show with a difference. We hope folks get in the spirit and join us for a visually rich, fun, and original take on the holiday season. And as one of my songs says: I’m gonna have a Merry Christmas even if it kills me.”
With that he is referring to the busy tour schedule which includes eight stops in Ontario with very few breaks. Then Gallant and the band will head to New Brunswick for two shows, five shows in Nova Scotia, and a homecoming finale with two shows in Prince Edward Island.
Newmarket will be the second top in the tour and the show is hosted by the Newmarket Folk Society.
The concert starts at 8 p.m. and takes place at the Newmarket Legion at 707 Srigley St. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online or by calling 705-431-7182 and leaving a message.
