GRAVENHURST — The Muskoka Concert Association is offering up Christmas bonuses for true music lovers Sunday afternoon at the Gravenhurst Opera House.

Not only will you be overjoyed to hear one of Canada’s finest electric trios accompanied by one of the country’s equally celebrated singers.

It’s only half the festive fun starting at 2:30 p.m.

A pre-reception at 1:30 p.m. includes Gravenhurst pianist Rand Simpson.

And there’s food to nibble on as you listen to his jazz, blues and pop standards.

That’s four great reasons to celebrate the holidays with music you’ll love, says MCA president Diane Harrop.

She adds this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see all three in one place for one price.

If you have a ticket for the previously cancelled pre-COVID performance, you already have a seat at this exclusive event!

It’s all part of the 75-year-old concert association’s season that began last month with baritone Bret Polegato at Trinity United Church.

Come ready to be dazzled. And bring a friend.

Ticket are $38.16 (plus taxes/fees) available through the Opera House by calling  705-687-5550 x 2021, Toll-Free: 1-888-495-8888; or going online to https://tickets.gravenhurst.ca/TheatreManager/1/online?performance=1165

The Sultans are three-time JUNO nominees; four-time Canadian Folk Music Award winners and are presenting their Billboard charting and New York Times acclaimed Christmas Caravan show.

Critics are amazed by their performance:

“An amazing worldbeat Christmas where even the tried and true is taken to such new and amazing lengths. Very hot stuff clearly made to chase the cold winter away.” — Midwest Record, USA
“Canadian band Sultans of String keeps imaginative imperatives in overdrive for the entirety of Christmas Caravan, a generous pitch for global unity through the music of Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah. These five musicians have jubilantly recharged the classics with arrangements that demand attention. — Downbeat, USA
“This one totally undoes any “bah, humbug” a jinglebelled-jaded deejay might feel!” — KZYX, California

Campbell, joins them. She, too, is an acclaimed and prolific singer who also serves up percussion, vocals and harmonica. Bred in the Maritimes and Ottawa, educated in Montreal, and now based in Toronto, she has performed with Jane Siberry, Lynn Miles, Porkbelly Futures, Parachute Club, Royal Ottawa, Ian Tamblyn, among countless others. Her voice has graced both the big and small screen, and on over 120 recordings.

Listen for her amazing take on Hallelujah.

The event is also a special awareness raising bash for the UNHCR.  As fundraising partners, Sultans of String have raised over $10,000 for UNHCR so far: https://amplify.e-activist.com/14441/p2p/90279/sultansofstring .

Simpson swings beforehand

Simpson, a retired oncology specialist, is a local musician the MCA has long hoped would share his musical talents with their audience.

Harrop is thrilled he has agreed to entertain and enlighten us with his musical abilities.

“He is a true talent,” she boats.

“His diverse knowledge of music history over a broad range of music genres … when combined with his personable presentation and his skillful executions on the keyboard … made for a wonderfully enjoyable performance.”

Principally a jazz drummer, Simpson has added the keyboard and continues to foster different music styles locally and across Canada with jazz and blues at the heart of this musical expression with the hope of providing a varied experience for listeners. This is a musician who has made Gravenhurst his home and whom we all want to hear play, says Harrop.