Every musician has a favourite venue when it comes to belting out Christmas tunes.
For country singer Maddison Krebs it’s the annual Country Christmas Concert at the Lewis Memorial United Church in Turner Valley that gets her into the spirit.
“You get that feeling of Christmas – that warm feeling inside,” said the Okotoks teen. “It’s a whole different vibe and I love performing at it. It’s music that’s built in our community and that’s what I love about this Christmas event.”
This is the second year Krebs will perform at the charity concert, which features double performances Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.
Money raised during the concert will be distributed between the Oilfields Food Bank and outreach programs like Jacket Racket and the Diamond Valley Boys and Girls Club.
“It’s really great that it’s overall helping the community, bringing the community together for a great cause,” said Krebs. “I’m really happy to be a part of it.”
Well-known foothills musicians Eva and Susanne Levesque, Cody Follis, Jim and Lynda McLennan, Mike Weder, Bob Weder and Mel Wilson are also performing.
“You get to really connect with everyone when you are up there, especially in the church,” Krebs said. “Being on stage with your community is a totally different vibe than being on a regular big stage. You feel like you are just sitting in the living room with everyone chatting and bringing everyone together.”
The young singer/songwriter will sing classics Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley and Rocking Around the Christmas Tree.
She will also perform a song she and a friend wrote while in the Canadian Country Music Association’s Discovery Program this summer about not taking what you have for granted.
“It’s going to be perfect for the event,” she said. “It might not be directly about Christmas, but it can relate to those aspects of what Christmas is all about.”
Event co-organizer Joan Weder counts on local musicians like Krebs to step up and make the charity event a success.
It has been bringing local musicians under one roof before Christmas the last three years and last year it was expanded over two nights due to its success.
“We fill up the church,” she said. “We were sold out last year. The acoustics are phenomenal in that church and people like the ambiance.”
Weder said the church is decorated in a Christmas theme to add to the mood.
“You really get a good Christmasy feeling,” she said. “I just love it.”
Each year the concert features many of the same performers singing old favourites and some original Christmas tunes.
Each performer sings about three songs with the same performance taking place each of the two nights.
“We like to keep it local,” said Weder, whose husband and sons are among those performing. “It’s a country Christmas concert. Between Okotoks, Black Diamond, Turner Valley and Longview the talent is phenomenal.”
The event is held during the week rather than the weekend to suit the busy schedules of area residents so close to Christmas, Weder said.
“This time of year people want to get their shopping done and they are busy on the weekends,” she said. “We thought having it on weekdays it would work better.”
Baked goods and refreshments will be served during intermission and donations will be collected.
Tickets to attend the Country Christmas Concert cost $15 each and are available at Coyote Moon Cantina and Espresso Bar in Turner Valley and Bluerock Gallery in Black Diamond.
