Though not destined to stick around, there was snow on the ground as last week rolled into this. Perhaps in response, lights started to glow on more houses. Stores, already decked out, have upped the quota of Christmas songs in the mix. There’s no doubt the season is getting into full swing.
Music being a big part of the yuletide festivities, there are concerts aplenty. On Sunday afternoon, Naomi Bristow will be sharing her abundant enthusiasm for the holiday season when she brings her Homespun Christmas show to the Commercial Tavern in Maryhill.
The young singer will be performing some traditional stuff, some Christmas favourites and some gospel tunes. And, of course, there’ll be yodelling in her signature style.
“I’m going to do some standards. And some gospel, which fits with the season,” she said. “And I’ll be doing a duet with Paul Weber – I always love performing with Paul when I’m there.”
She’ll be accompanied by Joe Howe on guitar.
“Christmas is my favourite time of year, and I’ll make sure everyone knows it,” she laughed of the holiday zeal she’ll be serving up to the audience.
The Maryhill show is one of a dozen or so stops she’ll be making on the run-up to Christmas.
The performances draw on her 2015 album Yodelin’ Christmas, which includes classics like O Holy Night, and country songs like The Christmas Shoes and A Christmas Letter, along with a duet with Whisperin’ Bill Anderson doing his song Po Folks Christmas.
“Probably my favourite Christmas song is The Christmas Shoes, and I like it from the kid’s view, which is how I do it.”
Bristow will also sing her Christmas version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, which has become popular on YouTube.
The show will feature Bristow’s distinctive yodelling style of singing, which sounds polished beyond her years. That perhaps comes from starting out so young – she released her first album (Cowboy Sweetheart) in 2008 at the tender age of 11. People took note, her performances winning her accolades and awards, including twice being named the Western Music Association’s “Youth Yodeler of the Year.”
Now a second-year college student, she continues to juggle music and school.
“It has been difficult, but I’ve made it work,” she said, joking that it’s been a little bit easier of late given that Ontario’s colleges have been shut down by a labour dispute.
Bristow makes her first return to the Maryhill venue after a two-year absence; her last show there also a Christmas concert.
Already pumped up for the holiday season, she’s looking forward to the Christmas shows, which will be followed by some family merrymaking at Christmas.
After the shows are done, she’ll be enjoying some downtime at the family farm in Beeton.
“I have a big family, and we have the whole family out at the farm,” she said. “My mom and I really decorate the place – it’s a complete conversion to Christmas.”
A Homespun Christmas makes it way to the Commercial Tavern in Maryhill November 19 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15, available at the venue, 1303 Maryhill Rd., or by calling 519-648-3644.
