The New Harmony Festival & School will kick off its 7th “concert season” with an intimate and joyous celebrations of the holidays featuring old-style New Orleans piano music with piano legend, Tom McDermott, Cajun fiddling and high-energy bluegrass fiddle and guitar duo, Mike Barnett & Jordan Tice, from Nashville. The two shows will take place during the “Christmas In New Harmony” weekend. The 1850s-era Historic Thrall’s Opera House of New Harmony, IN will be decorated for the occasion, and the shows, a 1pm matinee and 7:30pm evening performance, will be hosted by Greg Kostrawba, the voice of WBAA Public Radio at Purdue. The evening performance will be broadcast live on 88.3 FM WNIN Public Radio, and stations across the Indiana Public Broadcasting Network.
Our LIVE radio broadcast will take place from 8-9pm CST and will be streaming live on www.WNIN.org. Don’t forget to come early and enjoy the town-wide parade and Christmas in New Harmony celebration!!! KIDS 10and under FREE! Paper tickets available at the New Harmony Marathon station. More info and reservations by phone at 812-472-4321.
New Orleans pianist Tom McDermott is one of the great performers of traditional New Orleans-style piano, especially the gospel and Mardi Gras music that first made the city famous as the “birthplace of Jazz”. Fans can expect to hear favorites like “Just a Closer Walk With Thee” and “Tipitina” as well as more traditional Christmas favorites.
Nashville fiddle & Guitar duo Mike Barnett & Jordan Tice represent the very best of the young talent currently reviving the Bluegrass scene in “Music City” and will be covering the Bluegrass and Cajun bases. Both are national award-winners and have been featured on the newly-revamped A Prairie Home Companion with host, Christ Theile. NH Music Festival & School founder and director, Christopher Layer will also be on hang with his bagpipes to add a touch of celtic charm to the program.
Saturday, December 2nd is also “Christmas In New Harmony”, with New Harmony merchants and shows celebrating the season, a parade, a visit from Santa Claus, outdoor music and holiday craft vendors in the Ribyre Gymnasium.