Loreena McKennitt Brings Her Seasonal Show To The Music Hall
Media Release
Hamilton – Oct. 31, 2022: The Music Hall in New Vision United Church in Hamilton is thrilled to announce that the internationally-acclaimed world music star Loreena McKennitt will perform a seasonal concert at the venue on December 9, 2022.
The concert is part of Loreena’s Under A Winter’s Moon Tour, one that visits eight Ontario cities in December. That is also the name of her upcoming 16th album, to be released on Nov. 18, 2022 on her own label, Quinlan Road, and Universal Music Canada.
Available digitally, mixed in Dolby Atmos surround sound, and as a two-disc digipak, Under A Winter’s Moon features 15 seasonal songs performed by McKennitt, interspersed with readings by Indigenous actor/musician Tom Jackson, Gemini Award-winning actor Cedric Smith (on the beloved Dylan Thomas classic, “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”), and Ojibway artist Jeffrey Red George.
The material was recorded live at a series of seasonal concerts held in a historic sanctuary in Stratford, Ontario, Loreena’s hometown, in December 2021. The album itself is an absorbing experience that taps into themes of winter, reflection, indigenous culture, and Christmas via its skilfully curated blend of music and spoken word.
Beginning Dec. 2 in Stratford, the seasonal concert will be staged with its original musicians and narrators, then toured from Stratford to London, Guelph, Hamilton, Toronto, Peterborough, and Kingston, wrapping up in Ottawa on Dec. 17. Hamilton show tickets are now available here.
In a statement supplied to The Music Hall, Loreena explains the choice of this venue for her Hamilton concert: “As a long-time advocate for historic buildings, I, along with my fellow musicians, am delighted to be able to perform at New Vision United Church as it embarks on the next phase of its future. In these changing times we realize the role of these buildings and the communities they serve are evolving, still endeavoring to preserve their mission to support people in the community, while building bridges through the arts.”
Speaking on behalf of the Music Hall, acting general manager Ian Sloan expressed deep appreciation that one of the missions of this tour is to help build the profile of projects like The Music Hall in the local communities the tour visits. “Loreena’s tour captures the spirit of community that motivates and inspires the many Hamiltonians working on the Music Hall project.”
Loreena McKennitt’s eclectic Celtic blend of pop, folk and world music has sold over 14 million albums worldwide. Her recordings have achieved Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum status in 15 countries on four continents. A double Grammy Award nominee, she has won two Juno Awards, as well as a Billboard International Achievement Award.
She has performed in some of the world’s most-respected and historic concert venues, from Carnegie Hall to the famous Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, and for dignitaries including the late Queen Elizabeth II and His Majesty King Charles III.
Her upcoming Hamilton concert takes place in a historic auditorium that, in recent years, has played host to a wide range of local, national, and international stars. That list includes Daniel Lanois, The National, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Whitehorse, Jim Cuddy, Steve Strongman, and Terra Lightfoot.