Award-winning singer-songwriter Eli Barsi is once again giving area music-lovers 鈥渁 merry, prairie Christmas鈥�, as she hosts her sixth annual Hometown Christmas concerts Dec. 5 and 6 at Kennedy Community Hall.
Traditionally, Barsi has invited special guests back to her hometown to perform, including Brad Johner, Gary Fjellgaard, Ronnie and Glory-Anne Prophet, and roots musician and fellow Kennedy native, Blake Berglund. This year, she will be welcoming Irish singer-storyteller, Stephen Maguire to the stage.
Macguire, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, whose sound is often described as 鈥榮oul meets country鈥�, now lives in Saskatoon with his Saskatchewan-born wife. He is a two-time Saskatchewan Country Music award-winner and along with being named the 2014 Country Music Person of the Year in the province, he was also presented with the SCMA Humanitarian Award.
鈥淪tephen and I met a couple of years ago at the Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards,鈥� says Barsi. 鈥淪ince then, he has invited me to be a part of his many benefit fundraising events, including the Saskatchewan Flood Relief Concert at Casino Regina this summer and his upcoming Crisis Nursery Christmas Benefit in Saskatoon. Working with him on and off stage has given me the opportunity to know him as a great entertainer and humanitarian, so I was thrilled when he accepted the invite to be a part of this year's show.鈥�
鈥淗e has so much to offer as an entertainer, musician, vocalist and storyteller. Since these shows are always acoustic, you get an up close and personal, intimate experience of the music, and really get to know the artist. This will be a great opportunity for people in this area to meet Stephen and take home some great memories and music.鈥�
Barsi says that her Kennedy Christmas shows are a special tradition for her. 鈥淚 am proud to be from Kennedy, Saskatchewan, raised on a farm near there,鈥� she says. 鈥淟ike so many farming communities and towns, there's a common respect for the rural lifestyle, hard work ethic, and real great people. I will always appreciate what these communities represent. It's been important to me and an honour to come back home, and what better time of year to share the gift of music than during the Christmas season.鈥�
鈥淭he Kennedy Community Hall is in fact the stage where I made my very first public appearance many years ago. I feel very blessed to have had these opportunities to present a family show and to share the stage with all of the great artists that have been a part of this series thus far, including: Celtic artist Lizzy Hoyt, cowgirl poet Doris Daley, Brad Johner, Gary Fjellgaard, Ronnie and Glory-Anne Prophet and last year, The Pelletiers.鈥�
鈥淚 had always hoped that our Christmas shows in Kennedy would be something that would be successful enough to continue through the years,鈥� says Barsi. 鈥淚 can only take it one year at a time, and every show dictates if I will take it on again the following year. So, I am very grateful that I get to present for a sixth year and know that this is all due to the good folks that have filled the old Kennedy Hall both nights for the last five years-with enthusiasm and support.鈥�
Barsi always endeavors to bring new experiences to her annual show; and this enthusiasm, coupled with the community's support, ensures the show is always fresh, while keeping the same format.
鈥淭he Hometown Christmas is different every year, with something for everyone. The audience can expect an entertaining, lively, fun family show, in the true spirit of Christmas with each artist's special brand of music woven through their set. My husband, bassist John Cunningham, and I will take the stage in the first half with a variety of Christmas music in the styles of Folk, Western roots, Country Gospel and yodelling. There will be an intermission with Christmas treats and refreshments for a donation to a local group. This year's special guest, Stephen Maguire, will entertain during the show's second half with an eclectic mixture of Traditional Irish, Soul, and Country and Folk Christmas music. The finale will find everyone on stage performing a farewell song, to send everyone home with a jingle in their step and Christmas spirit in their hearts,鈥�
As for the new year, Barsi says, 鈥淚 am looking forward to 2015, as I will be celebrating 30 years full- time in the music business. It's going to be a busy year, as I plan on continuing with a lot of travel, with many shows and festivals booked already. I've recently signed with a new management company and they have started the gears in motion for a tour of both the United Kingdom and Europe. I have another couple of radio singles and music videos to release in Canada and the USA from my 'Portrait of a Cowgirl' album. As well, I'm in the process of writing new material for the next album.鈥�
鈥淪omething I have also thought about for a very long time is working on an autobiography, so that's something that will be ongoing for the new year, as well. I can't put a release date on that, but it will be available someday.鈥�
Eli Barsi's 6th Annual Hometown Christmas is Dec. 5 and 6 at the Kennedy Community Hall. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and the shows start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available at elibarsi.com or by calling Juanita at (306)-538-2220 in Kennedy.
