SARATOGA SPRINGS – Kevin McKrell’s Christmas Show has become a tradition in Saratoga. McKrell, along with his daughter Kate, have performed at venues all over New York and the northeast, and now, they’re returning to Parting Glass Pub December 20 at 1 p.m. and December 21, 22 and 23 at 7 p.m. for their always popular, “McKrells Christmas Show.” There is also a performance of the show at Spa Little Theater on December 20 at 7 p.m. Tickets to the Parting Glass Pub shows on December 22 and 23 are already sold out, but tickets are still available for all other shows. For tickets to the show at Spa Little Theater can be purchased at Home Made Theater’s box office or online at homemadetheater.org. Reservations for the available shows at Parting Glass Pub are available by calling 518-583-1916.
Interview with Kevin McKrell about “McKrells Christmas Show”:
Q: How long have you been doing the Christmas Show in Saratoga/at the Parting Glass? How did it start?
A: I started the Christmas shows 20 years ago or so. I first scheduled a show as a way to pay back close friends and family for their support , not expecting it to become a thing, thinking that it would only be thirty or so folks, and we would do one show and that would be it. The one show turned into 3 shows the first year, and from there we have done the show at The Egg in Albany, Proctors Theater in Schenectady, the Madison Theater in Albany and always one of our favorite venues, The Spa Little Theater, as well as always ending the performance season at The Parting Glass.
Q: What is your Christmas Show like? What can audiences expect?
A: We perform classic and modern holiday tunes (“White Christmas,” “Bells on Christmas Day,” “Blue Christmas”), religious Christmas songs (“Silent Night,” “Little Drummer Boy,” “Ave Maria,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”) and a few original tunes.
Q: What do you love about performing?
A: I consider myself a very, very lucky man to be able to make my way in the world by making music and performing. I have travelled the world around and back again from Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to the Egg, The Parting Glass and Cafe Lena, Ireland, Scotland, Italy and every state in the Union. To be able to do what you love every day is a joy and a privilege.
Q: What do you do when you're not performing?
A: When I am not performing I am a portrait painter and sculptor you can see some of my work at fineartamerica.com/art/all/kevin+mckrell/all. I have some paintings available at Celtic Treasures in Saratoga and I have a shop in Colonie Center called Celtic Attitudes Clothing Company.
Q: Any other information you want to add?
A: I am joined on stage during this Christmas season by percussionist Brian Melick, my daughter Kate McKrell and fiddler Doug Moody.
For more information about Kevin McKrell, visit his website at kmckrell.com.
