Gothard Sisters: Home for a holiday concert
Published 1:30 am Friday, December 2, 2016
EDMONDS — The Gothard Sisters — Greta, Willow and Solana — are set to perform their annual Celtic-inspired Christmas concert for families on Thursday evening at the Edmonds Center for the Arts.
The sisterly trio, named “Best New Irish Artists” in 2013 by the Irish Music Awards, also has a new Christmas album out this week.
“Falling Snow” includes new arrangements of beautiful old carols and new tunes from the band.
Greta Gothard and her sisters — internationally recognized multi-instrumentalists with a loyal following — are glad to be home for the holidays.
The Gothards, now all in their 20s, began their careers by playing for tips at the Edmonds farmers market. Now they perform more than 120 shows a year, about a third of those on tour around the country or overseas.
“Edmonds is where we grew up,” Greta said. “To be able to perform at the beautiful and comfortable arts center is wonderful. Our relatives are five minutes away, and for the people flying in or driving up from Oregon, it’s nice to be able to show off our hometown.”
This year, the Gothard Sisters spent a chunk of their summer performing in an Irish pub aboard a Disney cruise ship in the waters of northern Europe.
“It was great fun, and very interesting. We love traveling and performing together, and probably always will,” Greta said. “The cruise ship is something we’ve added to our schedule. And it’s another way to make money. Recordings don’t pay the bills anymore, but live concerts do.”
The Gothards’ brand of Celtic-inspired original music pays respect to the older traditions of folk and classical music. But their music also includes what one reviewer called an American “earthiness that gives the songs a lively, approachable, down-home sound.”
At their concerts, expect Irish dances, song, storytelling and fiddles, mandolins, guitars, pipes and drums.
The new album, a DIY production like all of their CDs and music videos, was recorded after the summer tour season.
“It was high time for a new Christmas album featuring songs we’ve been playing at the Christmas shows during the past few years,” Greta said.
“Falling Snow” is named for a lyric in the carol “Still, Still, Still” about it being so quiet that one can hear the snow falling, she said.
Two originals are included on the album, one about the “Christmas Flower” (poinsettias, a name Greta could not pronounce as a kid) and “The Happy Elf,” a jig. Other old classics on the album include a favorite of Greta’s: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”
“Our arrangement ends up being gypsy violin solo and dance duel,” she said. “It’s an awesome song, especially considering that it is so old.”
The recording will be for sale in the lobby at the concert.
If you go
The Gothard Sisters’ Celtic Christmas Concert, 7:30 pm. Dec. 8 at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N, Edmonds.
Tickets are $22 general admission, $18 for students and seniors, $10 for children. Groups of four or more receive a 25 percent discount per ticket. Call 425-275-9595 or go online to edmondscenterforthearts.org. More about the Gothards is at www.gothardsisters.com.
