If Geoffrey Castle were a wizard, his electric violin would be his magic wand.
But Castle doesn’t need to cast spells to grab audiences’ attention.
Castle’s 11th annual Celtic Christmas Celebration is coming to Everett on Saturday. Can’t make it? He’ll also perform the show in Bothell on Dec. 15.
The six-string violinist will be joined by musicians, dancers and opera singers, all putting a modern, energetic and Celtic spin on holiday classics.
“Celtic Christmas Celebration is all about the magic,” Castle said. “We only get to do these songs once a year, and I look forward to it every time. It’s such a wonderful shared experience, and really the audience is very much a part of that.”
The show will mostly draw from his two holiday albums — “Noel: A Celtic Christmas Collection” and “Underhill’s Angel: A Treasury of Songs for the Season” — which include arrangements of traditional carols such as “I Saw Three Ships,” “Good King Wenceslas” and “O Holy Night.”
Castle and Co. also will play more obscure music.
“Ironically, the song that rocks the hardest in our show is also the oldest: an 800-year-old Gregorian chant called ‘Salva Nos,’ ” Castle said.
“I like digging deep.”
Castle, 55, of Kirkland, went from playing on the streets of New York City to performing in the Tony award-winning Broadway production of “M. Butterfly.” He now has his own label, Twisted Fiddle Music, through which he has released 11 albums.
He’s best known for his six-string electric violin. With it, he can replicate the sounds of a guitar and other string instruments. He has shared the stage with members of such big-name bands as Queen, Heart and Yes.
A theme to Castle’s career has been changing people’s perception for what is possible with a violin.
“My favorite person in the audience is someone who thinks they don’t like ‘violin music’ and then they hear what I do and basically freak out,” Castle said.
Castle performs solo shows, but Celtic Christmas Celebration is the biggest spectacle of his year because of the supporting cast.
He said the Seattle Irish Dance Co. will bring a high dose of energy to the show by blending traditional steps with contemporary rhythms.
Geoffrey Castle will be joined on stage by performers from the Seattle Irish Dance Co., who will blend traditional steps with contemporary rhythms. (Eric Salas)
And vocals by Seattle Opera’s Pamela Cassella and Veronica Nim Olson — a mother-and-daughter duo — will make the audience feel as if angels are present, Castle said.
Vocalists Pamela Cassella and Veronica Nim Olson, a mother-and-daughter duo, will perform at the Celtic Christmas Celebration performances. (Eric Salas)
Castle’s band includes keyboardist Mark Cardenas, percussionists Darin Watkins and TJ Morris, bassist Steve Boyce and guitarist Dan Connolly. They have “multiple Grammy Award nominations, platinum records and major recording credits between them,” he said.
Together, they put on a high-energy show, Castle said.
“It’s a show with a Celtic vibe that is, in turns, moving, dazzling and occasionally hilarious,” he said. “I’ve been blessed to have so many amazing musicians, dancers and singers join me in creating it and making it a reality.”
Bothell show
Castle and Co. will perform their Celtic Christmas concert at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Northshore Performing Arts Center, 18125 92nd Ave., NE, Bothell.
Tickets are $30. For more information, call 425-298-3449 or go to www.npacf.org.
Evan Thompson: 425-339-3427, ethompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @ByEvanThompson.
If you go
What: Geoffrey Castle’s Celtic Christmas Celebration
Where: Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 1
Tickets: From $22
More: 425-258-6766 or www.historiceveretttheatre.org
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Where: Northshore Performing Arts Center, 18125 92nd Ave., NE, Bothell
When: 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15
Tickets: $30
More: 425-298-3449 or www.npacf.org
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