JUNO Award-winning group Good Lovelies have been bringing the holiday cheer to venues across Ontario with their 2021 Christmas Tour sharing their classic holiday songs, timeless winter selections, and original material. The tour began on December 8th in Kenora, ON, and will end on December 22nd in Kingston, ON, including a stop in Toronto as they headline the brand new Massey Hall. Tickets for all the shows can be found here.
“We are so proud that we kept this tradition alive last year with a virtual tour but you can imagine what it will mean to us to see your faces in person, visit your communities and celebrate the return to live shows with an actual tour;” shares the band. “And to wrap up the tour with our first-ever headlining show at the brand new Massey Hall – it feels like the most perfect Christmas gift!”
We caught up with Good Lovelies member Caroline Brooks, to talk about what fans can expect from their holiday performances, favourite tour moments, and fun holiday traditions.
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Your holiday tour includes a stop at Massey Hall in Toronto on December 20th. How has the tour been so far? What have been your favourite moments?
We have just spent a week in Northern Ontario, playing a community hall, a gorgeous theatre, a church and a legion. It’s so exciting to be back out here and sharing our Christmas tour with fans and friends! Our first show back was in Kenora where the audience jumped to their feet during our rendition of Auld Lang Syne, clapping and singing along! It was glorious and brought tears to our eyes.
It’s also a joy to be back in the tour van, sharing space with our wonderful crew and band. It’s funny to have missed the little things like the impromptu roadside stops (like Egli’s sheep farm in Minnitaki, ON), a leisurely soundcheck, or a smooth airport check-in – but that’s where we’re at.
What are you most looking forward to about the Toronto show?
Our Toronto Christmas show is always a highlight of the tour for us; it’s a reunion of family, friends and fans who have supported us from those early days when we played bar gigs after our day jobs. It’s home to us! And to be headlining Massey Hall is SUCH an honour. We opened for our friend Royal Wood there years ago before the Massey Hall renovation and now we get to come back with our own show and band to play the brand new hall. We cannot wait.
What can fans expect from the show?
Our Christmas show is a mix of holiday classics, winter songs and original tunes from our catalogue. There’s something for everyone! It’s very family-friendly, and our hope is that you leave the show with a giant smile on your face! We are travelling with our band of merry men – Steve Zsirai on upright bass, Robbie Grunwald on keys and Mark Mariash on drums. As a special treat, we have also invited our friend Drew Jurecka to join us on violin for the Massey show.
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A portion of sales for the Toronto show will be going towards the 519. Could you please tell us more about the organization and why you chose to support it?
The 519 is an incredible organization that supports the LGBTQ + community in Toronto through various projects, including refugee services. We believe strongly in supporting community as part of our Christmas tour, and we feel very connected to the work that the 519 does.
What do you enjoy the most about the holiday season? Do you have any favourite holiday traditions?
The thing I enjoy most about the holiday season? Our Christmas tour! It’s become such a central part of our Christmas experience, and it’s something we look forward to all year. As individuals, we all have holiday traditions – there are ornaments (Kerri collects pickle ornaments HA!), Christmas parades (Sue loves them), and tree-trimming. In my home, one of my favourite traditions takes place on Christmas morning. Before allowing the kids to see Santa’s gifts, my partner and I make my kids wait at the top of the stairs while we very slowly make our morning coffee. VERY SLOWLY. My parents used to do this to me as a kid, and the anticipation was unbearable! I love watching my own kids squirm now. It’s the best!
Get your tickets to Good Lovelies’ Christmas Tour here.
Cassandra Popescu