STORY & PHOTOS BY GLENDA S. PARADEE
Kathy Mattea performed her Christmas Show, "A Winter Gathering with Kathy Mattea - Good News & Other Favorites" at the Franklin Theatre in Franklin, TN on November 26th and 27th.
Mattea started off her show singing a few of her biggest hits including "Love at the Five and Dime" and "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses". She also sang a new song that is so amazing titled "The Green Side of the Grass". It was written by her husband, Jon Vezner. It is one of my new favorites.
The Grammy Award winner then put on her 'Christmas Coat' and wrapped her acoustic music roots around her favorite Christmas songs for a fresh and comforting take on the season. Showcasing Mattea’s warm and soulful vocals, beautiful new arrangements, and a stellar band of some of Nashville’s finest players, A Winter Gathering featured well-loved traditional tunes as well as selections from her 1993 Grammy Award winning album, Good News, including "There's a New Kid in Town", "Somebody Talkin' About Jesus", "Christ Child's Lullabye", and her breakthrough recording of the iconic, and my favorite, “Mary, Did You Know?” Buddy Greene, who co-wrote "Mary, Did You Know?" was there in the audience the first night. Other songs were from her 2003 acclaimed album Joy for Christmas Day, including my next favorite song, "Straw Against The Chill" and my other favorite, "There's Still My Joy".
These shows were my personal Christmas gift. They were amazing. Kathy can magically interpret the songs so beautifully. She is like an angel. She shared heartwarming stories, and gave credit to the songwriters. Kathy touched my heart and soul with her beautiful songs and music. I really feel the Christmas spirit after attending these wonderful concerts. Kathy Mattea is truly amazing, she sang to my heart what Christmas is all about...Jesus Christ, Hope, and the Joy of the Christmas season. Before her last song, Mattea said, "This time of year when the trees look dead, we bring a live tree into the house to remind ourselves that we know this is not how it will always be. And when the world gets completely dark and there is very little light, we light candles and we affirm that the light will come back. And that the cycle of things will go on. And we cannot see what comes around the corner, but we have faith that it will come back. For me that's what this song is about". She then sang "There's Still My Joy". It was a beautiful ending to an amazing and wonderful concert.
These are the lyrics to "There's Still My Joy" written by Beth Nielsen Chapman
I took my tree down to the shore
The garland, and the silver star
To find my peace, and grieve no more
To heal this place inside my heart
On every branch I laid some bread
And hungry birds filled up the sky
They rang like bells around my head
They sang my spirit back to life
One tiny child can change the world
One shining light can show the way
For all my tears, for what I’ve lost
There’s still my joy
There’s still my joy
For Christmas day
The snow comes down on empty sand
There’s tinsel moonlight on the waves
My soul was lost, but here I am
So this must be amazing grace
One tiny child can change the world
One shining light can show the way
Beyond my tears for what I’ve lost
There’s still my joy
There’s still my joy
For Christmas day
There’s still my joy for Christmas day
Go see this wonderful Kathy Mattea Christmas show when she comes to your town, or fly to one like I did. You will be so glad you did.
Kathy's band played their hearts out.
Mattea's band consists of Fred Carpenter on fiddle. David Spicher on Bass. Tim May on acoustic guitar. Kim Parent on angelic background vocals and percussion, and Will Barrow, keyboards. Jay Lipschutz did a beautiful job with the staging and lighting.
More on Kathy:
Hailed “one of Nashville’s finest song interpreters,” Kathy Mattea has enjoyed much success and acclaim during her 35-year career in Country, Bluegrass and Folk music, including 2 Grammy wins, 4 CMA Awards, 4 #1 country singles, and five gold albums (plus a platinum Greatest Hits collection). Her latest album is “Pretty Bird", produced by her old friend, roots music wizard Tim O’Brien. The wide-ranging collection of songs chronicles a period of rededication to singing, digging back in with a vocal coach and emerging with a poignant and eclectic CD. In addition to creating and recording music and performing live on tour, Kathy is increasingly involved with public broadcasting, consulting and contributing on screen in Ken Burns’ 2019 documentary for PBS “Country Music”, and recently replacing founder Larry Groce as the host of the long-running NPR show “Mountain Stage”.
THANKS FOR THE MUSIC KATHY MATTEA!
For more information about Kathy Mattea go to her website: Kathy Mattea Official Website | HOME
