A group of musicians are joining together to continue a local Christmas Eve tradition, throwing it back to the ‘50s through the ‘80s with a night of funk, soul and R&B jams.
The Soul Visionaries band will return with its annual Christmas Eve performance at The Granada Theater, with vocalist and Lawrence native Jevan Bremby as this year’s lead, according to the Facebook event page.
“More than anything, I’m looking forward to coming home to share the stage with such genuine and talented people who believe music can shape and build community,” Bremby said via email.
“I was handed the reins in 2018, but this will be the 12th Christmas Eve with the Soul Visionaries. And every year, whether they’re homegrown or just passing through, we add members to the family of countless musicians who have come together on the night before Christmas to be in community, sharing the love, the joy, the hope and the grooves we hope to carry into the new year.”
Band members alongside Bremby include vocalists Joe Sears, Hugh Naughtin, Gina Lorenz, Nadia Imafidon and Anthony Boynton; Chel Rich on the drums; Zach Dixon on the tenor saxophone; Travis Mott on the trumpet; Mario Vlasic on the bass; Michael Hamm on the guitar; and Will Treaster on the keyboard.
The live performance will include songs by music legends such as Aretha Franklin, Kool & the Gang, Prince, Bill Withers, The Isley Brothers and more, according to the event page.
Attendees are encouraged to bring canned and nonperishable goods as donations to Just Food. There will also be QR codes to scan and donate online to the Lawrence Arts Center. Bremby said he chose the nonprofit organizations because of his personal connections to both and “to give people multiple ways to donate while enjoying the show.”
“As a former board member of both organizations, I wanted to use this year’s event to spotlight them and (strongly) encourage people to support the incredible work they do,” Bremby said via email.
The Soul Visionaries are scheduled to perform on Saturday, Dec. 24 at The Granada Theater, 1020 Massachusetts St. in downtown Lawrence. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show will begin at 8 p.m.
Visit this link to order tickets online ahead of time. Pre-ordered tickets cost $15.33 per person – $10 for the ticket and an additional $5.33 fee. Tickets at the door will cost $15 per person, according to The Granada website.
Here’s the full event flyer:
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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