Nashville, TN (Top40 Charts/ Sunshine Sachs) Trace Adkins will release THE KING'S GIFT, a Christmas album of Celtic carols, on October 29, 2013. He will then embark on The Christmas Show Tour, a reverent theatrical and musical production for the whole family, beginning November 15th. Website pre-sale and VIP Tickets begins today, 9/9 at https://www.TraceAdkins.com. VIP ticket holders will be invited to a pre-show experience with a private performance, Q&A, special merchandise and artist meet and greet. General on-sale for all tickets begins on 9/13. (Dates below).
The King's Gift ("Tiodhlac An Righ," in Gaelic) pays tribute to an ancient genre and transports the listener to a time of mystery and valor. Last Christmas, Trace's Celtic version of "We Three Kings" was released and will be featured on the upcoming album. The track can be heard at www.TraceAdkins.com.
Esteemed guests join Adkins on his first-ever holiday album since his Platinum debut sixteen years ago. Guests include renowned Irish ensemble, The Chieftains; Scottish vocalist Alyth McCormack, British folk/pop star Emma Stevens, multi-award winning family group, The Isaacs;
Kevin Costner and daughter Lily Costner; and legendary drummer Kenny Aronoff. The keyboards, acoustic, steel and bass guitars of American folk music harmonize with the weissenborn, mandolin, uilleann pipe, penny whistle, violin, viola, cello, harp, and organ.
"The Christmas Show" Tour begins a new Adkins holiday tradition for years to come. Envisioned as a theatrical production, Trace will alternate between fireside story-telling of anecdotes (both personal and historical) and performances of classic carols with a 12 piece ensemble - a quartet string section, female vocalists and a range of traditional instruments. The tour is inspired by Adkins' annual hosting duties at Disney World's Candlelight Processional, where his deep baritone narrates Christmas stories, while a full choir and orchestra performs. It has always been a highlight of Trace's year and he is thrilled to bring his own unique version of this concept on tour.
THE KING'S GIFT Track Listing: (with featured artists noted):
Wexford Carol
Tannenbaum
O' Come Emmanuel (with Emma Stevens)
Away In A Manger
I Saw Three Ships (w. The
Chieftains feat. Alyth McCormack)
Silent Night (w.
Kevin and Lily Costner)
We Three
Kings (w. Sonya Isaacs)
Drummer Boy (w. Kenny Aronoff)
Oh Holy Night (w. The Isaacs)
What Child Is This
THE CHRISTMAS SHOW Tour Dates & Venues:
11/15 - Effingham, IL - Effingham Performance Center
11/16 - Van Wert, OH - Niswonger Performing Arts Center
11/17 - Greensburg, PA - Palace Theatre
11/19 - Red Bank, NJ - Count Basie Theatre
11/21 - Shippensburg, PA - H. Ric Luhrs PAC - Shippensburg Univ.
11/22 - Utica, NY - Stanley Center for the Performing Arts
11/23 - Sewell, NJ - TD
Banks Arts Center
11/29 - Bethlehem, PA - Sands Bethlehem Event Center
11/30 - Wallingford, CT - Toyota Presents the Oakdale Theatre
12/1 - Westbury, NY - Theatre at Westbury
12/3 - Troy, OH - Hobart
12/4 - Youngstown, OH - Coveli Center
12/5 - Waukegan, IL - Genesee Theatre
12/13 - Rochester, MN - Mayo Civic
12/14 - Onamia, MN - Grand Casino Mille Lacs
12/15 - Carmel, IN - Palladium @ Carmel Center
12/17 - Hollywood, FL - Hard Rock Live at Seminole
12/18 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckhert Hall
ABOUT TRACE ADKINS: Trace Adkins' trademark baritone has powered countless hits to the top of the charts and sold over 10 million albums, cumulatively. His hit list includes "You're Gonna Miss This," "Ladies Love Country Boys," "Songs About Me," "Every Light In The House," "Hillbilly Bone (Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins)," and "Just Fishin'," to name a few. The Grammy-nominated member of the Grand Ole Opry is a TV personality, actor, author, spokesman for the Wounded
Warrior Program and the American Red Cross, for whom he raised over $1.5 million dollars as winner of NBC's All-Star Celebrity Apprentice. In recent years, Adkins has performed seven USO Tours.
In his 2007 autobiography, A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck, the former oil-rigger recounted his rise to fame, brushes with death, and battles with personal demons. Trace played a tough as nails biker in The Lincoln Lawyer (starring Matthew McConaughey), he developed and hosted GAC's "Great American Heroes" honoring every-day heroes and he has hosted the American Country Awards on FOX for three consecutive years.
In 2011, Trace's album, Proud To Be Here debuted atop the Billboard Country Chart and his eleventh studio album, Love Will… was released in May 2013 on Show Dog-Universal Music. His album of Celtic-infused Christmas carols, The King's Gift, will be available October 29, 2013.
