What is SimpleGifts?

An award winning six-piece ensemble touring the region in their bus, Angel.

What is SimpleGifts?

A holiday show focusing on traditional Christmas hymns and carols in new, modern arrangements.

What is SimpleGifts?

An experience seen by over 20,000 live audience members in the 2017 season.

Audiences seeking a concert close to the heart of Christmas by avoiding commercial and pop holiday repertoire will be impressed with the SimpleGifts show returning to the Historic Paramount Theatreat 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16.

The Riverland Choir, directed by Scott Blankenbaker, will join SimpleGifts on stage as part of the Austin tour. The Riverland Choir has been invited to perform at a festival in New York City in May, a good demonstration of the quality of musicianship at the college.

SimpleGifts musicians combine violin, Celtic whistle and bagpipes, piano, acoustic guitar and percussion with angelic three-part female vocals to create a “modern Old-World” sound. Performers are Billy McLaughlin, acoustic guitar; Billy Oehrlein, percussion; Heather (Garborg) Moen, vocals and violin; Laura MacKenzie, wooden flutes, whistles, concertina, bagpipes; Karen Paurus, vocals; and Amy Courts, vocals and melodica.

Heather Moen has a special Austin connection as her husband is Lee Moen, an Austin High School graduate and the son of Debbie and Barry Moen.

Tickets to the general admission show are on sale now at austinareaarts.org. Ticket prices are $25 advance and $30 day of show with a discount for students or seniors for $18 advance and $20 day of show.

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Coming soon at the Paramount Theatre

•$5 Movie: “Muppet Christmas Carol” (1992) 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 5

•Matchbox Children’s Theatre presents “Charlie Brown Christmas,” Dec. 7-8-9

•Lorie Line Holiday Extravaganza, Dec. 10

•$5 Movie: “Elf” (2003) 3 and 7:30 p.m., Dec. 12

•SimpleGifts with Billy McLaughlin and the Riverland Choir, 3:30 p.m., Dec. 16.

$5 Movie: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989), 3 and 7:30 p.m., Dec. 26

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Coming soon at the ArtWorks Center

$5 Kids Studio: Upcycled Christmas Tree, 10:30 a.m., Dec. 8.

•A Collection of 3 Ornaments with Katie Stromlund: 6 p.m., Dec. 19

•ABCs of Christmas: “Artwork, Beverages & Carols” with Riverland Choir, 6:30 p.m., Dec. 20