A Christmas with friends
Tomato Tomato teams up with Dave Gunning, Heather Rankin, and Ray Legere
I remember the first time I saw Tomato Tomato in concert.
It was several years ago at the Mack in Charlottetown. And I was impressed. Sitting in the dark, I marvelled at John and Lisa McLaggan’s high energy and their ability to create beautiful and tight harmonies.
I was also impressed with the lively couple’s ability to connect with the audience. At one point in the show they turned audience members into a choir to back them up in their hit song, “Toss It All Away”.
Since then, I’ve heard the folk duo perform a couple of times.
And each time I’ve been impressed with their ability to hold their own.
So, when I heard that the musical couple was teaming up with Dave Gunning, Heather Rankin and Ray Legere for A Maritime Christmas tour next month, I was thrilled.
Not only will theatregoers get to see this great band, but three other award-winning acts are coming along with them.
“We wanted to do something fun for people in the Maritimes to give everyone the warmest and fuzziest feeling that we possibly could. That’s why we invited our friends,” says Lisa, of the concert that takes place Friday, Dec. 1, at the Homburg Theatre of Confederation Centre of the Arts at 7:30 p.m.
The idea for the friends show came after Tomato Tomato shared a stage with Gunning and Rankin at the Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City this past February.
“It was so warm and so nice, and we had such a nice time together we wanted to do it again.”
For the couple, it’s a winwin situation because it brings more music, more personalities, more style and more joy to the whole experience.
“The more the merrier. And we’re certainly about being merry.”
John and Lisa will host the show and perform music from their new album as well as traditional songs that are familiar with audience members.
“As always, we’ll have own twist to them.”
Then, each act will come out our and sing their featured songs.
“We’ll also do some group numbers and some chit chat. It will be everything that an audience will want to hear from a Maritime show.”