Classic holiday tunes, done with a South Florida touch
Holiday tunes are getting the South Florida treatment.
They’re the focus of WPBT-Ch. 2’s “The Gig Holiday Special,’’ featuring local musicians and bands of various genres and ages as they put their own creative take on holiday favorites.
The winter program is a spinoff of the WPBT series “The Gig,” which chronicles local performers and how they create their music. It’s like a South Florida version of VH-1’s documentary series “Behind the Music,” but more upbeat.
Hosted by Monique Arenas, the holiday edition airs 7:30 p.m. Monday on WPBT and will simulcast online at thegigshow.com/ holidayspecial where people can chat with the musicians during the broadcast.
“The holidays are a special time of year and music is an important part of getting you into the spirit. We want to shine a spotlight on local artists as they perform holiday classics,’’ said “Gig” co-producer Rob Reep.
“We have so many talented musicians right in our back yard constantly
performing in local venues and we want to showcase their talent to a broader audience,’’ added co-producer Norman Silva. “The basic idea of ‘The Gig’ is to celebrate local music of all genres and delve into the creative process.”
Seven musical acts perform in the half-hour special, which was recorded at WPBT’s studios in North Miami and the Hard Rock Café at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood.
Miami duo Afrobeta, made of Smurphio and Cuci Amador, perform an electronic, keyboard-laced, modern update of “O Christmas Tree.”
“O Christmas tree, O Christmas Tree, you don’t grow in Miami,’’ sings Amador.
Boca Raton’s Maggie Baugh uses her fiddle for a peppy country rock version of “Deck the Halls” with guitarist Mason Pace.
Emily Brooke of Wellington sings a country version of “Silent Night” with a guitar .
Fort Lauderdale balladeer Paul Bellantoni and violinist Es Oh give “O Holy Night” a folksy bluesy vibe.
“We picked ‘O Holy Night’ because it’s one of those classic songs that really get you into the holiday spirit,’’ Bellantoni tells viewers. “I wanted to take a little bit more of an American, Southern folk style to really modernize it a little bit.”
Keba, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, interprets “Coventry Carol’’ as a sultry soulful song with guitarist Erik Nunez.
And rocker James Coyle sings “Joy to the World” with a guitar while Fort Lauderdale band A New Way To Live Forever jams to “Auld Lang Syne.”
In addition to the broadcast, Afrobeta will perform for free at 10 p.m. Friday at the Hard Rock Café. WPBT producers say they want to make the holiday broadcast an annual event.
johnnydiaz@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4939