Tuesday afternoon Steve Bell sat down with Diamond Lane host Sarah Jo Kirsch to treat our listeners to some beautiful music and inspirational words ahead of his WSO concert Thursday night.

Winnipeg-based singer/songwriter legend Steve Bell is preparing for a program of holiday delights with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Steve Bell Christmastide - A Journey through Advent, Nativity, and Epiphany happens Thursday night at Centennial Concert Hall. He was kind enough to stop by and share some of his favourite holiday music before the big show.

 

 

Born in Calgary and raised in Drumheller, he began his musical career with the family band, The Alf Bell Family Singers, that Bell endearingly describes as the 'Christian Partrige Family'. His migration to Manitoba took him from jazz-fusion ensemble Dega to folk trio Elias, Schritt and Bell, to new-wave/punk Motet among a myriad of other collaborative adventures. It was a six-month stint of inspired songwriting that bore enough repertoire for four albums. It wasn't until 1989 that Bell released his first solo album. Since then, his status as a hero in Canadian Contemporary Christian and Gospel has been affirmed by a pair of Junos among other accolades.

 

On Thursday night (Dec 17) at 8:00pm, Utah Symphony Orchestra's Associate Conductor Rei Hotoda leads the WSO with Steve Bell in Manitoba-raised Mike Janzen's arrangements of holiday favourites. Another special guest, poet Malcom Guite, will also lend his collaborative energies to this magical evening. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.

 

Later this week, you can catch an interview with Malcom Guite in podcast format at geekdomhouse.com. Check back for updates!

 

107 LIVE! continues this month with . . .

Daniel Mac DMC ICE - Wednesday in the Diamond Lane between 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM

Classical gutiarist Rod Machovec - Thursday @ 8:30 AM

Sisler Jazz Choir - Thursday @ 5:00 PM Hour

West Gate Mennonite Chamber Ensemble - Friday @ 8:30 AM

The Snowtones - Dec 21 in the 5 PM hour

And more!!!!!