Local Looks: Musical ‘all-stars’ put personal spin on holiday faves at Velour
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- Lantern By Sea performs during the All-Star Christmas concert at Velour Live Music Gallery in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.
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- Liam Lars performs during the All-Star Christmas concert at Velour Live Music Gallery in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.
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- Goldmyth performs during the All-Star Christmas concert at Velour Live Music Gallery in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.
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- Kaitlyn Numbers performs during the All-Star Christmas concert at Velour Live Music Gallery in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.
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- Seaslak performs during the All-Star Christmas concert at Velour Live Music Gallery in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.
Every year, the Velour Live Music Gallery on University Avenue in Provo celebrates Christmas by hosting an All-Star Christmas special. This lineup consists of various artists from Salt Lake and Utah counties and has a different set of performers each night. Each band is encouraged to bring and sell merchandise for audience members to buy and the venue graciously provides free hot chocolate to add to the holiday spirit.
This event is a magical experience for all who attend, the venue and stage is decorated in intricate detail, which transforms the venue and stage into a Christmas wonderland. Each artist performs one acoustic song of their own as well as a Christmas song of their choice. While I could listen to an entire night of just Christmas music, I love the addition of them performing one of their own songs, as it gives the audience an opportunity to discover new local talent in a more intimate setting. Each night consists of 13 different acts that perform, the order determined through random drawing throughout the night.
Saturday evening’s lineup included some local favorites like Lantern By Sea, Seaslak and Goldmyth, and emerging artists like Kaitlyn Numbers and Liam Lars. Each performer brought their own fun element to each song, simultaneously keeping it true to the classic version as well as adding their own sound and twist to it. Lantern By Sea performed one of my favorite Christmas Songs, “O Holy Night.” They have a beautiful cinematic sound that they kept in their cover despite them performing an acoustic version onstage. Luckily for all in the audience, they released a cover of the song on streaming platforms. They also performed a new song they are recording in anticipation of their new album.
Kaitlyn Numbers and Liam Lars were also some of my favorites of the evening. Kaitlyn played the Christmas classic “Little Drummer Boy” and her recently released song titled “Coming of Age.” Lars played the fun “Santa Baby” and I was completely blown away by his vocals. His voice is deep and jazzy while also being very melodic. Whether it’s his own song or a Christmas cover, he brings tangible emotion to his performance.
As you plan your Christmas season from now on, be sure to include the Velour All-Star Christmas in your future plans. This annual event is unmissable for music lovers. And for those who simply enjoy listening to Christmas classics, there is something there for everyone. Highlighting some of the best musicians in the area, it’s a great way to get into the holiday spirit while showing support for the incredible local talent in Utah.