With Christmas less than a week away, we have a holiday playlist for you to get you in the Christmas spirit! This playlist features a variety of musical genres from our GDPI program partners and local musicians. This fun and festive playlist is perfect to play throughout the upcoming holidays and winter season!
In 2020, our Programs Department was forced to cancel over 50 FREE concerts due to the public health crisis surrounding Covid-19, along with the cancellation of the other 400+ programs we had planned for the community this year. We are hopeful that in Spring 2021, Greensboro Downtown Parks will be able to return to in-person programming. In the meantime, we're bringing you this new blog series - Park Arts Playlists - a new playlist every week, featuring music from artists that either have performed at the downtown parks before or who would have performed this year.
If you're interested in helping us do more to support artists and creative engagement in our community, please consider becoming a donor and contributing to our $10K in 10 Weeks Campaign.
1. Christmas Folk by NathanRyan: Enjoy this relaxing song from folk-rock musician NathanRyan. NathanRyan is known for creating songs adults can enjoy, but with messages that are appropriate for children. After his first child was born in 2013, Nathan shifted his musical focus to start writing songs for his son and to create music that families can enjoy together.
2. Cozy, Warm, and Tucked Up Tight by Doug Davis: Based in Winston-Salem, Doug Davis is a talented guitarist, singer, and prolific songwriter. Cozy , Warm, and Tucked Up Tight comes from Davis's album Lullabies for Sophie. Enjoy the beautiful piano melody in this lullaby by Doug Davis.
3. John Frost by Pete Pawsey: Pete Pawsey is a talented musician based in Durham, NC. Small Mythologies is from Pawsey's 2018 album, Old Crow and Other Stories. This song features Pawsey's storytelling lyrics, singing about the wintery cold.
4. Peace / Blue Silver with Wally West: Wally West is an award-winning and critically acclaimed musician from Greensboro NC. Wally West earned a Bachelor's degree in Saxophone Performance from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA in 1983, and now demonstrates his passion for music through performances and teaching his craft. Listen for the jazzy holiday classics embedded in this song!
5. December by Dropping Julia: Lead singer Emily Kresky exudes soulful sass through her storytelling songs. Combined with Sean Bracken (drums), Sam Passe (guitar), Alex Bragg (guitar) and Sebastian Nikischer (bass), Dropping Julia's style is a mixture of mellow and dreamy yet upbeat and funky music. December is a song with moody and soulful lyrics for a different take on typical holiday tunes.
6. Peace by Africa Unplugged:Africa Unplugged is dynamic band that uses traditional instruments from West Africa and musical inspiration from around the world. Sit back and enjoy the soft beat, soulful vocals, and beautiful message of Peace by Africa Unplugged.
7. Silent Pines by Abigail Dowd: Abigail Dowd is a Greensboro-based singer/songwriter/guitarist, known for her soulful voice and storytelling lyrics. Silent Pines beautifully showcases Dowd's soulful vocals without accompaniment.
8. Embers with Sam Frazier: Sam Frazier is a talented guitarist (and pianist and bassist), as well as a singer and a songwriter, based in Greensboro. In Embers, Sam Frazier collaborates with the Colorado-based band, Between the Heart. This Christmas song mixes things up with its 90s rock feel!
9. Fireside by STIG: STIG features Ryan Stigmon on the saxophone, Thomson “Soy Boy” Knoles on the keys, Jack McChesney on the drums, and Artie Sadtler on the bass guitar. These four musicians bring their improvised psychedelic funk sound from the hills of Asheville, NC to the eyes and ears of their fans across the US.
10. Joy to the World by Gregory Amos: Gregory Amos is a talented songwriter, music producer, and saxophonist from North Carolina. This song is the perfect smooth jazz holiday tune to sit back and enjoy while sipping hot cocoa. Be sure to check out Amos's entire Christmas album on Spotify!
11. Snowballin' by TerraBANG: TerraBANG is a 5 member band from Boone, NC, creating music that is a unique blend of hip hop, jazz, and soul. TerraBANG is a band that is "dedicated to spreading love and positivity through their music."
12. Winter is Blue by Blue Cactus: Blue Cactus is a country duo based in Chapel Hill, NC. Led by Steph Stewart and Mario Arnez, Blue Cactus creates songs ranging from 'gritty honky-tonk to heartbreaking balladry.' Blue Cactus is known for their impressive vocal harmonies and dynamic twang which characterize the band's unique sound. Enjoy Blue Cactus's latest wintery single, Winter is Blue, to bring a little country twang to your Christmas!
13. Little Drummer Boy by Mark Mazzatenta: Mark Mazzatenta is a Greensboro-based music performer, composer, and instructor. Mazzatenta earned a Master of Music and Guitar Performance, and currently works at High Point University. Mazzatenta plays a beautiful rendition of this Christmas classic on his classical guitar.
Happy listening! Don't forget to check back next Sunday for more songs by local artists and GDPI partners!