This summer, in the hot and dry Nashville heat, Carli and Julie Kennedy were conjuring images of snow and hot drinks by the fire.
That’s because the Powell River natives were recording original and cover tracks for their new holiday album, A Twin Kennedy Christmas.
But while they were laying down the vocals and music, the identical pair was not alone in their festive thoughts: In every Music City studio they worked, they could hear bands in other rooms also cutting Christmas singles.
“It was kind of surreal,” Carli Kennedy said from Nashville last week, where the sisters were playing a show that night. “It was hot outside and yet, here everyone was, trying to get into the Christmas spirit.”
Christmas is the Kennedys favourite time of the year and, for their sophomore album, they recruited top musicians — including the rhythm section of the Grammy-award winning ensemble, The Time Jumpers — and co-producer Dustin Olyan to relay their perfect sound: a blend of “Canadiana meets Americana,” violinist Julie Kennedy said, “and with lots of strings.”
Next month, Tri-City residents will be able to hear their tunes — and get into the Christmas mode — when the Kennedys launch the B.C. leg of their Christmas tour, in Coquitlam (the last time they played the Evergreen Cultural Centre was in 2014 as part of the sixth annual Music on the Grill series).
And the duo promise they’ll deliver a show to remember. “It’s going to be lots of fun because we’re so excited to come back,” Julie Kennedy said, noting they’ve also got December dates in Victoria, Powell River, Merritt and Chilliwack.
• Tickets for A Twin Kennedy Christmas, on Dec. 7 at 8 p.m., start at $15. Call the box office at 604-927-6555 or visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
