Keith and his wife Kristyn are performing a massive homecoming show this December at the SSE Arena
After two sold-out nights in Belfast last Christmas, world-renowned Northern Irish hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty are coming back for a special homecoming show this December.
The husband and wife duo are bringing their acclaimed ‘Home for Christmas’ concert back to the SSE Arena on Monday, 22 December for one night only.
Described as “a vibrant celebration of the Christmas story”, blending beloved traditional carols, Celtic heritage and Nashville flair, the Grammy-nominated singers will be joined by New Irish Arts, under the direction of Jonathan Rea, alongside a host of instrumentalists and special guests.
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Keith chatted to Belfast Live about what audiences can expect from the show this Christmas, what they love about performing back home and what makes local crowds so special.
He said: “It’s an absolute feast of carols. Last year, we did it for my 50th birthday – the Christmas show started back in 2010 where we did an event with the famous Billy Graham, who’s now passed away, and then we ended up doing it each year.
“It was most famous for the annual Carnegie Hall show in New York which became part of the Carnegie Hall Christmas season for a whole decade and it was really a special thing.
“It only came to Northern Ireland when the TV specials were shown on the BBC so we never got to do it live. So then for my 50th birthday, I wanted to bring it home.”
After recording a rendition of the classic ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas’, Keith and Kristyn’s ‘Home for Christmas’ show was born last year and was planned as a “goodbye to touring”.
“We did it as a one-off but the Belfast show became the highest-selling Christmas show in the history of Belfast Odyssey [SSE Arena] – it sold over 15,000 tickets and that, of course, electrified a lot of people,” Keith explained.
“The Albert Hall came in and asked could we make this a show we do each year as a residency at the Albert Hall, so that became exciting.
“My wife and I have quit touring for two or three years just because we got kids in high school and we’ve got to stay focused on them for the next season but the one exception we’ll make is the week before Christmas because my daughters want to come home and see their grandparents and stay up on the north coast for Christmas.”
Alongside performing at the SSE Arena later this year, they will perform the show at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow on December 17 and the Royal Albert Hall in London on December 19.
Keith added: “It is home for Christmas in the truest sense.”
On what it means to be able to do what he loves for the audiences at home and selling out two massive shows last year, he said there is “nothing like it in the whole world”.
“You’re getting to sing all the carols, but getting to sing them in the Odyssey – I think Northern Irish people just sing better,” he laughed.
“Over the last decade, we’ve done Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Centre and the Grand Ole Opry and there’s not one of those shows is as good as being home in Belfast.
“Getting to play for the people singing and for your family, your friends and the people you grew up with – the same silly sarcasm that we have that nobody else get.
“There’s no bigger privilege for us to get to do that.”
When not on stage entertaining thousands during the festive period, Keith said he and his family enjoying spending their Christmas on the north coast – from reuniting with all of the family to crisp beach walks to getting fish and chips at Harry’s Shack.
This year’s ‘Home for Christmas’ show will be the biggest carol service they have ever done.
Keith continued: “This year is the seventy-fifth anniversary of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and C.S Lewis’ stories and we’ve actually got a special world premiere happening that night, which is really exciting for us.
“We’ve got a number of special guests coming in this year which is going to be fantastic as well.”
He thanked all of their local fans who have followed their careers throughout the years and said they are “so grateful” for their continued support.
“We’re so grateful for the opportunities we’ve had, but we’re also so grateful that every time we come home to Northern Ireland, the audience is larger and warmer and excited.
“It’s just always something special, and I’ll never forget last year singing ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ and ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ but also our girls coming on and just singing some fun songs like ‘Have a Holly Jolly Christmas’.
“No matter what it was, the crowd just lit up and they joined in and and it really does feel like you’re in your living room because you know everybody.”
Tickets on sale from Ticketmaster and the SSE Arena, find out more here: www.gettymusic.com
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