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The Citizen, 2011-11-24, Page 31THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011. PAGE 31.Band returns to Brussels for Christmas show Scott Woods and his band will be rolling into Brussels on Saturday, Dec. 3 and bringing their own special brand of holiday cheer. “We’re doing our old time Christmas show and this year we’re calling it Christmas Memories,” Woods said. “We’re playing in Brussels at the Melville Presbyterian Church as part of a fundraiser for the church.” Woods explained that fundraising shows, which are the majority of the events he and his band play, are a “real win-win” for everyone involved. “We get to play the music we love and they get to raise money for their projects or groups,” he said. “This year, we get to play our toe-tapping Christmas music and the church gets to make some money.” Woods and his band began playing charity shows as a rule, and not the exception, shortly after his father died. The genesis of the decision was, according to him, was more accident than design. “In 2003, we were on the road for our Christmas show,” he explained. “My father passed away. We had to miss one show for the wake and service, but were on the road the next day.” Woods’ father played the violin and met his wife, Scott’s mother, through the music. “After he passed away, my mom said she wanted to go on a mission,” Woods said, going on to say it shocked him a bit. “She said she wanted to go help people far away,” he said. Woods suggested that instead they take the band and begin raising money for groups that do mission work or other worthwhile endeavours that help people. “In the spring of 2004, we did a dozen shows across Ontario,” he said. “Some were for missionary funds, others were for buying things for churches, like choir gowns.” Then things really began to get going, according to Woods. “In the fall, we got a whole bunch of calls,” he said. “We did 85 concerts in 2005 for everything from fire departments to community groups.” In 2006, the amount of shows had nearly doubled, having reached 145 shows, and Woods felt that was about their maximum. “We try to do between 140 and 150 shows a year,” he said. “We go coast to coast. We just got back from the Maritimes and soon we’re heading to Quebec.” The band is known in the area, as they’ve played in Brussels before, but this year’s show will be a little different, according to Woods. “We’re going to have an old time variety show,” he said. “Kind of like the CKNX Barn Dance, but mostly Christmas music.” Woods explained that, while people may recognize some Christmas tunes, the group really claims the music for their own. “We’ll take traditional music and add a fiddle to it and not just added in as an afterthought,” he said. “It will become a primary part of the performance.” He also said that Stratford’s Kyle Waymouth, who is a member of the band, has afforded them a little more creativity. “Kyle is a championship step dancer, so we have the opportunity to fit that into the songs as well,” he said. “We’ll take your classic Christmas song, add a jig, a fiddle and step dancing and have a whole new tune.” Woods says you don’t need to be a fiddle fan to enjoy the show either. “It’s an all around variety show, and it will have a lot of fun stuff,” he said. The show also offers a chance for people to get some early Christmas shopping done, according to Woods. “We’ll have our new album, which is our 14th release, for sale there,” he said. “It’s only available online or at our shows and a lot of people find it’s a great gift for their parents or their grandparents.” The show will start at 7 p.m. at Melville Presbyterian Church in Brussels. Tickets are $20 for general admisision and $10 for children and can be bought by calling Doug McArter at 519-887-6963 or 519- 887-9025. For more information on Woods, visit www.scottwoods.ca Blyth Memorial Hall www.BlythFestival.com 519-523-9300 (local) • 1-877-862-5984 (toll free) ONE SHOW ONLY! SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4TH ~ 3:00 PM Tickets Only $25 Hear all the Hits: Islands in the Stream, The Gambler, 9 to 5, Coward of the County and more! Marie B o t t r e l l as DOLL Y PART O N Direct fro m L a s V e g a s ! Marty Ed w a r d s as KENNY ROGERS STARRING Canadi a n C o u n t r y S u p e r s t a r ! Happy 30th Anniversary June & Harry Love from your family Tickets at The Centennial Hall Box Office. Call 519-672-1967 www.centennialhall.london.ca MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2011 – 7 PM (550 Wellington Street – London) Tickets at the Blyth Festival Box Office or by calling 1-877-862-5984 Also available online at www.blythfestival.com MON. MARCH 19, 2012 – 7 PM BLYTH MEMORIAL HALL Entertainment Leisure& By Denny Scott The Citizen Woods comes to Brussels The Scott Woods Band (Woods is seen above) will be performing a Christmas variety show at the Melville Presbyterian Church in Brussels on Dec. 3. The show, which starts at 7 p.m., will feature Christmas songs and performances with a twist, like the inclusion of Stratford’s Kyle Waymouth, a champion step dancer. (Photo submitted) BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED KENNY & DOLLY ★ TOGETHER AGAIN! ★