Get in the holiday spirit with the annual Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting on November 28th at 6PM . Every year Norway gifts the people of D.C. a Christmas Tree as a show of friendship between Norway and D.C. and gratitude for U.S. support during and after WWII. The tradition dates back to 1997 and it is one of the most popular holiday events in D.C.
The event is free to the public. The line-up includes performances from the East of the River Steelband, the Wicked Sycamore, Rayshun LaMarr, and tenThing, and remarks from H.E. Anniken Krutnes, Ambassador of Norway to the United States.
The vision of the late Dr. Gladys Whitworth Bray, the East of the River Steelband was founded in 1993 to bring this unique, cultural, and musical experience to youth living east of the Anacostia River. Over the years, the program has provided music training and arts and cultural education to hundreds of children and youth through its core steel pan and youth development programs. The ensemble’s typical repertoire consists of Caribbean and calypso, rhythm and blues, jazz, hip hop, and gospel.
Wicked Sycamore is an all-female folks/Americana trio, consisting of Juliette Bell on guitar, Lainie Gray on mandolin, and Madeline Waters on cello. Their sound can be described as contemporary folk with a mischievous edge that is grounded in traditional roots, Americana, and bluegrass. No matter the genre, their music relies heavily on intricate vocal harmonies, thoughtful arrangement, and instrumental prowess. By growing their presence as a collaborative force, they hope to increase female representation as both musicians and songwriters throughout the modern music landscape.
Rayshun has appeared in stage productions and tours around the U.S. Life changed for him in 2012, when he was diagnosed with Lymphoma. During his fight against cancer, he temporarily lost his hearing and voice. By way of faith and passion for his art, LaMarr persevered, and in 2018, he made it all the way to the semi-finals of season 14 of NBC’s The Voice. Since then, he has performed at NFL half-time shows, NBA opening games, and stages nationwide. During the pandemic, he released three singles, “Time 4 Change”, “Can’t Hold Back”, and “Still in Love”, available on all streaming platforms. Currently, he is working on his debut album.
Formed in 2007 by Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth as a fun and exciting collaboration between musical friends, the ten-piece, all-female brass ensemble tenThing have firmly established themselves on the international scene to great acclaim. A breakout hit at the 2011 Norwegian Grammy Awards, tenThing went on to delight audiences at the BBC Proms in London and have gone on to perform in many of the world’s most prominent venues and festivals. Throughout the world, their performances have been celebrated for equal parts astounding artistry and infectious fun–as you can discover for yourself this November, right at the start of the holiday season.
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