A very Lorie Christmas: Lorie Line returns for annual Holiday Extravaganza

Christmas is less than a month away and for many music enthusiasts in the area that means Lorie Line and her Holiday Extravaganza are right around the corner.

Tis the season — and like years past Line has a totally new show coming to Jamestown at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 in DeNault Auditorium at Jamestown College.

“New music, new theme, new bell, new set, new costumes, each year it’s all new,” Line said, from Oconomowoc, Wis., before a sound check Wednesday. “It’s always a challenge to come up with new music — that’s the thing, I’ve been doing it for 23 years.”

This year Line picked “Immanuel” for her theme, which means “God is with us.”

“With the uncertain times right now we need God in our lives,” she said.

The piano player/composer had to outdo last year’s main song, “O Holy Night,” so she decided to arrange a new piece, “O Come, O Come Immanuel.”

“I’ve been wanting to write a very special arrangement of ‘O Come, O Come Immanuel’ for a few years now,” she said. “… I just really wanted to do something special with that arrangement, a one-of-a-kind arrangement.”

Line will be backed with a five-piece band called the Fab Five, which is also entirely new.

“I got a new band, the oldest member is 25 years old — the youngest is 18,” she said. “So I got a bunch of kids on the tour this year who are very talented and super fun.”

Line also has another new collectors’ bell, which has been a staple for fans every year she’s done Christmas shows except for two years.

“That bell is pretty special at my show,” she said.

The set, decorations and costumes are also all new, except a dress she wore on tour 11 years ago.

She called it a “cool Audrey Hepburn dress” with “classic appeal.”

Santa Claus will also make an appearance as well as a march of toys in a special number during the concert.

A new song book and album for the show will be available as well, so people can take home the music and learn to play along with it.

While her piano playing is advanced to say the least, she receives comments that the way the music is composed in the books makes easier for fans to learn.

For the past 23 years Line, her band, her husband/ manager, an assistant, a lighting person and sound technician have roamed the Midwest in a bus followed by a semi-truck packed to the brim, playing Christmas- themed shows for thousands of fans every year.

She has trouble recalling the last Christmas tree she has put up and decorated with her children. They usually have celebrated around Thanksgiving.

But traveling and creating Christmas memories for thousands of people each year are enough of a holiday reward.

“If I had a choice whether or not to stay home and decorate the tree or be on the road making music, I’d definitely by out there making music,” Line said.

Over the years she has received letters from fans expressing how much her music has played a role in other people’s Christmas season. That, she said, is what keeps her going year after year.

While she will play some larger cities during her tour from Indianapolis to Denver, smaller cities like Jamestown are what she said she prefers.

“For me it’s just as important to go to Jamestown as it is to go to a big city,” Line said. “I like the smaller towns. I feel the fans appreciate it more.”

Tickets are $49 and can be purchased online at lorieline.com or by calling 1-800-801-5463. A discount is available for groups of more than 10.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by email at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

Tags: diversions, performances