Contact: Gareth Russell, +44-796-746-8008

NASHVILLE, Dec. 12, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- For the seventh year in a row, Keith and Kristyn Getty will headline one of the largest annual Christmas concert tours. This December the Getty's will perform Sing! An Irish Christmas along with special guest musicians in 15 cities across the U.S. including some of the best-known concert venues.

The annual tour kicked off on December 3rd in Pensacola, FL and will make stops in Washington D.C. (The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Opera House), New York City (Carnegie Hall), Atlanta (The Fox Theatre), Cleveland (KeyBank State Theatre), Colorado Springs (Broadmoor Hotel), and more.

The Gettys, who are regarded as the preeminent writers and performers of modern hymns including one of the most-sung hymns in the world today ("In Christ Alone,"), have launched a major global initiative this year named, Sing! Their mission is to revive the essential act of congregational singing. This initiative coincides with the 500th anniversary year of Martin Luther's Reformation. Luther reformed every inch of church life - the liturgy, worship and singing. Luther explained why he wrote hymns: "I am planning, according to the examples of the prophets and ancient fathers, to create vernacular psalms—that is, hymns—for the common folk so that the Word of God remain with the people even through singing."

Martin Luther also loved Christmas and the Gettys can't imagine a more fitting way to complete such an exciting year than by singing the songs of Christmas together with their audiences across the country. "One of the most wonderful parts of this season is the opportunity for all of us, old and young, to gather together and sing the songs of Christmas. Some of the carols have been sung for centuries and some are freshly written. Some we hope you'll enjoy listening to and others we invite you to join us on that we might become a choir that fills the whole room!" explain Keith and Kristyn.

The Gettys have designed this year's concert program in two parts. The first half will be presented as if the listener were attending a village square gathering featuring carols and other seasonal vocal, instrumental and dance folk music to celebrate this time of year. The second half invites the audience to follow the Christmas story through four readings around the four songs of Christmas from the Book of Luke—the Benedictus of the High Priest Zechariah, Mary's Magnificat, the Angel's Gloria in Excelsis Deo and Simeon's Nunc Dimittis. These are the songs that carry the story of Christ's coming into the world. These readings will be interspersed with carols for everyone to sing.

Favorite songs to be performed include God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, Deck the Halls, Silent Night, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Children Come, and God So Loved the World.

Accompanying the Gettys is their band of Celtic and bluegrass musicians from North America and Ireland, as well as a special guest appearance in selected cities including renowned music artists Fernando Ortega (Cleveland), Ricky Skaggs (Atlanta), John Patitucci (NYC, DC), David Kim (DC, Cleveland, NYC), Joni Eareckson Tada (NYC), pastor David Platt, and David Crowder (Atlanta), plus noted pastor, author and speaker, Alistair Begg (Cleveland).

REMAINING TOUR DATES:
12/13 WASHINGTON DC The Kennedy Center Featuring David Kim & John Patitucci
12/14 CLEVELAND, OH KeyBank State Theatre in Cleveland Featuring Alistair Begg, David Kim, & Fernando Ortega
12/15 CHICAGO, IL Christian Heritage Academy
12/17 CHARLOTTE, NC Calvary Church
12/18 ATLANTA, GA The Fox Theatre Featuring Ricky Skaggs, David Crowder, David Platt & The Jubal Chorus
12/19 ROANOKE, VA The Berglund Center
12/20 NEW YORK, NY Carnegie Hall Featuring Joni Eareckson Tada, David Kim, & John Patitucci
12/21 READING, PA Santander Performing Arts Center
12/23 NASHVILLE, TN The Schermerhorn Symphony Hall