The Freight's favorite musician for all seasons, Laurie Lewis, hosts our exuberant family celebration with great food, an exchange of gifts, and a visit by Santa himself-not to mention some of the Bay Area's hottest performers donating their services, supporting the Freight with fabulous music guaranteed to get your holiday glow on!

On the heels of her new genre-bending CD Blossom, Laurie Lewis brings her incredible breadth of talents as a songwriter, fiddler, guitarist, and her signature crystal-clear singing. These talents have brought her national recognition, a Grammy, and two International Bluegrass Music Association Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year. Her Grammy-nominated duet partner, mandolinist/ singer, Tom Rozum, joins Laurie for some of the pair's signature red-hot playing and beautiful vocals.

KITKA women's vocal ensemble blend a contemporary sensibility with centuries-old vocal techniques from Eastern Europe. Using only the pure unaccompanied voice, they create a constantly shifting landscape of sound, provoking David Crosby (Crosby, Stills, and Nash) to exclaim, "Simply amazing harmonies . . . truly this is the most wonderful singing I have ever heard."

Dazzling violin and guitar soloist, and mellifluous vocalist, Tony Marcus is well known to Freight audiences from his ineffably dapper performances with Cats & Jammers and the Cheap Suit Serenaders. His singing partner, the lovely Patrice Haan, has a rich, haunting and evocative voice. Together, they comprise Leftover Dreams, applying their artful talents to the golden age of American song with respect and unerring good taste.

The Freight is delighted to share some of the talents of our new neighborhood as we welcome to our stage the Berkeley City College Choir, directed by Ben Flint.

Tonight, the Freight is also honored to present international holiday favorite Santa Claus who graces our stage in a dazzling near-debut performance brimming with laughter and good cheer. Celebrated in song and story for his twinkling eyes, rosy cheeks, and general joviality, Santa takes a break from his busy pre-Christmas schedule to oversee the distribution of gifts to young and old.

Listen to a track from Laurie Lewis:

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Listen to a track from Kitka:

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Listen to a track from Leftover Dreams:

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