Good Lovelies at Danforth Music Hall in Toronto, ON

The Good Lovelies enchant Toronto with their 2019 Christmas Concert Series on a cold December night at Danforth Music Hall.

Still merry after all these years, the Good Lovelies returned with their 13th annual Christmas tour with shows across Ontario. This night they landed in Toronto at the Danforth Music Hall. What better way to celebrate the season than with classic holiday and winter selections, timeless and original material polished to a warm and welcoming glow. 

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Good Lovelies’ highly popular Christmas album Under The Mistletoe. To celebrate, the trio released Evergreen, a new collection of seasonal favorites, classic carols, and original Christmas songs. They joked that they seem to release a new album of holiday songs every ten years. With that they promised another one in, you guessed it, ten years.

Playing selections from the LP Winter’s Calling such as “Winter Defeat” and “Song for a Winter’s Night” to the all-out Christmas LP Under the Mistletoe with such songs as “Auld Lang Syne,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “Santa Baby,” to just name a few.

As the doors of the Danforth Music Hall swung open, everyone entering seemed to be in the festive mood while awaiting to be serenaded with the chestnuts of holiday songs. Throughout the night, the ladies had us crying, clapping, laughing, tapping our toes and happily singing along. They seemed the most animated when they started playing songs from the new Evergreen Christmas LP. Playing classics like “Jingle Bells,” “O Holy Night” and “Silver Bells” among others, they had the audience in their grasp. And, of course, they should as this is their new offering of Christmas tunes.

Accompanying the Good Lovelies (Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough, and Susan Passmore) is their band of merry musicians, including Steve Zsirai on upright bass and Mark Mariash on drums. The six-piece had you humming along, laughing, and full of amusement by the show’s end. Needless to say, a good time was had by all.

It is also such a pleasure to watch a group of extremely gifted and talented musicians who are so devoted to their craft sharing their passion for music with anyone willing to listen. The Good Lovelies are a pleasure to see live and their obvious enthusiasm is contagious.

These days, most musicians are happy to leave for their next gig right after the show. But not The Good Lovelies. After the show, they were out in the lobby at their merch table, talking to fans, signing their albums and CDs and even taking photos. 

The Good Lovelies first united in 2006 for a one-off performance and have since compiled a catalog of studio albums, EPs, a live album and a Christmas collection. They have toured extensively across Canada, the US, Europe, UK, and Australia and have earned a JUNO Award (2010), a JUNO Nomination (2012) and four Canadian Folk Music Awards along the way.