A holiday concert Saturday at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts features a favorite duo that’s performed on campus in recent years.The song “Horses” comes from Dala’s 2010 album “Girls from the North Country,” which helped the duo win Vocal Group of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. Best friends Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine met in their high school music class in 2002 and have created six albums since 2005.
“It’s really important to us that we’re conveying the message of the song both through the lyrics and the sound of the music,” Walther said. “As songwriters that’s one of our personal goals whenever we sit down to create. We really hope that the core message of what we’re trying to say or what inspired us comes through in the song.”
The duo returns to MCLA for a third time, after first playing at the college in 2011. The holiday themed show is part of the Rewind series celebrating 10 years of MCLA Presents!, a collaborative program between the college, MASS MoCA and the city of North Adams. Michelle Daly is program coordinator for MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center.
“They have very ethereal lovely voices and it’s hard not to walk out of there with a smile on your face and feel like you’ve had this musical acoustic hug for an hour-and-a-half,” said Daly.
MCLA’s musical theatre, gospel and a cappella groups will performing opening acts. Walther says returning to North Adams was a no-brainer.
“We get really inspired by the music of the season,” Walther said. “Especially religious hymns are stunningly beautiful in terms of the possible choral arrangements. So the whole season inspires us. I feel like people are more open to hearing gentler, quieter, more pensive music and as vocalists that’s what we’re attracted to most of the time anyway. So I feel that it’s an excuse for us to sit in those quiet moments vocally and let the spaces fill the air.”
The college’s sociology society is collecting unwrapped toys and monetary donations during the concert to benefit the Elizabeth Freeman Center. As for the holiday songs they will sing, Walther says a Frank Sinatra favorite is in the works.
“We’re doing a few holiday songs,” Walther said. “There’s one brand new one that I’m the most excited about. It’s ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.’ We just worked it out last week and I’m finding it very inspiring at the moment. So that’s my favorite at the moment.”
Daly has her favorite as well.
“I saw them just briefly on YouTube do a bit of ‘White Christmas’ and I would love to hear the full version,” Daly said. “So that would be my pick.”
Walther says the wish may come true.
“Good to know,” Walther said. “Well we’ll make sure to do that.”
The concert begins at 7:30 Saturday night at MCLA’s Church Street Center. Tickets are still available.
