SCRANTON — Holiday magic becomes tangible in different ways — parties, decorations, dinners, and gifts — but for families that prefer magic of the musical variety, there’s the holiday-themed progressive rock act The Wizards of Winter.

At 8 p.m. Dec. 3, The Wizards of Winter will perform at Scranton’s The Theater at Lackawanna College. The band started in 2009, but founder and keyboardist Scott Kelly soon began arranging his own holiday-themed compositions. Kelly and The Wizards of Winter eventually grabbed the attention of former Trans-Siberian Orchestra members, including vocalist Guy LeMonnier.

“There’s a lot of Trans-Siberian Orchestra cover bands, and no artist wants to be in a cover band of a band they were already in at another point and time,” LeMonnier said. “But from the very first rehearsal from the very first time meeting them they’re this incredible family. Most importantly, from a business standpoint, they write beautiful music. That automatically attracted me to them.”

LeMonnier, who began touring with The Wizards of Winter in 2013, said the band steps away from the iconic Christmas rock outfit that inspired them more and more with each passing year. The Wizards of Winter pay homage to Trans-Siberian Orchestra with a few covers during their show, but the group now has two studio albums of original material to pull from for its live sets. LeMonnier said the band takes a family-friendly approach to its live show, which is something he feels Trans-Siberian Orchestra has lost through years of increasingly robust production values.

“I don’t want to say the show hasn’t changed, because it has, there are additions to it, but it’s also something that you can count on,” Lemonnier said. “It will always grow every year, but we try to maintain the same core principle. I thing the goal is to create a show people can count on every year the way they do ‘The Nutcracker’ or ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Those shows don’t change, they’re what we come to know and love and are able to constantly bring our families to. In this day and age, there’s not a lot of entertainment out there for families.”

LeMonnier said the music isn’t just made for families, it’s made by a non-traditional family that comes together to tour and perform during the holiday season.

“There’s great love on that stage and I wouldn’t trade these folks for the world,” LeMonnier said. “I’m so happy to be back out with them again.”

Guy LeMonnier joined The Wizards of Winter in 2013. LeMonnier performed as part of Trans-Siberian Orchestra and The Kings of Christmas, a group influenced by Hall & Oates, Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire. The Kings of Christmas recorded its debut album in Pittston in 2011 but never hit the road to support it on tour.
https://www.theweekender.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Wizards-Guy-untoned.jpgGuy LeMonnier joined The Wizards of Winter in 2013. LeMonnier performed as part of Trans-Siberian Orchestra and The Kings of Christmas, a group influenced by Hall & Oates, Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire. The Kings of Christmas recorded its debut album in Pittston in 2011 but never hit the road to support it on tour. Submitted photo

The Wizards of Winter vocalist Guy LeMonnier said the band’s set focuses on the core principle of a ‘quality, heartfelt, emotional family show for adults and children of all ages.’
https://www.theweekender.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Wizards-live-untoned.jpgThe Wizards of Winter vocalist Guy LeMonnier said the band’s set focuses on the core principle of a ‘quality, heartfelt, emotional family show for adults and children of all ages.’ Submitted photo
The band that started as a tribute act now has two album’s worth of original material and tours annually

By Gene Axton

gaxton@timesleader.com

IF YOU GO

Who: Holiday-themed progressive rock act The Wizards of Winter

When: 8 p.m. Dec. 3

Where: The Theater at Lackawanna College, 501 Vine St., Scranton

How Much: $38 to $42. To purchase tickets, visit the theater’s on-site box office from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday while college is in session, visit TicketFly.com and search ‘community concerts at Lackawanna College’ or call 570-955-1455

Reach Gene Axton at 570-991-6121 or on Twitter @TLArts