NORWICH – The Norwich Fire Department is in the midst of making final preparations to host perhaps the utmost jubilant and stirring performances of the winter season when the holiday rock band Twelve Twenty Four comes to town.
For years, Twelve Twenty Four has brought a sense of the Christmas spirit in Chenango County. Inspired by the nationally renowned holiday rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Twelve Twenty Four uses an eclectic blend of vocals with string, percussion, brass, woodwind and electric instruments to create a high energy holiday rock concert that brings the magic of the Christmas season to life.
“This is something we do for the public to enjoy, to start to get them into the holiday spirit,” said NFD Fire Fighter Mike Powell. “If people enjoy the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, they’re really going to like this show.”
Twelve Twenty Four will take the spotlight beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Martin W. Kappel Theater of the Chenango Arts Council, 27 W. Main St. in Norwich. Tickets are $20 per person and available to purchase at the Norwich Fire Department or online at twelvetwentyfour.net.
Proceeds raised will not only help offset costs of having the band perform, but also benefit the Norwich Fire Department. “We are hoping to use some of the money raised that night toward the purchase of a new barbecue grill,” said Powell. “It’s something we want to use to bring back chicken barbecue fundraisers at the firehouse. We could also use it to help with fundraisers for other non profit organizations.”
While Twelve Twenty Four has brought their talent to Chenango in previous years – including one free performance from the East Park stage in Norwich in 2011 – hopes are for a higher turnout this year, Powell added. “We really want a full house,” he said. “And we usually get a lot of people who do attend from here and from outside the area ... This is the closest (the band) comes for a lot of people in the region.”
This marks the 12th year Twelve Twenty Four has toured the Northeast, performing songs of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra as well as a few of their own arrangements. The group draws on a total 17 performers (a six-piece rock band, four-piece string section, six lead vocalists, and a story teller) to drive home a sense of Christmas wonderment with a theatrical rock and roll style, and a narrated story line to create a family-fiendly Christmas show for all ages.
According to the Twelve Twenty Four website, this year’s show features songs from their newest album release, Light in the Dark. Other works include those from their debut album, Miracle on Rock Street, and original pieces composed by the Tans-Siberian Orchestra.
Said Powell, “We just want people to come and enjoy the evening.”
For more information on Twelve Twenty Four, visit twelvetwentyfour.net. Tickets for Saturday’s performance can be reserved by calling the Norwich Fire Department at 334-1230.