TRADITION: Emily Smith’s Songs for Christmas tour comes to The Witham on Friday                Pic: Laura Sparrow
TRADITION: Emily Smith’s Songs for Christmas tour comes to The Witham on Friday Pic: Laura Sparrow

IN WHAT is becoming something of a Yuletide tradition, Scottish singer Emily Smith is bringing her popular Christmas show to Barnard Castle this week.

Now in its eighth year, Songs for Christmas has been selling out venues across the UK bringing seasonal cheer to castles, churches and theatres.

A winner of BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, Scots Singer of the Year and a BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards nominee, Emily has established herself as one of the finest singers to come from north of the border in the last 15 years.

She has toured all over the world and alongside her solo career has collaborated with musical greats such as Richard Thompson, Barbara Dickson, Jerry Douglas and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

TV appearances include BBC Four’s Transatlantic Sessions and BBC One’s Songs of Praise.

Joining her on the Songs For Christmas tour are Jamie McClennan and Anna Massie on guitars, fiddles and vocals and Ross Hamilton on bass and vocals.

Audiences are invited to sing along with traditional carols, tap their toes to upbeat instrumentals or simply close their eyes and let Emily’s evocative voice help them dwell on the joy and peace that Christmas can bring.

The show takes place at The Witham on Friday, December 21, at 8pm. Tickets are £16 in advance or £18 on the door.

For details, call the box office on 01833 631107 or go online to www.thewitham. org.uk