Winter Woods: A Kevin Max Holiday Tradition

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An Acoustic Holiday with Kevin Max — The Kevin Max Christmas Benefit Concert I promoted in 2015

Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year. Listening to music has always been a favorite pastime. Combine the two together over 42 years of life and you might end up with a Christmas music collection stored on your hard drive, CD rack, and record stand able to provide several days worth of non-repeat, non-stop Christmas music like I have. But, my passion for the music of the season to a distinct step up when I found myself mulling over the prospect of promoting a Christmas concert at my church to benefit a couple of favorite charities back in 2015. Being able to watch stage side as a true musical and poetic hero of mine belted out Christmas hymns, amid Bowie covers and DC Talk classics, was a thrill I won’t soon forget. Fortunately, each Christmas season, since, he’s provided occasions to celebrate the season with a Kevin Max show with each, so far, even better than the last.

Winter Woods I, 2016

The first Winter Woods was held at Max’s own Blind Thief Farm, just outside of Nashville, in 2016. Backed by Steve Hindalong of The Choir, Jimmy Abegg of The Ragamuffin Band, and John Mark Painter of Fleming & John, Max put on an amazing show in his barn complete with superb catering, a unique country mountain setting, and the true spirit of the season in full force.

Winter Woods II, 2017

The following year it was held at the Franklin Theater in downtown Franklin, TN. The downtown setting provided the perfect setting for a number of Max’s contemporaries to attend including DC Talk bandmate Tobymac. But, what was impressive was the show on the stage. It was a full band production complimented by a handful of special guests, and the ever hospitable Max, himself, engaging in the holiday cheer with fans long after the show was over.

But, this year is bound to be the best yet with the venue being the longtime family farm of country and rock legend Johnny Cash. Hideaway Farm, now part of a music venue and museum dedicated to the history of it’s longtime owner, will be decked out for the season and fans will have a chance to tour the Cash museum onsite while also absorbing the beauty of the natural setting that Cash called home. All of that on top of what will surely be another amazing Winter Woods performance by Kevin and his band.

As somebody who’s attended Max Christmas shows for the past three years, straight, my expectations for Winter Woods III are sky high and I can’t recommend the show to you enough. As he did in both prior Winter Woods concerts, Kevin Max always goes out of his way to make the evening worthwhile for the audience with, not only a great show, but, personal connection opportunities, too. Past Winter Woods shows have included extended meet-n-greets after the show, coffee with Kevin meet-ups the following morning, and other perks as unique as the fans that make the trip to attend. Tickets are still available at Stubwire so that you, too, can experience the wonder that is Winter Woods.