The Wizards Of Winter Ready To Work Magic

The Wizards have added to their previously announced schedule and are now running from New Jersey to Wisconsin and many spots in between for about a month. The first gig is in Syracuse, N.Y. Nov. 23 and the trek is set to wrap up in Turtle Lake, Wis., Dec. 18.

The Wizards of Winter draws many stylistic influence from the genre-defining Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and even has some of that group’s old members. The Wizards recently added TSO’s former vocalist Peter Shaw to the mix, along with Ted Nugent’s old backing bassist Greg Smith and genre vets Shawna Mehall and Jenn Hamilton.

Shaw recently released a solo album, called More Alive. He expressed great joy in being able to play more holiday-themed rock opera music in a statement. “During my first audition … I felt I’d fit right in with this wonderful group of talented performers,” Shaw said. “As the old saying goes, ‘gotta love what you do,’ well I do.”

Although it lends great credit to the genre leaders, The Wizards of Winter is not a TSO tribute act. It does usually perform a few TSO songs, but has two full-length releases to its name and is increasingly developing its own style. Check out the group’s video for “The Spirit of Christmas,” released last year:

Here is the plan:

Nov. 23 – Syracuse, N.Y., Crouse-Hinds Theater
Nov. 25 – Staten Island, N.Y., St. George Theatre
Nov. 26 – Red Bank, N.J., Count Basie Theatre
Nov. 27 – Beverly, Mass., The Cabot
Dec. 01 – York, Pa., Strand-Capitol Perf. Arts Center
Dec. 02 – Binghamton, N.Y., The Forum Theatre
Dec. 04 – Plymouth, N.H., The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center (with Jatoba)
Dec. 08 – Tarrytown, N.Y., The Tarrytown Music Hall
Dec. 09 – Munhall, Pa., Carnegie Library Music Hall Of Homestead
Dec. 10 – Collingswood, N.J., Scottish Rite Auditorium
Dec. 11 – Easton, Pa., State Theatre Center For The Arts
Dec. 15 – Kalamazoo, Mich., The Kalamazoo State Theatre
Dec. 16 – Waukegan, Ill., Genesee Theatre
Dec. 17 – Milwaukee, Wis., Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
Dec. 18 – Turtle Lake, Wis., St. Croix Casino Turtle Lake
       
Tickets to select dates are on sale now, and the group has promised more info on the rest will be made available soon. TheWizardsOfWinter.com is the group’s website.