Formed in the winter of 2009 as a way to support their hometown community, The Wizards of Winterhas quickly become one of the holiday seasons more highly-anticipated traditions. The project, founded by the husband and wife team of Scott Kelly (composer/keyboardist) and Sharon Kelly (flute/vocals), crosses the nation every year with their unique brand of classically-influenced hard rock with Broadway tinge, as well as a world-class arsenal of musicians with a resume from groups like Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Def Leppard, The Irish Tenors, Blue Oyster Cult, Rainbow and Alice Cooper Band.

In celebration of their 10th anniversary, The Wizards of Winter is in the midst of a thirty-city tour in support of their infectious new album, The Christmas Dream. It’s a tour that includes a stop in the beautiful Pocono Mountains at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, PA on Friday, December 20.

The 2019 touring line-up of Wizards of Winter includes the aforementioned Scott and Sharon Kelly, along with Greg Smith (bass), John O’Reilly (drums), Fred Gorhau (lead guitar), Steve Brown (lead guitar), Kornelia Rad (violin/vocals), Karl Scully (lead vocals), Vinny Jiovino (vocals), Tony Gaynor (narrator) and Shawna Marie (vocals/saxophone).

I recently spoke with guitarist Steve Brown about the upcoming Wizards of Winter show at Penn’s Peak and more in this exclusive new interview.

What can fans expect from The Wizards of Winter performance at Penn’s Peak?

Steve Brown: The show is an audio / visual onslaught with a Broadway overtone, and a musical journey through all the different sides of Christmas. People mostly associate Christmas with family, good times and celebrating, but the story we take you on shows all the sides; including the hardship and tough journeys some people go through. It all ends on a very positive note. Tony Gaynor, who was with TSO for fifteen years, is the narrator who leads us through this journey. This is my first time doing something like this and I’m having a blast.

In your opinion, what makes these shows so special?

SB: You’ve first got to look at the success and influence of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This is in that vein. Some people might consider this a tribute band but that’s not the case. Wizards of Winter has more original music. Scott and Sharon Kelly are the band founders, Fred Gorhau [guitar] wrote the music for the new album, The Christmas Dream, and Karl Scully, one of the Irish Tenors, sings. It’s classically influenced hard rock with a tinge of Broadway.There’s something for everyone with this show.The band is tremendous and it’s an honor to be out playing with them.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Steve Brown by Clicking Here.