The eighth annual Clearnote Christmas Spectacular will start 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Clearnote Church at 2401 S. Endwright Road.
Local group Good Shepherd Band will perform at the event to debut their new CD, keyboardist Aaron Jones said.
“All the Bells Shall Ring” takes traditional Christmas carols and puts a modern twist on them through different rock and folk influences. The band has been working on the CD since the summer of this year.
“We’re kind of sick of Christmas music,” Jones said. “But when you approach it with creativity there’s a lot of material to work with. It’s been one of the most satisfying ?musical experiences for me.”
Jones has been a musician since childhood but didn’t receive formal training until junior high, he said.
Jones transferred to IU from Missouri State University and studied at the Early Music Institute, a program in the Jacobs School of Music that allows students to study period-specific music in a?modern context.
The Good Shepherd Band was formed in 2007 and has released four albums.
“All the Bells Shall Ring” is their second Christmas album to release and was produced by Philip Moyer, who is a conducting student in the music school.
Jones said the group recorded the album itself but that many people have listened to the album and remarked on the ?impressive quality.
The group is led by Jody Killingsworth, who studied baroque violin at the music school after having received his master’s degree from the Royal Northern College of Music in England.
“We’re all very eclectic musicians,” Jones said. “We have unique interests and it really is a collective effort.”
The band will perform at this weekend’s events with the help of a nearly full orchestra with students from the music school as well as an adult and children’s choir.
The event is also a singalong, and the group encourages people to participate with the performers. The event is free and open to the public.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. A donation of $5 is suggested to support Clearnote Church, where the event will ?take place.
“Christian rock music gets a bad rep,” Jones said. “A lot of times it’s seen as trying to be pop music, but failing it. Because of our diverse influences, we’re being true to ourselves. You’ll hear classical music but also contemporary sound that doesn’t take itself too ?seriously.”
