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December 18, 2004
Three weeks ago we begged the boys of the traditional Celtic band Boys of the Lough to stop in and see us again before heading back over the pond. To our great delight, they accepted — tune in to hear them this weekend. Also joining us will be jazz vocalist Inga Swearingen (you may recognize her from the 30th anniversary DVD), guitarist/mandolinist/fiddler John Niemann, the adventures of Guy Noir, the news from Lake Wobegon, and more.
Listen to the show
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In its entirety
Listen to the whole show, recorded on December 18, 2004, from the Fitzgerald Theater.
In segments
Play individual show segments as listed below.
| Segment 1 |
| 00:00:00 | Logo |
| 00:00:12 | Tishomingo Blues |
| 00:02:32 | GK talks about Christmas, "I Am So Glad", Introduces Prudence Johnson |
| 00:05:51 | "White Christmas" - Prudence Johnson |
| 00:08:12 | Production script |
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| Segment 2 |
| 00:18:00 | The Lives of the Cowboys script |
| 00:24:53 | Percussion poem - GK and Arnie Kinsella |
| 00:30:05 | "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" - Rich Dworsky and Dan Chouinard |
| 00:32:50 | "Hark the Herald Angel Sing"/Powdermilk Biscuit Break |
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| Segment 3 |
| 00:35:48 | GK introduces Inga Swearingen |
| 00:36:18 | "Christmastime (Just in Time)" - Inga Swearingen and Shoe Band |
| 00:39:30 | GK introduces Boys of the Lough, gives them Christmas gifts |
| 00:42:25 | "The Trowie Burn," "The Aith Rant," The High Geese in the Bog" - Boys of the Lough |
| 00:47:20 | "The Wexford Carol" - Boys of the Lough |
| 00:51:08 | Guy Noir script |
| 00:59:47 | "O Holy Night" - Prudence Johnson |
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| Segment 4 |
| 01:03:45 | Intermission/"Jingle Bell Rock" - Shoe Band |
| 01:07:26 | Greetings |
| 01:10:12 | Trip Giveaway drawing |
| 01:15:50 | Cruise Announcement |
| 01:17:42 | "Christmas Dreams" - John Niemann and Shoe Band |
| 01:20:46 | Tap script |
| 01:22:30 | "Santa Lucia and Stille Natt" - Inga and Britta Swearingen |
| 01:28:33 | "Twelve Days of Christmas" - GK and Tom Keith |
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| Segment 5 |
| 01:31:38 | The News from Lake Wobegon |
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| Segment 6 |
| 01:45:25 | "Christmas Fiddle Medley" - Boys of the Lough and Shoe Band |
| 01:48:20 | Catchup script |
| 01:51:53 | "Silent Night" - Brendan Begley and Boys of the Lough |
| 01:55:00 | "Martin's One-Horned Cow," "How Are You Kitty?" - Boys of the Lough |
| 01:58:15 | Closer - All |
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Photos from the show
Click images to view slideshow. (Photos taken by Melissa Sperl)
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| Garrison Keillor opens the Christmas show. |
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Arnie Kinsella, with a percussionist's take on "'Twas The night Before Christmas." |
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| Prudence Johnson sings "O Holy Night." |
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Garrison chats with audience-member Hannah, who volunteered to help with the trip raffle. |
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| Tom Keith, Tim Russell and Sue Scott, with a word about how Minnesota tap water is perfectly fine, thankyouverymuch. |
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The Swearingen sisters, Britta and Inga, explain how their family celebrates St. Lucia day. |
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The Petersons |
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John and Penny Peterson live in Florida, but they grew up on the Iron Range of Minnesota, up north, and they miss it very much. They came back to show their young son Jack his roots, a sentiment we very much appreciate. We're glad they made our show, on December 18, a stop on their tour.
Ed Barch |
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We caught Ed Barch in the lobby and asked him how far he'd come to see us. At first the man would not give us a straight answer. Seems he was worried we wouldn't get it, but no, we get it: Ed's home base is in Toledo, Ohio, but he drives a truck, and the stop before St. Paul was Salt Lake City. December 18 was the second time Ed's seen us; he came through town a month ago and loved us so much he couldn't wait to come back.
The Schmidts |
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David and Catherine Schmidt moved to Rochester, Minnesota from Maine about a year ago, so Catherine could complete her residency at the Mayo Clinic. December 18 was the first time they've had a chance to see the show, though (understandable, considering...). They said that being with us on December 18 meant they could cross another thing off their life's to-do list, but we hope that someday they'll find time to visit again.
Deb, Al, & Alta |
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Al and Alta Thoreson of Maplewood, Minnesota hosted their friend Deb Kuehn (left) of Rapid City, South Dakota last weekend, and they did something incredibly, wonderfully Minnesotan on her behalf: On the morning of December 18, they let their tired friend sleep in while they went early to the Fitz to pick up a number for the rush line. Isn't that nice?
On July 4th, help us celebrate the 35th Anniversary of A Prairie Home Companion and the Fourth of July with a free live nationally broadcast show from Avon, MN.
From Garrison Keillor:
“When I was 16, Helen Fleischman assigned me to memorize Shakespeare’s Sonnet No. 29, ‘When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state’ for English class, and fifty years later, that poem is still in my head. Algebra got washed away, and geometry and most of biology, but those lines about the redemptive power of love in the face of shame are still here behind my eyeballs, more permanent than my own teeth. The sonnet is a durable good. These 77 of mine include sonnets of praise, some erotic, some lamentations, some street sonnets and a 12-sonnet cycle of months. If anything here offends, I beg your pardon, I come in peace, I depart in gratitude.”
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Robin & Linda Williams are among the most popular guest performers of A Prairie Home Companion (they also appeared in the movie, have performed as part of the The Hopeful Gospel Quartet, and made appearances as Marvin & Mavis Smiley). This CD features some of the duo's best harmonies from the show. Among the 12 tracks are familiar fan favorites, including "For Better or Worse", "Visions of Mother and Dad", "Tied Down, Home Free" and the title track. A collection that is muy bueno!
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