AMY GRANT, VINCE GILL:
15 DATE CHRISTMAS TOUR

December 18, 2008
Van Andel Arena
Tickets on Sale Saturday, October 11, 2008

Grand Rapids, MI – Amy Grant and Vince Gill will perform at Van Andel Arena on Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 7:30 P.M.

In their two hour program of cherished standards and newer seasonal fare, the Grammy-winning husband-and-wife team will be backed by a 12-piece band that features a horn section and two harmony singers, one of whom is Gill’s daughter, Jenny.  “Some of our earlier Christmas tours were with a symphony orchestra,” Gill notes.  “This time, though, we wanted to create more of an intimate, living room feel.”

“The job of spreading Christmas cheer has simply gotten too big for Santa and Rudolph to do alone,” Gill explains.  “So Amy and I are pitching in.  Besides, these holiday tours have become our favorites.”

Grant agrees: “Christmas audiences are special.  They tend to involve the whole family, and their emotions are a wonderful mix of anticipation and reverence.  It’s a thrilling experience for both of us.”

Amy Grant released her first new Christmas album in nine years in September.  Called The Christmas Collection, it is made up of selections from her three earlier Christmas CDs—plus four new tunes, including “Baby It’s Christmas,” a song Grant and Gill wrote together.  Keeping with the festive mood, Amy Grant will tape an NBC-TV special, Holiday Celebration On Ice.  It co-stars Michael W. Smith and a corps of world-famous skating champions and will air November 30th.

One of the most beloved and respected performers in American music, Vince Gill was inducted last year into the Country Music Hall of Fame.  He is a long-time member of the Grand Ole Opry and winner of 19 Grammy awards.  Gill boasts three best-selling Christmas albums of his own: Let There Be Peace On Earth, Breath Of Heaven and Christmas Collection.

Ticket prices are $26.50, $42.00, $52.00, and $77.00. Tickets go on sale Saturday, October 11 at 10 AM and will be available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place® box offices, Ticketmaster ticket centers including D&W Stores, Macy’s and select Family Fare locations, charge by phone: 616.456.3333 or on-line: ticketmaster.com.

A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $180. A portion of the ticket price will be donated to Grand Rapids Public Schools Arts Advocates, which helps to fund arts and music education in Grand Rapids Public Schools. VIP tickets include access to a pre-show performance featuring children helped by Arts Advocates and an appearance by Amy Grant and Vince Gill.*
*Appearances subject to change.

Van Andel Arena is managed by SMG. Headquartered in Philadelphia, SMG provides facility services to over 200 public assembly facilities including arenas, stadiums, performing arts theatres and convention and trade centers. With facilities across America, and in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, Europe and the Middle East, SMG controls over 1.5 million entertainment seats worldwide and manages more than ten million feet of exhibition space. SMG has managed the Van Andel Arena since 1996 and DeVos Place since 1994. For additional company information, visit smgworld.com.