Straight No Chaser is currently heralding the album’s release with a major USA tour (see  itinerary below) with dates through a December 23 tour finale in Raleigh, NC.  

The new “CHRISTMAS CHEERS” follows Straight No Chaser’s smash debut last year of, “HOLIDAY SPIRITS”.  Songs from both collections and more are featured in the 10-member group’s upcoming PBS special, Live In New York: Holiday Edition.  The concert – filmed this past August at NYC’s famed  Angel Orensanz Foundation – will air throughout PBS’ annual December Pledge Drive (check your local PBS station for airing dates/times). A video for ‘The Christmas Can-Can’ from the PBS special can now be seen on SNCMusic.com. Straight No Chaser, who recently supported Barry Manilow’s sold out Hollywood Bowl solo concert, will be appearing on QVC on November 25, with multiple appearances all through the day.  And, the group is scheduled to appear on the Christmas Day edition of NBC’s The Today Show, performing holiday favorites throughout the broadcast.

“CHRISTMAS CHEERS” highlights Straight No Chaser’s trademark vocal sound and unique musical approach, while also incorporating much of the energy and enthusiasm of their celebrated live show.  Recorded in SNC’s home base of Bloomington, Indiana, the album ranges from the hilarious “Christmas Can-Can” (with lyrics by the group’s Walter Chase) to a beautifully soulful take on “O Holy Night.”  The 15-track collection also includes such holiday classics as “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Jingle Bells,” and many more.  The SNC original, “Who Spiked The Egg Nog?,” was written by member Ryan Ahlwardt and Straight No Chaser’s producer, Deke Sharon.

Founded at Indiana University in the fall of 1996, Straight No Chaser’s goal was to expand the boundaries of the traditional college a cappella group.  From the start, they viewed themselves more like a local band that just happened to use their voices as their instruments.  As original member Randy Stine comments, “We take the music very seriously; we just don’t take ourselves too seriously.”  In the process, they are reinventing the idea of a cappella on the modern pop landscape.  More @ myspace.com/sncmusic.

NOVEMBER

3   Pittsburgh, PA   Club Café

5   Ridgefield, CT   Ridgefield Playhouse

7   Milwaukee, WI Potawatomi Casino

8   Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Café

11     Toronto, ON, Canada   Queen Elizabeth Theatre

12     Belleville, ON, Canada    The Empire Theatre

13     Montreal, QC, Canada     Cabaret Juste Pour Rire

14     Schenectady, NY   Proctor’s Theatre

15     Buffalo, NY    Center for the Arts - University at Buffalo

18    Atlanta, GA    Center Stage

19     Birmingham, AL WorkPlay Theatre    

20     Charleston, SC   Charleston Music Hall

22     Bel Air, MD    Hartford Community College

27     Seattle, WA    Benaroya Hall (Nordstrom Recital Hall)

28     San Francisco, CA     Palace of Fine Arts Theatre

29     Los Angeles, CA   Wiltern Theatre

DECEMBER

1   Canton, OH    Palace Theatre

3   Louisville, KY   Brown Theatre

4   Piqua, OH Edison Community College

5   Indianapolis, IN    The Murat Centre

6   Royal Oak, MI   Royal Oak Music Theatre

7 & 8  Iowa City, IA University of Iowa, Hancher Auditorium

9   Arkansas City, KS     Cowley College

10     Bartlesville, OK     Bartlesville Community Center

11     Junction City, KS   C.L. Hoover Opera House

12     Lawrence, KS     University of Kansas, Lied Center

13     Chicago, IL     Park West

15     St. Louis, MO     Harrah’s VooDoo Lounge

17     New York City, NY   Nokia Theatre Times Square

18     Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre

19     Boston, MA    Berklee Performance Theatre

21 & 22   Alexandria, VA     Birchmere

23     Raleigh, NC   Progress Energy Performing Arts Center