Located about an hour north of Atlanta, The Hall at Bourbon Brothers, in the heart of downtown Gainesville, Georgia, played host to the latest Christmas Dream 2025 Tour stop for the traveling holiday musical ensemble known as The Wizards of Winter. Situated on a $15 million campus shared with Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse & Tavern, this 18,000-square-foot venue (complete with a 7,800-square-foot patio best enjoyed when it isn’t a crisp 40 degrees out) is an upscale indoor destination that leans into a Southern, handcrafted aesthetic with reclaimed wood paneling, while offering up a relaxing table-seated arrangement for Thursday night’s show.
As a bit of history, The Wizards of Winter were formed in 2010 by husband-and-wife duo Scott Kelly and Sharon Kelly as a way to give back to their local community. The group continues to support charities such as Tunnel to Towers, which helps shelter America’s heroes, including veterans and first responders, and Backpack Friends, an organization that provides essential nutrition to underprivileged children.
Anchored by narrator Tony Gaynor’s inviting baritone voice — whom some will recognize as the first narrator for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra — the show’s storytelling kicked off promptly at 7:30 p.m. The ensuing live performance by The Wizards of Winter felt like stepping into a sonic snow globe, filled with swirling melodies, theatrical oration, and dazzling musicianship that kept the Georgia audience spellbound from the first note to the final bow roughly 90 minutes later.
What sets The Wizards of Winter apart is their ability to blend the familiar spirit of the season with the adventurous edge of rock and progressive music, thanks in large part to Steve Brown (guitars), Fred Gorhau (guitars), and Greg Smith (bass). I’ll admit I’m also a sucker for the violin (thanks to my grandfather), so watching Lacie Carpenter layer aggressive elegance into the band’s cinematic holiday anthems was an auditory treat. The rotating vocal performances were especially striking as well, alternating between soaring leads and lush harmonies that carried the emotional arc of the band’s original compositions.
By the end of the night, it was clear that The Wizards of Winter don’t just perform — they enchant. For anyone seeking a concert that combines exceptional musicianship with storytelling flair and holiday magic, this ensemble delivers a memorable, high-voltage experience. The performance felt both festive and fresh, an immersive journey rather than a traditional holiday show, which even included an interactive “snowball fight” with the audience, beach balls tossed into the crowd by Manny Cabo from Santa’s sack, and a surprise visit from Mrs. Claus (vocalist Alexis Smith).
The Wizards of Winter will sleigh through a handful of additional towns before wrapping up their tour ahead of the Christmas holiday at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Easton, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, December 21st.
Fun fact of the night: Gainesville is also known as the “Poultry Capital of the World” because of its large number of poultry processing plants.
Band
Scott Kelly – Founder, Music Director, keyboards
Sharon Joy Kelly – Co-Founder, Lead vocalist, flutist
Fred Gorhau – Guitars
Greg Smith – Bass
Steve Brown – Guitars
John O’Reilly – Drums
Manny Cabo – Lead vocalist, Rock tenor
Alexis Smith – Lead vocalist, auxiliary keyboards
Tony Gaynor – Narrator
Guy LeMonnier – Lead vocalist, Broadway tenor
Shawna Mehall – Choral vocalist, auxiliary percussion, saxophone
Lacie Carpenter – Choral vocalist, violinist
Follow The Wizards of Winter Online
Elliott is a music photographer covering shows in Atlanta, Georgia, and the surrounding area. The highlight of his photography career was back in the early ’90s, when he sold Neil Diamond the rights to his negatives from a show and then purchased a set of tires for his 1979 280ZX during college with the money.