Josh Grider is a country music singer and songwriter born and raised in Las Cruces who now makes his home in New Braunfels, Texas. He has released seven albums and toured around the country and Europe, but is coming home to Las Cruces for the holidays — and a special performance. He and his family will perform a benefit concert that is appropriately entitled, “Home for the Holidays,” at the Rio Grande Theatre on Saturday, December 17, at 7:00 p.m.
"I get to come back to Las Cruces and play shows fairly often, and since my folks are still here, my family and I always make a trip for Christmas,” Grider explains. “So this holiday season I thought it might be special to partner with the Doña Ana Arts Council and Tutti Bambini to spread a little Christmas spirit and give back to those in need. Join my family and me for the Grider Family Christmas Show and we'll do just that. A lot of people know my wife, Kristi, is a phenomenal singer, but the boys are starting to come into their own and will be featured in the show as well. Sacred, secular, new songs and old...it will be a family-friendly show just in time for Christmas.”
Grider explains that although he has been coming home to Las Cruces for the holidays since he struck out on his own at the age of 18, he has never done a holiday concert — or one that involves his wife and kids. He says his second grader, Joshua James, will perform several songs, but that — as one might expect — their two-year-old, Evan’s, participation will depend on his mood and willingness the night of the show. He jokes, “I guess you'll just have to come to find out!”
Twenty-five percent of ticket sales will go to Tutti Bambini, a local children's clothing store that serves the community and benefits Jardin de Los Niños and La Casa.
Grider says, “We chose Tutti Bambini because we as a family loved the idea of supporting an organization that not only helps families get clothes on their backs through the re-sale shop but financially supports programs for kids at risk. Becoming a father has opened my eyes to the realities that a lot of kids face and to be able to help out around the holidays was a perfect fit.”
The holidays are an appropriate time to both enjoy music and do something for others and this concert allows the audience to do both. Grider says, “I’ll sing a couple of my country songs, but we really want to make the focus holiday music, both secular and sacred. I think it will be a lot to fun with my wife and the boys being part of it, and it's supporting a fantastic cause, so I hope we pack the house!”
Tickets are $17 for adults, $7 for children 16 and under, and a family package with two adult and two children tickets is $40 (all fees included). Tickets are available at www.riograndetheatre.com, at the theatre box office on the second floor of the Rio Grande Theatre during regular business hours, or one hour before the show at the door.
The Rio Grande Theatre is located at 211 N. Main Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico, and is managed by the Doña Ana Arts Council. The theatre box office and Doña Ana Arts Council office is on the second floor of the theatre. Box office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and one hour prior to show time. For more information or to purchase tickets online, go to www.riograndetheatre.com or call (575) 523-6403.