Timmins Daily Press, Saturday Dec 6, 2008
You know it's Christmas time in Timmins when the Sons of Maxwell are playing to sold-out audiences.
For the 10th-consecutive year, the popular recording artists -- consisting of Timmins' own talented brothers Dave and Don Carroll -- returned to town to host their annual Christmas concert.
Several hundred music fans, friends and family members packed the auditorium at Timmins High and Vocational School Friday and Saturday night to once again listen to familiar holiday classics, as well as a mix of original tunes penned and sung by the talented brothers.
To say the Carroll brothers are a Timmins treasure would be an understatement. Even though they have called the East Coast home for many years, Dave and Don Carroll never have forgotten their roots growing up here in the City with the Heart of Gold.
The fact they continually draw hundreds of fans each and every time they return to town to perform as Sons of Maxwell -- or individually as solo artists -- is a testament to their musical ability.
It also highlights how the residents of this community love to support local talent and applaud those who have left town to pursue their artistic dreams.
"We'll keep doing this as long as there is a demand for it," Dave Carroll toldDaily Pressreporter Arron Pickard following Friday night's sold-out performance. "This concert marks the start of Christmas for us because we play about half a dozen concerts through the holidays."
Returning to Timmins to play the annual Christmas concert -- their popularity has determined they can now support two shows instead of one -- is a welcome homecoming as they love performing in front of dozens of family members and close friends.
It's amazing that the Christmas concerts have been going on for a decade, Dave said.
"This is something we love doing and when you do something you love, time goes by quickly," he said. "There are always new faces every year and new songs that we work into the lineup."
Don Carroll said he and his brother are fortunate to have remained full-time musicians in an industry where careers are usually short.
"We play with a lot of quality musicians, they're all top drawer," he said.
The brothers have no intention of splitting up Sons of Maxwell, but are proud to have pursued solo careers.
Friday's performance was the launch of Don's first solo album called "Valentine's Delivered."
A few months ago, Dave returned to Timmins after proudly launching his first solo work called "Perfect Blue," which has garnered him an award for Inspirational Recording of the Year in Nova Scotia.
That recording also inspired a Nova Scotia man to write a script and produce a film, where Dave has agreed to play the lead role.
"At our core, we're still Sons of Maxwell," Dave said. "But, we've matured to the point where we have our own individual strengths in music."
Mayor Tom Laughren presented the Carroll brothers with plaques for the 10th anniversary of their Christmas shows. He called them great performers and true artistic ambassadors for the city.
"When you look at how these guys have been all over the world, they promote Timmins everywhere they go," Laughren said.
Kudos to two extremely talented and proud lads from Timmins, who have done themselves and the city proud for a long long time.
And here's hoping they keep producing quality music and bringing it back home to Timmins for all their fans to listen to for years to come.
Article ID# 1336952