A collective musical hug

River East

St. Boniface

Grant Park

Frot Garry

The holiday season in Winnipeg wouldn’t be quite the same without the seasonal sounds of Those Guys.

The a cappella group, which was founded by group member and general manager Bernie Pastorin in 2009, is tuning up to perform two annual holiday shows – Under the Mistletoe with Those Guys – which will take place on Dec. 6 and 7 at Desautels Concert Hall at the University of Manitoba (150 Dafoe Rd W.).

In previous years, the group has held its flagship concerts in venues such as Centre culturel franco-manitobain and the West End Cultural Centre. And while Pastorin is grateful for the relationship Those Guys has with these venues – “we loved working with them” – he’s looking forward to performing at the southwest Winnipeg-based concert hall. The nearly 25,000 square-foot venue, which contains more than 400 seats, officially opened last year.

“We had a walk-through the venue a couple of months ago, and we were blown away,” Pastorin, 41, said. “It will accommodate a larger audience, but it still has an intimate feel.”

At the upcoming holiday shows, fans will once again be able to experience a blend of modern pop covers and timeless holiday classics.

Known for its dynamic vocal arrangements and interaction with its live audiences, Those Guys members are grateful for its following.

“Our fan base started off with a lot of older folks,” Pastorin, who lives in Grant Park, said. “It’s definitely a mixed bag now, as a lot of our original fans have introduced their families and friends.”

During the Christmas performances, Pastorin has been known to become a little emotional, which shows how important the gigs are to him and how the experience is a special one shared by everyone.

“Our shows have become quite the tradition … and I choke up on occasion. It’s such a safe space for me. I want the audience to know they feel like family to me. There are such a range emotions when we’re out there on stage, and ultimately I want the audience to feel like they’re being hugged,” he said.

Ben Campbell, who lives in the River East area, is a founding member of Those Guys. As a U of M alumnus, he’s looking forward to kind of coming full circle when he performs at Under the Mistletoe with Those Guys.

“It’s a beautiful space, and to be able to come back there and actually perform there will be really exciting,” Campbell, 37, said, noting group members are really good friends, which adds to their chemistry.

“From an artistic point of view, you want to be pushing your boundaries.”

Go online at www.thoseguysacappella.com for more information.