The Children of St. Martha Elementary School hosted country star Gord Bamford during his second annual Country Christmas tour.

Bobcat from Country 95 got the pleasure of introducing Bamford and starting off the evening.

The opening act began with the children’s choir of the Children of St. Martha Elementary School. They sang their version of Christmas songs to start the evening.

 Bamford was pleased to be doing the tour for a second year.

“We had such success the first year. We just did six small shows,” Bamford said.

ATB Financial has supported the tour and he is grateful for that. This year Bamford is making 13 stops around Alberta.

“We are probably going to keep doing it because it’s been so great,” says Bamford. “The kids are great and they get so excited and it’s great for them too.”

After the tour he has a break for Christmas to spend with his family, his wife Kendra, son Nash, and two daughters, Paisley and Memphis Quinn. In the new year he will be busy with more tours, a performance in Mexico, and the release of a new album.

The crowd clapped and cheered after every song, whether it was his own, or his rendition of a Christmas carol to put the crowd in the holiday mood.

In the middle of the performance Bamford invited two children up on stage to sit with him while he sang. After the performance he gave the children a Christmas present- a signed guitar for each of them.

Before Bamford played the last song, he invited the school principal, Kelsey Kobza, and Don Lowe, the ATB financial district manager, up on stage.

Bamford presented The Children of St. Martha Elementary School with a check for $1,500 to put towards their music program.

After the show Bamford signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans.

Photo: Gord Bamford plays at The Children of St. Martha Elementary School Nov. 30 as part of his Country Christmas tour. Photo by Lindsay Blenkiron