IMMANUEL
Questions? Contact booking@melaniepenn.com
Now Booking for 2024
Thank you for considering IMMANUEL as part your Christmas season!
The IMMANUEL live concert is a collection of original songs that tells the Christmas story in the first person. The concert walks through the biblical Christmas narrative through they eyes of: Isaiah, Gabriel, Mary, one of the shepherds, the angel chorus, Joseph, the star of Bethlehem, one of the wise men and the innkeeper.
We hope that it is a musical evening that tells the old, true story in a new way and helps you place a meaningful evening of music within your advent / Christmas program.
What is IMMANUEL?
IMMANUEL started as a folk-pop songwriter album that was released in fall 2017. The album is the 3rd studio collaboration between Melanie and Nashville-based producer Ben Shive (Andrew Peterson, Sara Groves, Ellie Holcomb). The album reached #1 on Amazon's Christian, Christian worship, and general Holiday charts.
Each one of the original songs is based on the characters we meet in Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1-2. All the songs from IMMANUEL are written from a first-person perspective.
The project was created with an intention that anyone could access these songs and the stories within, no matter where they are on their faith journey. We've found IMMANUEL is an event that can help show hosts welcome their neighborhoods and surrounding communities into a Christmas experience.
What is the show?
Think of it as Lessons and Carols with original songs, reflection, and just the right amount of humor.
The songs from IMMANUEL come across best when sung in sequence. This leaves room in between the songs for scripture, other devotional / reflective readings, group carols, a brief homily or message, and / or a moment for children. We can help you with all of that! The collection also works wonderfully as a traditional singer-songwriter concert.
Mel is happy to think through the evening with you so that the flow is just right for your church or private event.
Contact: booking@melaniepenn.com
About the Shows
“We invited Melanie to showcase her album, Immanuel, and the concert was everything we hoped it would be. Not only did it highlight her talent as a singer and the creativity of seeing the Christmas story through a fresh and unique perspective, it created the space for our church community to worship.
It renewed our hope that such a classic and familiar story can be approached with new eyes, preparing the space for our hearts to worship the Savior once again here at Christmas!”
“Melanie ushered us through a thoughtful evening as she sketched perspectives around the Christmas story through scripture and song. Her IMMANUEL concert provided an opportunity for our congregation to share a well-crafted, accessible evening of music with our wider community.
Melanie is a remarkable songwriter that moves buoyantly between pop, folk, and Americana genres with originality and poise.”
“We are a small, new church that wanted to celebrate the Christmas season. Melanie put on an incredibly enjoyable, laid back, and easy show. She has traveled for house shows, and has played for churches and other venues of various sizes.
If you want your church and neighbors to have an enjoyable evening of music and song, then bring Melanie to your church.”
“We hosted Melanie’s Christmas show at Art House Nashville, and we couldn’t have asked for a more special & thoughtful way to start the Christmas weekend. Melanie has crafted a truly beautiful collection of songs, rich with meaning and truth, and she brings it to life in a Christmas concert that’s full of gifted musicality and warm personality.
In a city like Nashville, where the Christmas concert offerings run deep, Melanie’s truly stood out as a gem and we felt proud to have packed-out the Art House space to host her - the spirit of festive joy was truly palpable. We can’t recommend Melanie and this Christmas concert enough!”
“The highlight of our Christmas season was hosting Melanie Penn and her band for an extraordinary performance of Immanuel for our guests.
All through the planning process Melanie and her crew were super professional and helpful, making my job so easy. Melanie crafted her concert into an extra special performance by weaving in guest participation and her sparkling commentary. ”
About the Album
“Melanie Penn dazzles with her musical gift.”
“If you buy only one holiday album this season, this is it.”
“Artful, worshipful originals, new Christmas carols that will add depth and beauty to your Advent playlist...”
“Immanuel is an experience you won’t want to miss”
“In rare cases, a Christmas album will sweep you off your feet and take you on a 40+ minute journey that lifts your spirit higher than when you started.”
“If you haven’t heard Melanie Penn’s sweet pop sounds before, let her forthcoming Christmas album Immanuel be your introduction ... Penn has really created a work of art that should be cherished for years and years to come.”
“Sweetly evocative...”
“Melanie Penn has risen to the challenge of creating original Christmas music that neither exploits nostalgia nor struggles to be trendy.”
“With a heart that has tasted the goodness of God in the midst of suffering, Melanie Penn exudes a worshipful sweetness that can’t be easily replicated.”
Listen on Spotify
About Mel
Melanie Penn has been called a Christian “singer in an age of skepticism.” Based in Manhattan, she started her career in New York in the NYC theatre scene, quickly becoming a mainstay and award-winning musical theatre actress. She toured the US with the Broadway musical Grease! starring 50s icon Frankie Avalon. Mel transitioned to songwriting and released 6 songwriter albums to critical acclaim.
In New York, Mel served as a songleader at Redeemer Presbyterian Church and also served alongside the late theologian Tim Keller at Redeemer City to City, an organization to help catalyze gospel movements in global cities.
Mel currently lives in Nashville and will release an original album about the resurrection (the followup to Immanuel) in Spring 2025.