Count Christmas at Red Bank as an annual tradition that has survived the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the 15th year, the concert brings together a wide swath of local musicians — 11 in this case, including country duo Admiral Radio, folk-pop duo Prettier Than Matt and alt-rock frontman Brian Conner — to play Christmas songs in the sanctuary at Red Bank United Methodist Church. After going virtual for 2020, the event will be back with an in-person audience at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 5, with proceeds benefiting Mission Lexington. More information can be found at facebook.com/ChristmasAtRedBank.

The Chronicle caught up with Kevin Oliver (a contributor to the Chronicle and other local publications), who started Christmas at Red Bank and continues to organize it. We discussed bouncing back from a pandemic-altered 2020 and the value of hosting a diverse lineup of acts in a church. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Chronicle: What inspired you to start Christmas at Red Bank?

Kevin Oliver: I had started booking a monthly Sunday evening gospel music series at Red Bank UMC, where I’m a member, and when it came time to schedule the December show, I thought it would be fun to have a couple local friends come play Christmas music instead of booking a touring group. Everybody I asked said yes and after they got wind of it, a bunch more got added — we had a dozen or so people play that first year. They immediately started asking about doing it the next year, they had such a good time, and the response was encouraging enough I kept doing it.

How did last year go, with the event being virtual?

We had a few less acts, and raised a lot less donations, but the performances were great, and the prerecorded format allowed for some creativity, such as James Etheridge, Jr. getting his son Jake Etheridge to play with him all the way from Nashville, and Sofia Lynch recording her contribution in her college dorm room — she wouldn’t have been able to be there in person.

How are you feeling about getting back to doing the concert in person for 2021?

There’s something a little more spiritual about doing it in that space. It’s blessed with great acoustics, and since it’s already decorated for the Christmas season services, the mood is really set. We are going to do something a little different this year as an acknowledgement of being back in that sacred space — the show will include scripture readings of the Christmas story, read by poet Al Black between musical acts; the songs by many of the artists this year will relate directly or indirectly to the scripture that’s just been read.

What kind of mix are you looking for in the acts? How much freedom do they have in what they choose to play?

The show has developed a bit of a personality over the years, and I try to adhere to that ...

All of the music is played live, and we are mostly acoustic by design, it’s just easier logistically when you put

10-15 acts on a stage in about two hours. I’ve never ruled anyone out, and even entertained having a hip-hop act once or twice, which didn’t work out, unfortunately — that would have been great.

The artists all choose their own songs to play, the only limit being that it should be a sacred Christmas tune since we do the concert in a church, and nobody can do the same song as anyone else. They always surprise me with songs I’d never have thought of myself, honestly.

The series brings together musicians that often wouldn’t share a bill and features some artists that aren’t an obvious fit for playing in a holiday or church context. What is the value you see in that?

There is value in community, and that’s what this concert has created among the performers, the crew, and even the audience that attends, some of them every year since the beginning. I know several previous performers have gone on to play with each other at local gigs around town, or record together even, and I’m happy to have had a small part in those connections.

As for bringing non-church people into a church for a performance such as this, that’s kind of what I’m called to do as a Christian. I’m not going to beat you or them over the head with a Bible, but being able to share the message, the community and the love that defines the Christmas story is a wonderful opportunity, and I’m humbled every year to be able to continue to present this show.