Funviralpark But the Salt Lake City International Airport duo made sweet music on Saturday to ease the stress of traveling the day before Christmas.
Mike Kristiansen and Eric Nelson have been performing together as the Lightwood Duo for nearly 40 years. The duo have performed all over the region and the duo are no strangers to airports.
“We usually play the day before Thanksgiving and then Christmas Eve,” said Christiansen, who plays guitar and is a professor emeritus at Utah State University.
Christiansen and Nelson have spent years hanging out at airports on vacation, so they understand what the stress of travel can be.
“You can say that [travelers] I’m a little nervous, and by the time I get here, I’m tapping my feet, snapping my fingers, and singing along,” Christiansen said.
The two typically play songs from a variety of musical genres, but at this time of year it’s the holiday classics that can be found on the airport’s playlist for passengers who mostly wish they were elsewhere.
Texas traveler Roark Bradley said, “It’s so stressful and everyone is feeling rushed and anxious, so playing beautiful music helps release a lot of that negative energy. It creates space,” he said.
It may not be Carnegie Hall, but Christiansen said the Lightwood duo enjoys performing at airports on holidays and intends to do so as long as they invite.
“It’s a fun gig. There’s nothing more interesting than the people.”
