Jingle Bells Friday – so, we are having a tree then?

We’re entering that point in December when it is likely that there has already been the opportunity for hitting the festive-themed sandwiches heavily, or stacking high the Winterval pizza offerings, or to have had the first of many plates of Turkey (or approved vegan alternative) and all the trimmings.  And the big day is still almost a fortnight away….hang on.  Almost a fortnight?  Have you seen the length of the to-do list?  How has this happened – yet again?  On this Friday 13th we have only one alternative to the horrors of unpreparedness – how about stepping backwards a little and indulging in the true meaning of Solstice time – the Americana UK festive songs offering that is Jingle Bells Friday.

In the hope to provide that much needed boost we’re starting with the uplifting ‘Rock for Christmas,’  which is loud and fast country-rock from KC Johns and her band.  And it proves that even the simplest of lyrics can have a subtext, as KC Johns explains: “It’s been three years since I’ve released a Christmas song and surprisingly ‘Rock for Christmas’ came so easy for Tim Angsten, Tim Baumgartner and me to write! I’ve always gravitated towards energetic and uplifting songs, that I felt this represented what I wanted to say so well. I’m hoping people love it as much as we loved writing it! Let’s ‘Rock’ for Christmas or ‘get a’ Rock for Christmas!”

Joe Normal‘s new Christmas EP provides a less openly avaricious view of the season, with ‘Christmas In A Blue-Collar Town‘ painting a picture of people making the best of what they have and finding room to help out those with even less.  The Christmas list that starts simple and practical: “Hey Santa I promise to believe in ya’ if ya’ll fill up my stocking with a full tank of gas” and goes on to ask some bigger favours “won’t you pay all the bills for the working class /…/ and won’t ya prey for the souls in recovery / and all the children who have difficulties.”  Let’s face it – what else is magic for?

We’ve mentioned before that not all Christmas songs are universally upbeat and joyful – because not all Winter Seasons are universally upbeat and joyful.  And that’s a theme that Katie Curley taps into on her new EP ‘Big Coloured Lights‘ –  the seven-song collection moves beyond traditional seasonal fare to explore complex family relationships, therapy, and the bittersweet nature of homecoming.  Recorded at Brooklyn’s Cowboy Technical Services, the EP opens with ‘Christmastime Therapy,’ a raw examination of family dynamics whilst a later song ‘Shotgun Wedding in Bethlehem,’ reimagines the nativity story through a very country lens.

Dan McCormick on the other hand has a very different view of the Santa season – as the children grew up and started to doubt in the reality of the big jolly gift giving fellow he hatched a plot to reinstate their true belief.  Building on the usual milk and cookies (but let’s recall from an earlier edition that other beverages might be more suitable…) the method adopted appears to have been a singing ritual.  Spoiler alert – it worked.  Summoning a magical elf through the use of ritual chant? – that might make this our first wiccan adjacent song of this year’s solstice time…

Not all Santas are quite so conventional though, as is proved on this song from The Philly Specials with Mt. Joy.  It’s taken from the third charity fundraising Christmas album featuring the vocal trio composed of Philadelphia Eagles offensive linemen Lane Johnson, Jason Kelce, and Jordan Mailata recording with a number of artists. On this song Mt Joy transform their signature ‘Jesus Drives An Astrovan,’ into a new holiday groove, drawing a vivid picture of a hippie Santa Clause cruising along in the classic Chevy minivan.

And finally for this edition we come to the now traditional (for as long as they are available!) banjo enhanced musical contribution. It’s a rather special one this time as favourite on the UK’s Americana scene Hannah White calls on the multi-instrumental talents of Dirk Powell for a song that hits all the right notes for a traditional feel, but with a message.  Quite lovely.  Have a great weekend of Winterval whatever way you go about pursuing the Seasonal entertainments.