Here’s a sneak peek at what the listeners like on Festival Christmas. If this doesn’t convince you about the great variety to be found there, nothing will. Here are the Top 42 Songs on Festival Christmas, as selected by listener interaction:
Artist – Track – Album
- Ruthie & the Wranglers – Songs of Christmas – Creme de la Creme – First Serving
- Dianne Williams – Midwinter – Oasis Acoustic Volume 37
- David Parmley and Continental Divide – Christmas at the Old Homeplace – A Pinecastle Christmas Gathering
- Over the Rhine – Thank You My Angel – The Darkest Night of the Year
- Odetta – Mary Had a Baby – Gonna Let It Shine, A Concert For The Holidays
- Bonnie Rideout – Eric Rigler – Maggie Sansone – Al Petteway – O Come, O Come Emmanuel – God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen – A Scottish Christmas
- Take 6 – Amen! – He Is Christmas
- Sarah McLachlan – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Wintersong
- Evelyn Cox – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Charlie Daniels and Friends – Joy to the World
- Boys of the Lough – Sankt Staffan han rider / Christmas Day in the Morning / Trettondagsmarschen – Midwinter Night’s Dream
- Aoife Ni Fhearraigh – Seact Sualci Na Maighdine Muire – Narada Presents: The Best of Celtic Christmas
- The Jambalaya Cajun Band – Jingle Bell Rock – Alligator Stomp, Volume 4- Cajun Christmas
- October Project – Silent Night – Silent Night
- The Jumbalaya Cajun Band – Joy to the World – Alligator Stomp, Volume 4- Cajun Christmas
- The Grascals – Christmas Time’s A Comin’ – Charlie Daniels and Friends – Joy to the World
- The Gypsy Hombres – Sleigh Ride – Django Bells
- The Clumsy Lovers – Snoopy’s Christmas – A Winter’s Night
- Leslie Ritter and Scott Petito – In the Bleak Midwinter – This Christmas Morning
- Loreena McKennitt – Noel Nouvelet – A Midwinter Night’s Dream
- Dan Crary – Christmas Waltz/Fum, Fum, Fum – Holiday Guitar – Christmas
- Tropical Flavor Steel Drum Band – Feliz Navidad – Island Christmas
- Pat Wictor – The Quiet of the Snow – Hudson Harding Sampler Volume 1- Happy Holidays
- Loreena McKennitt – Coventry Carol – A Midwinter Night’s Dream
- Johnnie Allan – It’s Christmas in Louisiana – Alligator Stomp, Volume 4- Cajun Christmas
- John Fahey – Medley: Hark the Herald Angels Sing; O Come All Ye Faithful – Christmas Guitar
- The Hayburners – Your Winter Weather – Hudson Harding Sampler, Volume 3 — Happy Holidays
- The Bobs – Mambo, Santa, Mambo – Too Many Santas
- The Blind Boys of Alabama – Joy To The World (featuring Aaron Neville) – Go Tell It On The Mountain
- Robert Earl Keen- Merry Christmas From the Family – Tinsel Tunes – more holiday treats from Sugar Hill
- John Fahey – The Skater’s Waltz – Christmas Guitar
- Anuna – Noel Nouvelet – Christmas Memories
- Steve Glotzer – Children Go Where I Send Thee – Acoustic Christmas
- Ottmar Liebert – Festival (of 7 lights) – Poets & Angels
- Johnny Cunningham – King Holly, King Oak – The Very Best of Celtic Christmas
- Belton Richard – Please Come Home for Christmas – Alligator Stomp, Vol. 4: Cajun Christmas
- Phil Keaggy – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – A Christmas Gift
- Eva Cassidy – It’s Not the Presents – A Holiday Feast- Creme de la Creme
- yThe Christmas Jug Band – Lonesome Reindeer Blues – Uncorked
- Boys of the Lough – The Mummer’s Jig / Christmas Eve – Midwinter Night’s Dream
- Jethro Tull – A Winter Snowscape – The Jethro Tull Christmas Album
- Bittersweet and Briers – No Shelter for Mary/What Child Is This? – A Conner Prairie Christmas
- Adam Rafferty – We Three Kings – A Christmas Guitar Celebration
It’s no secret that I love Christmas music. I have a substantial collection of Christmas CDs and every year I go out and get a few more. In fact, I love Christmas music so much that I start a second Internet broadcast every year, Festival Christmas, in order just to play my favorite Christmas music.
This year, I’ve decided to spotlight some of my all-time favorite Christmas CDs in order to help you in your music shopping or holiday gift buying, or just to get you in the holiday mood. You can hear tracks from all of these CDs on Festival Christmas. I present the list in alphabetical order by artist first name, with a short review.
Adam Rafferty – A Christmas Guitar Celebration
One of my favorite discoveries of this year is fingerstyle guitarist Adam Rafferty, and his new Christmas CD is a must for those who like solo acoustic guitar renditions of standards.
The Arrogant Worms – Christmas Turkey
This album is not for those without a sense of humor, and, honestly, the more warped the better. My favorite tracks are “Santa’s Gonna Kick Your Ass” (“Santa’s coming and he’s gonna kick your ass, because you’ve been a rotten little brat.” and “Christmas Turkey Blues” (sung from the perspective of the turkey.
Blackmore’s Night – Winter Carols
Ritchie Blackmore (former guitarist for Deep Purple) and Candice Night have been plying their renaissance/rock fusion for many years now, and if you like some traditional music mixed with occasional crunchy guitar, I recommend this CD.
Brave Combo – It’s Christmas, Man!
Brave Combo is just flat out awesome. Here they do the Santa Polka, wish for Christmas in July, and do polkafied and dancified versions of chestnuts like “O Christmas Tree” ( as a samba) and “The Christmas Song” (ska). Bob Dylan pretty much ripped his accordion-driven “Must Be Santa” straight off of this CD. If this album doesn’t move you to tap your toes, please have somebody check your pulse.
Bruce Cockburn – Christmas
One of my all-time favorite Christmas albums, highlighted by the haunting “Iesus Ahatonnia (Huron Carol)”, the gospel flavored “Early on One Christmas Morn” and the rollicking cajun hoedown gone awry, “Les Anges Dans Nos Compagnes.”
The Crossing – The Court of a King
Chicago-based Celtic band provides a wonderful take on the holidays, with my favorite track being the opening “O Come O Come Emmanuel”, which opens with haunting didgeridoo and flute, and a rollicking version of “Righteous Joseph.”
Emmylou Harris – Light of the Stable
Tasteful renditions of country Christmas classics topped off by the great vocals of Emmylou Harris.
Harvey Reid and Joyce Andersen – Christmas Morning
Harvey Reid is an amazing multi-instrumentalist (fingerstyle guitar, banjo, autoharp) and Joyce Andersen is a fiddle virtuouso. Together, they have put together a gem of a folky Christmas CD, superbly played and sung. One of the best purely Americana Christmas CDs I’ve ever heard. Check them out at Woodpecker Records, Reid’s label.
Continue reading 20 Holiday Albums For Your Consideration
Happy Holidays, Crimestoppers!
Festival Christmas is back on the air. I’ll be filling the station with the typical mix of spiffy holiday tunes over the next day or so, but I wanted y’all to know that a short playlist is up now for your holiday listening enjoyment. You can click on the widget in the right sidebar to listen, or go to http://www.live365.com/stations/folkchristmas/
This year’s top 40 Christmas tunes, as voted by listeners of Festival Christmas, to brighten your Christmas Eve.
Artist – Song – Album
- Boys of the Lough – That Night in Bethlehem – Midwinter Night’s Dream
- The Peasall Sisters – Hark The Herald Angels Sing – A Holiday EP From Dualtone
- Don Peris – Christmas Time Is Here – brighter visions from afar
- Ottmar Liebert – Shepherd’s Nite Watch – Poets & Angels
- Steve Bell – Come Thou Long Expected Jesus – The Feast
- Robby Hecht – Best That I Do – Hudson Harding Sampler, Volume 3 — Happy Holidays
- Anuna – Gaudete – Christmas Memories
- Solas – The Snows Fall Away – A Winter’s Tale
- Odetta – Somebody Talking bout Jesus – Gonna Let It Shine
- Dan Fogelberg – The First Christmas Morning – The First Christmas Morning
- Jesse Colin Young – What Child Is This? -Â Songs For Christmas
- Donna Germano – Il Est Ne – Oasis Acoustic Volume 37
- Don Peris – O Come All Ye Faithful – brighter visions from afar
- Christine Lavin and the Mistletones – Dona Nobis Pacem – Runaway Christmas Tree
- The Arrogant Worms – Santa’s Gonna Kick Your Ass – Christmas Turkey
- Woody Phillips – Deck the Halls – A Toolbox Christmas
- Woody Phillips – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy – A Toolbox Christmas
- Sixpence None The Richer – Christmas For Two – The Dawn Of Grace
- Emmylou Harris – Beutiful Star of Bethlehem – Light of the Stable – Christmas Album
- David DeBoy – Aluminum Christmas Tree – Oasis Acoustic Volume 37
- Brave Combo – O Christmas Tree -It’s Christmas, Man
- Bernice Lewis – It’s About Peace – Hudson Harding Sampler Volume 1- Happy Holidays
- Loreena McKennitt – God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Abdelli version) – A Midwinter Night’s Dream
- Bonnie Rideout – Eric Rigler – Maggie Sansone – Al Petteway – Rock Thee O’ Child – Christ Child’s Lullaby – A Scottish ChristmasÂ
- Dan Crary – The Last Noel – Holiday Guitar – Christmas
- Siucra – The Cherry Tree Carol – A Very Siucra Christmas
- Rosie Thomas – Why Can’t It Be Christmastime All Year – A Very Rosie Christmas
- The Crossing – Emmanuel (reprise) – The Court of a King
- Catie Curtis – Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming – Hear the Angels Sing: Holiday Greetings From Rykodisk
- Ruben Romero And Robert Notkoff – Jingle Bell Rhumba – Christmas In Santa Fe
- Belton Richard – Blue Christmas – Alligator Stomp, Vol. 4: Cajun Christmas
- Berroguetto – Nadal De Luintra – Putumayo World Christmas
- Johnnie Allan – It’s Christmas in Louisiana – Alligator Stomp, Volume 4- Cajun Christmas
- Cathie Ryan – It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – Narada’s Best of Celtic Christmas
- Eric Rigler and Scarlet Rivera – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – Christmas in Ireland
- Verdier, Taylor & Prendergast – The Wassail Song / Connaughtman’s Rambles – Celtic Christmas
- Patty Loveless – Bluegrass, White Snow – Bluegrass & White Snow
- Mindy Smith – Away In A Manger – My Holiday
- Loreena McKennitt – Emmanuel – A Midwinter Night’s Dream
- Aimee Mann – Whatever Happened to Christmas – One More Drifter in the Snow
Once again, Festival Radio presents a 24/7 Christmas station for your enjoyment. Festival Christmas is playing the same genre-spanning mix of musical discovery as Festival Radio – Celtic, traditional folk, bluegrass, cajun, etc. You all know the drill.
Festival Radio will remain refreshingly holiday-free for those of you who wish to escape the jingle.
The Onlinf Folk Christmas, a holiday gift to the worldfrom Festival Radio, is back on the air, featuring an eclectic holiday mix including folk, singer/songwriters, Celtic, bluegrass, polkas, steeldrums, rhumbas and more. You’ll hear artists asdiverse as Sufjan Stevens, Sarah McLachlan, PattyLoveless, Emmylou Harris, Brave Combo, Aimee Mann, Blackmore’s Night, Bruce Cockburn, Eileen Ivers, Jethro Tull, and Flaco Jimemez.
To listen, go to http://www.live365.com/stations/folkchristmas?play
Adds so far this holiday season to Online Folk Christmas
Artese N Toad – The Americana Christmas Project
Bob Sirois – Dreams of Christmas
Bob Sirois – A Hometown Christmas
Dave Rowe Trio: A Holiday Concert
David Grisman – David Grisman’s Acoustic Christmas
Keith Andrew Grim – Christmas Celebration
Leslie Ritter and Scott Petito – This Christmas Morning
Loreena McKennit – To Drive the Cold Winter Away
Maggie Sansone – Sounds of the Season
Mike, Peggy and Penny Seeger – American Folk Songs For Christmas
Moya Brennan – An Irish Christmas
Over the Rhine – Snow Angels
Robin Bullock, Al Petteway and Amy White – A Midnight Clear
Sarah McLachlan – Wintersong
Skaggs Family – A Skaggs Family Christmas
Various Artists – Hudson Harding Sampler Number 1: Happy Holidays
Top 40 songs on the Online Folk Christmas for the last week (November 30-December 6) as rated by listeners. Just a little sample to whet your appetite for what you might hear this holiday season.
Oh, and I’ve added the new Moya Brennan – An Irish Christmas CD as well, and it hasn’t had enough plays to show up on this list yet, but I suspect it will.
Rank. Artist – Song – Album
1. Anonymous 4 – Nowel; Owt Of Your Slepe Aryse – The Best Of Celtic Christmas
2. The Crossing – In Dulci Jubilo – The Court of a King
3. Brent Bourgeois, Carolyn Arends, Derri Daugherty – what child is this – Noel
4. Emmylou Harris – Beutiful Star of Bethlehem – Light of the Stable – Christmas Album
5. Loreena McKennitt – Coventry Carol – A Winter Garden
6. Harvey Reid and Joyce Anderson – Christ Was Born in Bethlehem – Christmas Morning
7. Emmylou Harris – The First Noel – Light of the Stable – Christmas Album
8. Over the Rhine – Thank You My Angel – The Darkest Night of the Year
9. Carlos Nunez – Galician Carol – The Very Best of Celtic Christmas
10. Pierce Pettis – Miriam – A Winter’s Eve: Acoustic Music for the Winter Season
11. Sheila Walsh – Light Of The World – Peace – A Celtic Christmas
12. Ottmar Liebert – Poets + Angels – Poets & Angels
13. Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band – I Saw Three Ships – The Best Of Celtic Christmas
14. Donal Hinely – Carol Of The Bells – Midwinter Carols: Fourteen Selections On Glass Harmonica
15. Ensemble Galilei – Danse Arabe (from the Nutcracker Suite) – A Winter’s Night — Christmas in the Great Hall
16. Shawn Colvin – In the Bleak Mid-Winter – Holiday Songs and Lullabies
17. Suzy Bogguss – I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day – Have Your Self A Merry Little Christmas
18. Ashley MacIsaac – Ciuin An Oidhach (Silent Night) – A Cape Breton Christmas
19. Aoife Ni Fhearraigh – Seact Sualci Na Maighdine Muire – The Best Of Celtic Christmas 20. Harry Connick, Jr. – Winter Wonderland – Acoustic Christmas
21. Chris Thile – Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella – Tinsel Tunes : more holiday treats from Sugar Hill
22. Beausoleil – It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – Alligator Stomp, Volume 4: Cajun Christmas
23. The Irish Tenors – R Tynan, A Kearns, J McDermott) – Ave Maria (Gounod) – Home For Christmas
24. Newgrange – Christmas Eve – A Christmas Heritage
25. Lori Pappajohn – While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night – Celtic Harp for Christmas
26. Honky Tonk Confidential – Who Gets the Fruitcake This Year? – Creme de la Creme: A Holiday Feast
27. Jethro Tull – Pavane – The Jethro Tull Christmas Album
28. Jerry Chamberlain, Sharon McCall, Riki Michelle, Derri Daugherty – i heard the bells on christmas d – Noel
29. Jane Monheit – I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day – The Season
30. Sara Groves – Child Of Love – It’s Christmas Time
31. Loreena McKennitt – God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen – A Winter Garden
32. The Christmas Jug Band – Lonesome Reindeer Blues – Uncorked
33. Peasall Sisters – Hark The Herald Angels Sing – A Holiday EP From Dualtone
34. Patty Loveless – Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem – Bluegrass & White Snow
35. Harvey Reid and Joyce Anderson – Pretty Paper – Christmas Morning
36. Eric Rigler, Scarlet Rivera and Tommy Eyre – The Holly and the Ivy – Christmas in Ireland
37. David Cullen – The Christmas Song – Holiday Guitar
38. Alison Brown Quartet – Carol of the Kings – A Winter’s Eve: Acoustic Music for the Winter Season
39. The McKrells – Angels We Have Heard on High – Merry Christmas
40. Los Embajadores Vallenatos – Diciembre – A Putumayo World Christmas
Current Top 39 Songs on the Online Folk Christmas based on listener ratings of the last 30 days:
Artist – “Song” – Album
1. The Original Five Blind Boys – “White Christmas” – It’s A Gospel Christmas
2. Steve Bell – “Magnificat (Holy is His Name)” – The Feast
3. The Blind Boys of Alabama – “In The Bleak Midwinter” (featuring Chrissie Hynde with Richard Thompson) – Go Tell It On The Mountain
4. The Irish Tenors – “O Holy Night” – Home For Christmas
5. Skaggs Family – “Go Thee Down” – A Skaggs Family Christmas
6. Linda Ronstadt – “Xicochi, Xicochi”- Merry Little Christmas
7. Emmylou Harris – “Beutiful Star of Bethlehem” – Light of the Stable
8. Over the Rhine – “Greensleeves” – The Darkest Night of the Year
9. Caedmon’s Call – “Babe In The Straw” – It’s Christmas Time
10. The McKrells – “Angels We Have Heard on High” – Merry Christmas
11. Skaggs Family – “The Christmas Guest” – A Skaggs Family Christmas
12. Flaco Jimenez with Freddy Fender – “Frosty The Snowman” – A Tejano Country Christmas
13. Emmylou Harris – “Christmas Times a Coming” - Light of the Stable
14. Skaggs Family – “Deck the Halls” – A Skaggs Family Christmas
15. Sheila Walsh – “Light Of The World” – Peace – A Celtic Christmas
16. Ruben Romero And Robert Notkoff – “Jingle Bell Rhumba” – Christmas In Santa Fe
17. Stephen Murray & Jenny Gullen – “o holy night” – Noel
18. Harry Connick, Jr. – “Winter Wonderland” – Acoustic Christmas
19. Skaggs Family – “Hangin’ Round the Mistletoe” – A Skaggs Family Christmas
20. Asylum Street Spankers – “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” – Christmas Spanking
21. Sheila Walsh – “Gloria” – Peace – A Celtic Christmas
22. Shawn Colvin – “Little Road to Bethlehem” – Holiday Songs and Lullabies
23. Sam Bush – “Sleigh Ride” – Tinsel Tunes : more holiday treats from Sugar Hill
24. Mannheim Steamroller – “Stille Nacht (Franz Gruber 1818) – Christmas
25. Riki Michelle, Jerry Chamberlain, Sharon McCall – “o come, O Come, emmanuel” – Noel
26. October Project – “Silent Night” – Silent Night
27. Steve Bell – “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” – The Feast
28. Kathy Mattea – “Brightest and Best” – Good News
29. Patty Loveless – “Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem” – Bluegrass & White Snow
30. Beausoleil – “Christmas Bayou” – Alligator Stomp, Volume 4: Cajun Christmas
31. Hazel Dickens and Dudley Connell – “Blue Christmas” – Creme de la Creme: A Holiday Feast
32. Emmylou Harris – “Light of the Stable” – Light of the Stable
33. Carol Noonan – “I Wonder as I Wander” – Carol Noonan Christmas
34. Mannheim Steamroller – “Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabella”- Christmas
35. John Fahey – Good Christian Men Rejoice – Christmas Guitar
36. Harvey Reid and Joyce Anderson – Merry Christmas Baby – Christmas Morning
37. Christine Lavin and the Mistletones – The All Purpose Carol – The Runaway Christmas Tree: favorite holiday songs and bedtime stories
38. Emmylou Harris – The First Noel – Light of the Stable
39. Kelly Joe Phelps – It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – Hear the Angels Sing: Holiday Greetings from Rykodisk
Well, technically it never left the air – it was still available for VIP members of Live365 only. Now, it’s available for everyone. I’ve paid for three months of Christmas programming, so from now through January 23, Online Folk Christmas will be playing a freeform blend of folk and related Christmas music: traditional, bluegrass, singer/songwriter, Celtic, cajun, steel drum, world folk and more.
Even as a VIP station with limited access, the station has averaged about an hour per day of listenership from someone somewhere in the world, so I know that there are those out there who like to listen to Christmas music year-round.
So, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow (sorry, Buffalo).
|
|
|
