Christmas A Go Go!

We started blogging about Xmas songs in November 2006 ( see? ). So to celebrate 20 years, it’s time (again) for the Netherlands’ biggest Christmas blog, Christmas A GoGo, to throw its annual Christmas party. Blackbird, Blanko, Talking Trees - a duo that transforms tree pulses into synthesiser music -, The Mieters, The Lasses and The Heck will be performing at the Bovenzaal of Paradiso in Amsterdam . It’s the perfect fit for a Christmas site that claims to showcase ‘the weird and the wonderful.' On Monday, 22 December, the musical pine tree waft will be spread by: Blackbird. In the past, Merel Koman gave us her own Christmas hits, such as the smash ‘Christmas Getaway’. On her new EP (on green vinyl ), ‘Mama Made Christmas’, you’ll hear Het Metropole Orkest backing her up. Paradiso plans to be the tree-topper of her Christmas tour. The Lasses. This duo met at an Irish pub in Amsterdam. They’ve put out four albums, performed countless shows, and now they have a Christmas a...

A special and limited 7-inch single has been released by Sundazed : Dr. John playing 'Silent Night' on piano. The single contains two takes, both recorded sometime in 1981–1982. On side A you can hear him start over a few times. This version was previously released on the CD edition of ' Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack ' (1989). On the other side is 'Silent Night Take Two', which has never been released before.

As far as I could tell, we at CAGG have never written about the American label Rum Bar Records from Boston. I could only find this post   on their band Beebe Gallini. They’ve been releasing punk/rock ’n’ roll Christmas music for a few years now. This year no fewer than three vinyl singles have been released. First up is a fast, punk-like version of Darlene Love’s ' Baby Please Come Home' by a bunch of old punks: Greg Antista and the Lonely Streets. Christmas, Baby Please Come Home by Greg Antista and the Lonely Streets At Rum Bar Records they also venture into lounge, with this soft jazzy, pink-tinted single ' It’s Martini Time' by the duo Velveteen Lounge, which instantly transports you into the world of kitsch, Martinis, and Tiki bars. Velveteen Lonunge Kitsch-en Christmas (Velveteen Lounge Records) by Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en The third single features two bands. On one side you’ll find Hilken & Melissa (feat. Kay Hanley) with the country-tinged ' Wh...

Christmas for a good cause. 'A Wild Christmas, We Broke Santa' by Shapes Like People is raising funds for the Stars Appeal with this awesome track. Indie pop couple Kat & Carl Mann originally wrote it for their new album, "but it didn't quite fit, so we've given it a Christmas makeover". Cheerful jangle-pop, sleigh bells, a late eighties crystalline sound with great singing (think Miki Berenyi and more recent Lana del Rey) and that typical Christmassy feel. But as sweet as the song is, so hard is their Christmas. Grandma is so drunk, her teeth fell out and who put tequila in the turkey brine anyway? Merry Christmas, great song!   Stars Appeal are aiming to raise £2million this calendar year to enhance care for patients across all wards and departments at Salisbury District Hospital, and support the NHS staff who care for them.  Donate via Bandcamp .  Shapes Like People Insta over there .  A Wild Christmas, We Broke Santa by Shapes Like People