40 Festive Tunes For Y'all

Normally on a Saturday I like to post a cover version or two, but seeing as it's fast approaching Christmas Eve and I am sure most of you are starting to get into the festive spirit I thought it might be a fun idea to post up a few festive tunes. A couple of songs ended up turning into many many hours of searching through my music collection to bring you a whopping forty Christmas songs from an array of Scottish artists. I guess this is as good as a time as any to wish all of the folk that frequent this site a very Merry Christmas, it genuinely means a lot to me that you choose to put up with me and my ramblings. I hope Santa's good to you all, Lloyd x

1. Monoganon - Torso In The Snow

2. Sugar Crisis - Unwrap Your Heart

3. The Second Hand Marching Band - My Gift Is Waiting

4. A Band Called Quinn - Snowblind

5. Ambulances - The True Meaning Of Christmas

6. Drunk Mule - Feels Like Christmas

7. The Stormy Seas - The Christmas Before Last

8. Neil Milton - Last Christmas

9. Snow Patrol - When I Get Home For Christmas

10. Washington Irving - Silent Night

11. De Rosa - Under The Stairs (Christmas Reverie)

12. Mitchell Museum - Stop the Cavalry

13. Camera Obscura - Little Donkey

14. Frightened Rabbit - It's Xmas So We'll Stop

15. The Last Battle - Once Upon A Boxing Day

16. Julia and the Doogans - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

17. Woodenbox - The Christmas Song

18. The Recovery Club - Silent Night

19. Frightened Rabbit - Cheap Gold

20. Arab Strap - Xmas Baby Please Come Home

21. Frightened Rabbit-Walking In The Air

22. Belle & Sebastian - O Come, All Ye Faithful

23. Campfires in Winter - Christmas Song

24. Dogs Die In Hot Cars - Christmas

25. How to Swim - Sleighbells (Christmas Makes Me Blue)

26. Teenage Fanclub - Christmas Eve

27. Mogwai - Christmas Song

28. The Plimptons - Christmas All Over This Town

29. El Dog - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

30. Esperi - Snowman

31. Miaoux Miaoux - Snow

32. Mike Nisbet - Snow Me In

33. Withered Hand - Its A Wonderful Lie

34. The Belle Hops - A Belle Hops Christmas Song

35. The Phantom Band - Silent Howling Night

36. Abagail Grey - Winter

37. Idlewild - Mistletoe and Wine

38. Malcolm Middleton - We're All Going To Die (Live at Homegame)

39. Rachel Sermanni - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

40. The Scottish Enlightenment - God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

Fresh Meat Monday - Julia and the Doogans

Would you care to introduce yourself?
We are Julia and the Doogans. The bass and drums have been rather flexible as of late but the core of the band is: Julia - vocals, guitar and banjo Alan - guitar, vocals, bits of percussion Carolann - flute Renata - cello Jennifer - piano

How would you describe the music you make?
Laid back, mellow and above all - simple.

How did you start out making music?
I always wanted to sing ever since I was young. After high school I still wanted to sing but developed this desire to write my own songs so I went to college because I wanted to know how to home record/ do it myself. I had tried and failed many instruments but stuck with the guitar and soon found an obsessive nature towards the flute, banjo and trumpet and anything else I could get a sound out of. I met Alan, Carolann and Jennifer through college who had followed their interest in it and like me went on to study it and Renata had been playing violin for years before moving onto cello 3 years ago.

What process goes into the way you write songs?
I don't make a point of setting an hour or time frame aside specifically for songwriting as it's too regimented for me to do that. I usually sit with the guitar or banjo and just see what sounds good and it's a combination of having things I want to say and a way of saying these things. I jot ideas down a lot and wait however long for a peice of music and melody to suit the idea - could be instant or take a while for something to suit an idea. The way I write is evolving which is good. Keeps me on my toes. Once I have a full or near full song/structure I express any ideas with the band and then they put in their ideas. Magic.

What can people expect from your live shows?
For the next little while people can expect homemade cupcakes, CD's and magnets all for free! Aside from the cakes being the most popular, I think people sort of get two shows in one. Half is all of us and then it gradually dwindles down to me on my own finishing with the quieter songs...and some new songs throughout the set.

What are you all listening to at the moment?
Damien Rice, Lisa Hannigan, Low, Belle and Sebastian - loads and loads and loads. Classical music as well.

What can we expect to see/hear from you in 2010?
Cupcakes, new songs, a release or two, another animated video or two, gigs gigs and more gigs and perhaps a tour.

Julia and the Doogans - Glasgow (MP3)


Myspace

Festive Freebies

I know I said there would be no more Friday Freebies this year, well to get round this I have gone with Festive Freebies as to be honest there are far too many cracking tracks out there that I had to share them.

Kid Canaveral
Having stalked the Canaverals for over a year now, it would be fair to say that I am just ever so slightly excited about their forthcoming album. After listening to their new song 'Good Morning', which they are giving away as a wee taster of what's to come, I think you will be to. Just head on over to their Bandcamp page and download yourself a copy of one of the catchiest pop songs you'll hear all year.

Martin John Henry/De Rosa
The ex-De Rosa frontman has put up a copy of his old band's Christmas variation of one of their songs, 'Under The Stairs (Christmas Reverie)'. You can enjoy this festive treat here

Broken Bells
Broken Bells, the collaboration between Danger Mouse James Mercer, have released their debut single "The High Road" for free and it is available to download here.

Olo Worms
The Fence Collective's Olo Worms are giving away all of their back catalogue for you to download for free, just head over here.

Y’all is Fantasy Island
The greatest band to come from Falkirk since Arab Strap are making a re-appearance in 2010, having been somewhat prolific in 2008 (they released a whopping four albums), 2009 was a fairly quiet year. 2010 looks like they'll be back with a bang, to kick the year off they've put their single 'Play On the Weekend’s Sunny Days' up to download for nada here.

Jack James
Glasgow singer/songwriter Jack James recently launched his debut album, 'Lights off, headphones on', which he's very kindly put out as a free download (although I am pretty sure you can buy a physical copy if you like that sort of thing. You can get yourself a free download here.

Warp
The pioneering indie label are giving away a selection of their 'Hottest Acts For 2010' over at the Guardian, their hot tips for this year include Nice Nice, The Hundreds in the Hands and Gonjasufi, check them out here.

SubPop
Sub Pop release have put a few free downloads showcasing what to expect from their releases in Jan/Feb, just right click and save the link. Here you go; The Album Leaf "Falling From The Sun", Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni ba "Muscow", Retribution Gospel Choir "Hide It Away", AFCGT "Two-Legged Dog" and Beach House "Norway" (yes I know I have already featured this, but somebody might have missed it, plus it's good enough to feature twice).

Cats and Cats and Cats
The London Post-Rockers are giving away a cop of their festive song 'If I'd had antlers' here.

Julia and the Doogans
If you didn't sign up their mailing list as I recommended a while back, then get your finger oot and you'll get yourself a free MP3 of their song 'Glasgow'. They have also put up a new song called 'Maps of the World' up to download for free, it's only available until Boxing Day, so no dilly dalying about, go get it here.

Friday Freebies

Silver Columns
I am not sure if it is still hush as to who Silver Columns actually, in case it is let's just say that they're two well known faces from Fence Collective. More importantly what you need to know is that they sound amazing, imagine Jimmy Somerville fronting Hot Chip and you're half way there. Their debut single, 'Brow Beaten' is free to download over at the NME, while you can grab a copy of their remix of Peter, Bjorn & John's 'It Don't Move Me' from their website.

Macabre Scene
I know I mentioned these guys earlier in the week, but what I didn't mention was that they are currently giving away two newly recorded songs Pride of Lions and We Eat Light
for free. If you like your post punk then I strongly recommend you check these guys out, to be honest this music isn't really my cup of tea, but there's something about Macarbe Scene that just works for me, I have been hammering their songs a fair bit this week, I hope you end up doing the same. Also, while you are at it, check out their cover of The Smiths 'Last night I dreamt somebody loved me' recorded by the lovely Glasgow Podcarters, cracking stuff.

The Unwinding Hours
From the ashes of Aerogramme comes the Unwinding Hours, and if the songs posted on their myspace are anything to go by then their debut album due for release next year will be an absolute belter. If you don't believe me then head over to The Popcop as he's got an exclusive free download of 'Knut', I strongly urge you to check it out.

Beach House
The American dream pop duo are giving away single 'Norway' from their forthcoming album 'Teen Dream' and all you have to do is go to their homepage.

Julia & the Doogans
If you like your music to be soothing,with a touch of twee 'ness then Julia & the Doogans may well be your 'new favourite band'. Unfortunately though you'll have to wait till next year until you they will actually release anything, however, if you sign up to their mailing list thenyou should receive some free stuff in your mailbox this weekend.

Adam Stafford
A late addition to this weeks Friday Freebies comes from Adam Stafford from Y'All is Fantasy Island, he is giving away his official debut solo album Awnings for free here.
Thanks to Jim from Aye Tunes for the heads up on this one.