12/21/21: Updated with my 2020 show

In preparation for my 2021 holiday show—to be broadcast this Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at 6pm PST on hollowearthradio.org—please listen to last year’s show, as well as others below from 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Happy holidays!

PLAYLIST
Fotoform – They Say It’s Always Lonely
Pip Blom – All I Want For Christmas
Outer World – Arc & Bow
Sugar World – Just Like Christmas
The Reds, Pinks & Purples – We Won’t Come Home at Christmas Time
Marble Gods – I Remember Xmas
Crocodiles – Christmas In Hell
Jellies – Candy Cane Lane
Berk/Lehane – An Irishman For Christmas
Diet Cig – Happy Holiday
The Hannah Barberas – Can You Hear the Snowfall?
The Aislers Set – Cold Christmas
the bv’s – i hope there’s no snow
Jetstream Pony – Hit the Snow
Apple Orchard – One Christmas Catalogue
Blades of Joy – Christmas Time

As I gear up for this year’s holiday radio show, I’m listening to a lot of new indie music celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah and wintertime. In spite of the pandemic that has disrupted our lives in so many (terrible) ways, musicians around the world have responded in a familiar fashion: immersing oneself in a creative pursuit. Heck, that’s why I’ve kept doing my show every single week this year. It provides a needed distraction. And I’m stuck at home anyway, so…

While the 2020 show will, as always, only feature music released this year, I’ve also been dipping into my archive for some additional holiday cheer. So consider this a series of three opening acts for the main event, which you can tune into on this Wednesday, December 23rd at 6pm (Pacific Standard Time) on hollowearthradio.org. Or catch it on Mixcloud later.

2019

Last year’s show fell square on the holiday, so I pre-recorded it as I traveled to spend Christmas with my family in Florida.

PLAYLIST:
Me in Capris – Lonely Christmas
Nick Frater – Christmas is Cancelled
The Hangabouts – Colors of Christmas
Mikal Cronin – Christmastime Heist
Death to Slow Music – Like Christmas
Jesus on the Moon – Festivus
halfsour – child’s christmas in wales
Marcos y Molduras – La de Navidad – 2k19
Business Of Dreams – Will You Still Love Me In December?
Close Lobsters – All Christmases Go Wild
Oihana & Tamu – Por fin Navidad
Yo La Tengo – Eight Candles
Tracyanne & Danny – Santa, Don’t Say No
The Hannah Barberas – Headfirst Into Christmas
Ben London – Vinyl Christmas
Livingmore – Show Me Light And Love

2018

My 2018 show was the first one where I decided to focus on all-new holiday music. I scoured Bandcamp to discover new artists while blending in recent releases from a few old favorites.

PLAYLIST:
Bubble & Squeak – The Christmas Stick
The Hannah Barberas – Oh Santa Claus!
The Catenary Wires – Christmas Tree (Burn Burn Burn)
The Darling Buds – New Year
Say Sue Me – Christmas, It’s Not a Biggie
Peter Holsapple – Christmas Must Be Tonight
The Flatmates – Come On, Santa!
Whoa Melodic – Christmas Stars
School Damage – Xmas Song
Green Seagull – First Snow of Winter
dogsister – Santa Bezos
Pre Nup – War, On Christmas
Eerie Wanda – Listen the Snow is Falling
The Beths – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Lorna – Broken Stars
Thee Mightees – Christmas Song

2017

The debut Cycles Per Second holiday show, where I liberally sprinkled in favorite seasonal indie tunes that had long been in my jingle-jangle arsenal.

PLAYLIST:
Seafang – Happy When It Snows
The Chills – Christmas Chimes
The Go-Betweens – Hope
Shonen Knife – All I Want For Christmas
The Holiday Scene – Eight Dates A Week (Song For Hanukkah)
Vic Godard & Subway Sect – Holiday Hymn
Aztec Camera – Hot Club of Christ
Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet – Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Redd Kross – Super Sunny Christmas
The Spook School – Someone To Spend Christmas With
Louis Philippe – Christmas Sun
The Hangabouts – Snow Is Falling
Math & Physics Club – It Must Be Christmas
The Perfect English Weather – Chistmas In Suburbia
Yo La Tengo – It’s Christmas Time
O-Positive – Christmas Presence
The French Impressionists – Santa Baby
The dB’s & Friends – You’re What I Want (For Christmas)