Folk Alley Radio Show #251211
This week on Folk Alley, join Cindy Howes for fresh new holiday tracks from Sara Milonovich & Daisycutter, Drew & Ellie Holcomb, Jake Shimabukuro, The Klezmatics, and The Doohickeys, along with seasonal favorites from the Indigo Girls, JD McPherson, Sierra Ferrell, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Plus, we remember the great Raúl Malo of The Mavericks, who passed away on December 8th.
In Hour Two, we dive into the results of our Best of 2025 Folk Alley Listener Poll. Enjoy an hour of music that resonated the strongest with Folk Alley listeners this year including songs from Alison Krauss & Union Station, Jason Isbell, Mavis Staples, and much more.
Artist-Song-Album-Label
Hour One
The Mavericks – Christmas Time Is (Coming ‘Round Again) – Hey! Merry Christmas! – Mono Mundo Recordings/Thirty Tigers
Raul Malo – Winter Wonderland – Marshmallow World & Other Holiday Favorites – New Door
Raul Malo – Santa Claus is Back in Town – Marshmallow World & Other Holiday Favorites – New Door
Sara Milonovich & Daisycutter – Light the Treelights – [single] – Loonymusik
Sufjan Stevens – Put the Lights on the Tree – Hark! Christmas Singalong Vol. 2 – AsthmaticK
Mary Chapin Carpenter – Come Darkness, Come Light – Come Darkness, Come Light – Zoe
The Klezmatics – Spin Dreydl Spin – Woody Guthrie’s Happy Joyous Hanukkah (remastered) – Shamus Records
The Klezmatics – Hanuka Gelt – Woody Guthrie’s Happy Joyous Hanukkah (remastered) – Shamus Records
Indigo Girls – Happy Joyous Hanukkah – Holly Happy Days – Vanguard Records
The Doohickeys – Merry Happy Whatever – Merry Happy Whatever [EP] – Forty Below Records
The Doohickeys – Santa Needs A Beer – Merry Happy Whatever [EP] – Forty Below Records
Melissa Carper – Cats In the Christmas Tree – A Very Carper Christmas – Soundly Music
JD McPherson – Santa’s Got A Mean Machine – Socks – New West Records
Woody Phillips – We Wish You A Mary Christmas – A Toolbox Christmas – GourdMusic
Sierra Ferrell – Rocking Around the Xmas Tree – [single] – Rounder Records
Old Crow Medicine Show – Breakin’ Up Christmas – OCMS XMAS – Hartland Records
Drew & Ellie Holcomb – I’ll Be Home For Christmas – I’ll Be Home For Christmas [EP] – Magnolia Music
Jake Shimabukuro – Mele Kalikimaka (feat. Jimmy Buffett) – Tis the Season – JS Reccords
Hour Two
Billy Strings & Bryan Sutton – Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright (live) – Live at the Legion – Reprise
Todd Snider – While We Still Have a Chance – High, Lonesome and Then Some – Aimless Records
Molly Tuttle – Rosalee – So Long Little Miss Sunshine – Nonesuch
Mavis Staples – Beautiful Strangers – Sad and Beautiful World – ANTI
Brandi Carlile – Returning To Myself – Returning To Myself – Interscope/Lost Highway
Mary Chapin Carpenter – Bitter Ender – Personal History – Lambent Light Records
Hayes Carll – Stay Here A While – We’re Only Human – Hwy 87 Records
Jason Isbell – Bury Me – Foxes in the Snow – Southeastern
Patty Griffin – Back at the Start – Crown of Roses – PGM Recordings
Taj Mahal + Keb’ Mo’ – Room On The Porch (feat. Ruby Amanfu) – Room On The Porch – Concord Records
Alison Krauss & Union Station – Richmond On the James – Arcadia – Down The Road Records
I’m With Her – Find My Way To You – Wild & Clear & Blue – I’m With Her/Rounder/Concord
Eliza Gilkyson – Dark Night of the Soul – The Dark Ages – Realiza Records
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Folk Alley’s weekly, syndicated radio show is produced by Linda Fahey and host Cindy Howes. The show is available for free to stations via PRX.org or directly from Folk Alley via Dropbox for non-PRX members. The Folk Alley Radio Show is presently carried on over 70 stations nationally.
