Holiday Songs from Our Favorite Folk and Roots Artists
As the year draws to a close, the days are short and the wind is howling. (Unless of course you live in warmer climes, in which case, enjoy the warmth for us!)
Holiday music is on the speakers everywhere you go these days, but it doesn’t all have to be saccharine-sweet, over-produced pop. There are plenty of great holiday recordings by your favorite folk and roots artists.
In fact, we’ve got a whole stream of them—hours upon hours of our favorite winter tunes. Keep scrolling for some highlights to get you started. Or, you can go over to the Folk Alley Holiday Stream using the FA app or website, and get your jolly on, whenever you want.
Micheala Anne – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
This lovely little melancholy Christmas lullaby was originally written in 1943 for Judy Garland to sing in Meet Me in St. Louis. But it is excellent balm for our times and singer-songwriter Michaela Anne gives it beautiful treatment on her new Christmas album. Let’s hope next year all our troubles will be far away.
Amanda Ann Platt & the Honeycutters – “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy”
This banger from the Honeycutters’ 2019 holiday album, Christmas on a Greyhound Bus, is a terrific cover of the Buck Owens/Don Rich co-write.
Leon Timbo – “Oh Holy Night”
This highlight from Timbo’s new holiday EP features his understated, hushed vocals wrap around this Christmas classic like a warm, plush blanket against the cold. It is a melody built for singing with all one’s might and Timbo is well up to the task.
Raul Malo – “Winter Wonderland”
The lead singer from the Mavericks delivers an exquisite whistling performance on this holiday classic. There are a number of jolly turns on seasonal favorites on his 2007 album, Marshmallow World & Other Holiday Favorites, but it’s hard to not love this one.
Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards – “New Year’s Day”
If you’re just ready for the holidays to be over and the new year to begin—if you’re “counting down the seconds for the change”—then perhaps this brand new tune from Laura Cortese is your new jam.
