Essential Advent Calendar

The Essential Advent Calendar: Merry Christmas! Jedward Inspire Us To ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ As We Go Into The New Year And Decade

December 25, 2019

We’ve had The Essential Advent Calendar for a few years now and usually when it comes to December 25 we summarise the songs we’ve featured over advent. This year is going to be different. It’s the end of the decade. When we go back to reality after the Christmas/New Year period, and work out how to remember how to write the date, it’s no longer going to be the 20-teens, we’ll have entered the 2020s. And ultimately, it’s up to us to decide whether it’s going to be a time of prosperity and positivity or not: will we have a Roaring 2020s, or will we just go along with whatever is given to us, accepting it as our lot in life, no matter how miserable it makes us feel?

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The Essential Advent Calendar: December 24 – Christmas Party Memories

December 24, 2019

It’s our second last door on the Essential Advent Calendar, and today we have some musical artists talking about their favourite Christmas party memories.

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#WHAMAGEDDON WARNING The Essential Advent Calendar: December 23 – WHAM!’S ICONIC ‘LAST CHRISTMAS’ TURNS 35 YEARS OLD – Limited Edition 7″ Vinyl Release

December 23, 2019

If you’re playing #Whamageddon look away now!

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The Essential Advent Calendar: December 22 – LA Pop/Rock Songstress Alexa Villa Releases ‘Silent Night’ In Time For The Holidays

December 22, 2019

We’re racing towards the end of the Essential Advent Calendar for 2019 and door number 22 is concealing the new single from Los Angeles pop/rock singer, Alexa Villa, ‘Silent Night’.

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The Essential Advent Calendar: December 21 – Have Yourself a Very ‘Big Christmas’ With Exclusive Recordings from Global Artists

December 21, 2019

Door Number 21 finds Deezer’s festive release, ‘Big Christmas’. Featuring artists from all over the world, ‘Big Christmas’ includes artists from The UK, Australia, Mexico, France, Norway, and The Philippines, all putting their stamp on Christmas classics.

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The Essential Advent Calendar: December 20 – Robert O’Connor Releases ‘River’ Video For Christmas

December 20, 2019

Can you believe it’s already the 20th of December? Behind our 20th door is the wonderful Robert O’Connor, with the video for his festive track, ‘River’.

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The Essential Advent Calendar: December 19 – Wendi Harriott’s ‘Simply Christmas’ Is Filled With Classics

December 19, 2019

Door number 19 sees the wonderful Wendi Harriott, and her Christmas album, ‘Simply Christmas’.

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The Essential Advent Calendar: December 18 – SPiN Take A New Look At Christmas Classics With ‘Carol Of The Merry Gentlemen (What Child?)’

December 18, 2019

SPiN are behind door number 18 with their modern take on some classic Christmas songs. Check out ‘Carol of the Merry Gentlemen (What Child?)’, their mash up of ‘Carol Of The Bells’, ‘What Child Is This?’, ‘Ring Christmas Bells’, and ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’.

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The Essential Advent Calendar: December 17 – The Rising Share The True Meaning Of Christmas With Seasonal Single ‘Christmas Brought You Here’

December 17, 2019

Behind door number 17 of The Essential Advent Calendar we have Belfast favourites, The Rising, with their seasonal release, ‘Christmas Brought You Here’.

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The Essential Advent Calendar: December 15

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 16 – Katie Melua Featuring Gori Women’s Choir ‘What A Wonderful World’

December 16, 2019

Door number 16 reveals ‘What A Wonderful World’ by the multi-award-winning artist Katie Melua, taken from her new limited edition ‘Live In Concert’ double album. Having previously topped the charts with her recording of the song with Eva Cassidy, on this ”magnificent and emotional” live version Katie is joined by the extraordinary voices of the Gori Women’s Choir.

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The Essential Advent Calendar: December 15 – Ryan Brahms Delivers A Refreshing And Passionate Holiday Single, ‘Christmas Morning’

December 15, 2019

Singer-songwriter and producer Ryan Brahms delivers a refreshing and passionate holiday single behind the 15th door on our Essential Advent Calendar.

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The Essential Advent Calendar: December 16

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 14 – ‘Alternative John Lewis Advert 2019’ From Ben Potts And Andy Green

December 14, 2019

Generating over 400,000 views since its arrival online in November, musicians Ben Potts and Andy Green from Sunderland and Newcastle are behind door number 14 of our Essential Advent Calendar, with their ‘Alternative John Lewis Advert 2019’.

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The Essential Advent Calendar: December 13 – BRISTOL DJ (and compiler of A Very Cherry Christmas) TO PLAY CHRISTMAS SONGS FOR 12 HOURS NON-STOP!

December 13, 2019

It’s Friday The 13th – unlucky for some, but not for Gareth Jones (a former DJ at Bristol’s Thekla and Bath’s Moles Club), who is behind our 13th door. Today Gareth shall be playing non-stop Christmas songs for 12 hours non-stop, at Bristol’s Stag & Hounds public house. The event aims to raise money for Save The Children, with people asked to donate via a text line, or wear a Christmas jumper to the event and pay £2.

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The Essential Advent Calendar: December 12 – Ingrid Michaelson Is ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ With Grace VanderWaal)

December 12, 2019

Door number 12 and we open to a return from Ingrid Michaelson! This time she’s joined by Grace VanderWaal, singing ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’.

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The Essential Advent Calendar: December 11 – Jon Patrick Walker Pays Homage To John Lennon With ‘Happy Xmas (In The Edge Times)’

December 11, 2019

Who’s behind door number 11 in the Essential Advent Calendar? Why it’s Jon Patrick Walker with his song, ‘Happy Xmas (In The Times)’, a seasonal tune which you can easily imagine being part of a Broadway musical.

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The Essential Advent Calendar: December 10 – Ingrid Michaelson Duets With Jason Mraz On ‘Christmas Valentine’

December 10, 2019

Door 10 of our Essential Advent Calendar this year opens on Ingrid Michaelson, who duets with Jason Mraz on her new holiday single, ‘Christmas Valentine’. The singer songwriter has nine albums under her belt, and loves making music that people connect with – so it’s no wonder she loves Christmas music!