The Essential Advent Calendar: December 25

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

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?

Magne Furuholmen - photo credit Nina Djærff

“A-Ha Was Not A Stage For Pushing Politics” – Eiken Bruhn Shares Interview With A-ha’s Magne Furuholmen

November, 16th, a windowless dressing room in the catacombs of the Bremen concert hall ÖVB Arena, where everything seems to be coloured in beige, the faux leather couches and even the bizarre table-arrangement of a plastic agave. Next door Morten Harket is practising scales; A-ha will appear on stage in this sold out arena in one and a half hours. Keyboarder and co-songwriter Magne Furuholmen (57) is using the occasion to promote his current solo record “White X-Mas Lies”. It’s near the end of the first part of A-ha’s ongoing world tour and he seems a bit tired, but answers all questions with a friendly attentiveness.

Girl Goin’ For A Grammy, Ashley McBryde And Her Amazing Grammy Nominated song

It’s not every day that you hear about an artist being signed to a major record label at the age of 36 years old, especially in the modern country music landscape. It’s also not every day that you hear that artist is nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Song, with her first major-label release. However, not every artist is Ashley McBryde. Combining the classic country sounds and instrumentation of 90s country music, with honest, heartfelt vocal performances, McBryde is distinguishing herself from the pack and carving out her own place in modern country music.