Tag: The Essential Advent Calendar

Essential Advent Calendar: Phil MC – ‘It’s Christmas’

December 14, 2017

With influences including Bruno Mars and Katy Perry, Phil MCs seasonal single, ‘It’s Christmas’ builds up the Christmas spirit and with its simplicty, connects those among us who are feeling festive.

Essential Advent Calendar: Matt Legrand – ‘What Christmas Means To Me’ (Stevie Wonder cover)’

December 13, 2017

We’ve introduced you previously to French-born Chicago-raised Matt LeGrand, with his single, ‘All Good’, a track with a Caribbean feel to both song and video. Now he’s back with a festive release, a cover of Stevie Wonder’s ‘What Christmas Means To Me’.

Essential Advent Calendar: Dick Van Dyke & Jane Lynch – ‘We’re Going Caroling’

December 12, 2017

Think of great Christmas traditions, and after the roast goose or turkey, and the tree, surely caroling from door to door must be right up there. Dick Van Dyke and Jane Lynch bring this holiday happening right back with their seasonal song, ‘We’re Going Caroling’. It’s day 12 on the Essential Advent Calendar.

Essential Advent Calendar: Laust Sonne – ‘X-Mas Morning’

December 11, 2017

We’ve written about Laust Sonne several times before, but now the Danish singer songwriter, and drummer from iconic band, D-A-D (Disneyland After Dark) is back with a seasonal track, ‘X-Mas Morning’.

Essential Advent Calendar: Festive Double A Side From Irish Rockers Heavy Soda ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ And ‘It’s All So Easy (It’s Christmas Time)’

December 9, 2017

Heavy Soda describe themselves as “three people who were once in the same band at different times came together to reform an old band with a new name that only one of them had been in before.” It’s clear from the outset that the Dublin trio are fun guys, and their choice of Christmas songs, a brilliant, almost as good as the original, cover of ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ and their own composition, ‘It’s All So Easy (It’s Christmas Time)’ go further to prove this.

Essential Advent Calendar: CBeebies’ Andy Day Releases Christmas Song ‘All Together (At Christmas Time)’

December 8, 2017

Opening door number 8 and we find Children’s BAFTA winning Andy Day. Andy has been presenting on CBeebies since 2007, and has been made patron of the Anti Bullying Alliance, launching his own national event, “Odd Socks Day”, which falls in November to co-incide with Anti Bullying Week. He launched his band, Andy and the Odd Socks at Glastonbury this year, and they’ve since released an album, as well as a Christmas single.
We were given the opportunity to speak to Andy.

Essential Advent Calendar: Tom Chaplin ‘Walking In The Air’

December 7, 2017

Tom Chaplin follows the success of his acclaimed solo album ‘The Wave’ (which debuted at #3 in the UK Album Chart) with a glorious new release, ‘Twelve Tales of Christmas’ out now on Island Records. This stunning collection features eight original songs co-written by Tom, as well as four inventive covers. His single, ‘Walking In The Air’, is behind door 7 of our Essential Advent Calendar this year.

Essential Advent Calendar: ‘Kaskade Christmas’ Released By Electronic Music’s Answer To Michael Bublé

December 5, 2017

Six-time Grammy nominated producer Kaskade has unveiled a very special edition Christmas album on his his own Arkade label, in partnership with Sony Music International/Columbia Germany. ‘Kaskade Christmas’ was released on 24 November.

Essential Advent Calendar: Hanson Say ‘Finally It’s Christmas’ With New Album And UK Shows

December 2, 2017

Currently on their ‘Middle Of Everywhere World Tour’ and on the back of their ‘Greatest Hits’ release, Hanson have just released their new Christmas album, ‘Finally It’s Christmas’ on 3CG Records/S-Curve Records). The pop-rock trio will follow this with a number of special holiday concerts in Toronto, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, before heading to the UK where they’ll be performing at O2 Ritz Manchester.

Essential Advent Calendar: Antonella Barba – ‘Santa’

December 24, 2016

It’s been a jolly month but today is the last day of our Essential Advent Calendar! American Idol finalist Antonella Barba is behind the door today with her song, ‘Santa’.

Essential Advent Calendar: Ummagma And A.R. Kane – ‘Winter Tale’

December 23, 2016

Wow! It’s Christmas Eve Eve! Today’s door opens on Ummagma and AR Kane, with their song, ‘Winter Tale’.

Coldplay - photo credit Getty images via NME

Essential Advent Calendar: Coldplay – ‘Christmas With The Kangaroos’

December 22, 2016

A fun one behind day 22 on our Essential Advent Calendar! Coldplay have been touring Australia, and Chris Martin sang a festive song at a recent Sydney concert, ‘Christmas With The Kangaroos’.