December is here! And whilst many of us are left wondering where the last six months of this hellish year have disappeared to, we can always rely on music to kickstart the festive feeling.
This year the likes of Blossoms, Liam Gallagher, Sam Fender, Jamie Cullum and Girl In Red have offered the latest festive tunes that hope to be soundtracking our Christmas dinners for many years to come.
Check out our full guide to the best Christmas releases of 2020 below.
Blossoms
‘Christmas Eve (Soul Purpose) / It’s Going To Be A Cold Winter’
As the festive season kicks into high gear, Stockport’s finest have shared the double Christmas single “Christmas Eve (Soul Purpose)”/”It’s Going To Be A Cold Winter.” Produced by James Skelly of The Coral and Rich Turvey, who both worked on the band’s second studio album Cool Like You, “Christmas Eve (Soul Purpose)” features the magical Stockport Junior Voices Choir from the band’s hometown.
Download / Stream the singles here.
Catch Blossoms touring the UK next March / April / May / June 2021.
Buy Tickets
Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott
‘Christmas (And Dad Wants Her Back)’
Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott have released their festive new track, “Christmas (And Dad Wants Her Back)”, penned by the former Beautiful South and Housemartins frontman, who said: “I wanted to write a song, outside the usual cosiness that bedecks most Christmas singles. Perhaps a song that records some of the calamities that certain single parents face on the day itself; burnt dinners, toppled trees, disappointed children, and most importantly, loneliness.”
Download / Stream the single here.
Catch Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott on tour throughout 2021.
Buy Tickets
Collabro
‘Christmas Is Here’
The festive season comes early in 2020 as the World’s most successful musical theatre vocal group release their first ever Christmas album. With this year having been especially tough for so many, the boys hope to bring some happiness to their incredible fanbase this Christmas with this new album release, featuring festive classics festive classics, from ‘Winter Wonderland’ to ‘All I want for Christmas’, along with Christmas hymns we all know and love including ‘Silent Night’ and ‘O Holy Night’. For each download of the album 30p will be paid to Help for Heroes.
Download / Stream the album here.
Catch Collabro on their Greatest Hits Tour next October / November 2021.
Buy Tickets
Michael Ball & Alfie Boe
‘Together At Christmas’
One of the nation’s most-loved musical duos join forces again for their magical new album ‘Together at Christmas’, packed full of holiday cheer. 2020 has been a year of isolation and social distancing and Michael and Alfie want to make this holiday season special, however you’re together at Christmas. Tracks include ‘It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas, ‘White Night’ ‘Silent Night’ and lots more festive classics.
Download / Stream the album here.
Catch Ball & Boe on their ‘Together At Christmas’ Tour next November / December 2021.
Buy Tickets
The Killers
‘Don’t Waste Your Wishes’
This year The Killers have finally made their limited-edition Christmas album Don’t Waste Your Wishes available to stream online. From 2006 to 2016, the Vegas rockers released a new Christmas single every year, with proceeds going to Bono’s (RED) charity. In 2016, the band collected the tracks into Don’t Waste Your Wishes, which had a brief run as an iTunes exclusive followed by a limited printing of CDs. This is the first time it’s been widely available on streaming platforms.
Download / Stream the album here.
Catch The Killers touring UK Arenas next May / June 2021.
Buy Tickets
Jamie Cullum
‘The Pianoman At Christmas’
Multi-platinum, Ivor Novello Award-winning musician Jamie Cullum has released the holiday festive album The Pianoman At Christmas, including ten original songs and starring a total of no fewer than 57 musicians! Recorded over five days at Abbey Road Studios, the albums was produced by Greg Wells, known for his work with Adele, Dua Lipa, and the soundtrack for The Greatest Showman. It’s introduced by the first single “Turn On The Lights,” a joyous celebration of the season that sets Cullum’s keyboard work against a symphony of strings, horns, and expansive orchestral percussion.
Download / Stream the album here.
Catch Jamie Cullum touring the UK next April 2021.
Buy Tickets
Scouting For Girls
‘Xmas in the 80s’
Scouting For Girls have shared the festive new track ‘Xmas in the 80s’ alongside their nostalgic new album ‘Easy Cover’ due for release on March 26th, 2021. “The album is an Scouting For Girls reimagining of some of the biggest songs from the 80s, allowing us to revisit some of our favourite childhood musical moments, from Tears For Fears, The Waterboys, Cyndi Lauper, Whitney Houston, Phil Collins and much more. ”
Download / Stream the album here.
Catch Scouting For Girls touring the UK next September / October / November 2021.
Buy Tickets
Sam Fender
‘Winter Song’
To raise awareness for homelessness this festive season, Sam has released a powerful cover of ‘Winter Song’, the classic track by folk rock band Lindisfarne, which calls on people to “spare a thought” for those without a home. “It’s close to home for me because I’ve got family members and friends [who’ve been homeless],” said Sam. “I’ve known people who have gone through it. And I know how easy it is, through their stories, to go from being relatively okay to being on the streets. So, for me, it’s important to be involved for that reason.”
Stream the single here.
Catch Sam Fender on tour throughout April / May / June 2021.
Buy Tickets
Liam Gallagher
‘All You’re Dreaming Of’
Liam Gallagher is here to spread festive cheer with his very first Christmas single, ‘All You’re Dreaming Of’. This is the first new release from the former Oasis man following the release of his chart-topping solo album Why Me? Why Not? in 2019. All proceeds from the track will be going to Action For Children – a charity who will be using the money raised by Gallagher to support vulnerable children, young people and their families over the festive season.
Stream the single here.
Lil Nas X
‘Holiday’
Chart-topping, viral sensation Lil Nas X is back with a Christmas banger “HOLIDAY”, the first track from Lil Nas X’s upcoming debut studio album and his first official release since the January 2020 remix of “Rodeo,” featuring hip-hop legend Nas.
Download / Stream the album here.
Goo Goo Dolls
‘It’s Christmas All Over’
Multi-platinum, four-time Grammy-nominated rock band Goo Goo Dolls celebrate Christmas early this year with the release of their first-ever holiday record It’s Christmas All Over. The album is filled with cover renditions of iconic holiday songs such as Let It Snow and Hark The Herald Angels Sing, as well as two new originals that capture the warmth and nostalgia of classic Christmas favourites. Produced by frontman John Rzeznik in addition to the band’s longtime collaborators Brad Fernquist and Jimmy McGorman, the record was recorded during lockdown this year.
Download / Stream the album here.
Girl In Red
‘Two Queens in a King-Sized Bed’
Girl in Red’s charming little Christmas song, “Two Queens in a King-Sized Bed”, is a romantic ode to love and the festive season. Kicking off with jingle bells and a fanciful piano line, the song sees Marie Ulven come in with soft vocals that reflect the coziness of the lyrics: “Two queens in a king-sized bed/There’s no mistletoe above our heads/But I’ll kiss you anyway/on Christmas day.”
Download / Stream the single here.
Tori Kelly
‘A Tori Kelly Christmas’
Tori Kelly has released her first-ever festive album – A Tori Kelly Christmas. She teamed up with 11-time GRAMMY winner Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Scooter Braun as executive producers for the album. Earlier this week, she gave fans a preview of the album by releasing “Let It Snow” ft. Babyface. The timeless collection also includes two original songs, penned by Tori – “25th” and “Gift That Keeps On Giving” – along with a wide range of beloved holiday songs such as an R&B and jazz-infused rendition of “Sleigh Ride” and a gospel-inspired version of “Oh Holy Night.”
Download / Stream the album here.
Carrie Underwood
‘My Gift’
Seven-time Grammy award winner and five-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Carrie Underwood, releases her first-ever Christmas album, ‘My Gift’. Although Underwood has previously recorded several Christmas songs which have become instant classics, her first full-length holiday album has been highly-anticipated by her fans around the world. The album features a combination of beloved traditional favourites as well as original material.