It’s December, which round these parts means it’s time once again for The Joyzine Advent Calendar! This year we’re celebrating our 20th edition, so we’ve scoured the archives to mix in some calendar classics along with a few fresh festive cuts from our favourite artists.
As always every track on the calendar will be absolutely free to download, and we don’t force you to sign up for our mailing list (though you can if you want, here) or hand over all of your personal data. The calendar is our Christmas gift to the world (or at least the part of it that enjoys seasonal songs by obscure indie musicians), but if you’re also in the giving mood we’d love you to make a donation to our chosen cause, the excellent anti-racism charity HOPE not hate, which you can do here.
On with the free festive tunes!
We’ve another pair of favourites from Advent Calendars past today – the first comes in the form of South London quartet Hot Sauce Pony’s stunning ‘Christmas In Prison’, which featured on their Steve Albini produced 2019 debut album (still a favourite at Joyzine HQ – we’re waiting for a follow-up!). The second is a solo track from HSP bassist Stephen EvEns, ‘A Little Solstice Hymn’, which was recorded for our 2020 calendar. You can download them both for free below, and while you’re at it, check out the video for Stephen’s new single, ‘A Tree’ – available now on your favourite music streaming service.
We caught up with Stephen to find out more:
What have you been up to this year?
Most of the year has been about trying to save Brixton Hill Studios for me. So much so that HSP has taken a bit of a back seat but we have done some recording and have a few songs that are not far off being finished, I am not sure we even did a gig last year. The queen died last time we did a gig. Sorry about that. Wasn’t our fault. Was that last year? Or the year before?
What have you got planned for 2024?
I am hoping we will finish those songs I just mentioned.
Tell us about your track
You’ve asked the wrong person here, haven’t you? This is Caroline’s domain. I ask her what the songs are about but she won’t tell me. I try and guess but she ignores me and pretends to be busy with something more important.
This year Joyzine has been celebrating our 20th birthday – what were you up to in 2003?
I was in stuffy/the fuses playing a gig for Joyzine! I was also touring the world and elsewhere with indie popstars. I didn’t even know what an Anna, Ross and Caroline were back then. But I’m glad I do now, especially as I am married to one of them. I wonder which one it is?
Any new year’s resolution?
None whatsoever. Too much pressure. I’ve got a plan instead. Plans are good. I’m following the plan.
Download ‘Christmas In Prison‘
Download ‘A Little Solstice Hymn‘
Make a donation to HOPE not hate
Follow Hot Sauce Pony on Facebook
Fulfil all of your Stephen EvEns needs with this handy Linktree
Check back tomorrow for another free festive download!
Catch up on all of this year’s Advent Calendar Tracks so far:
1: MJ Hibbett – I Got You What You Want For Christmas
2: Matt Edible & The Obtuse Angels – Advent Beard
3: Old Man May – Laden Sleigh
4: Michael M (SLIME CITY) – It’s Easy To Hate This Time of Year
5: The Fades – Last Christmas (On The Beach)
6: AK/DK – Auld Lang Syne
7: Modesty Blaise – I’ll Be Home for Christmas
8: The Awkward Silences – I’ll Be Getting a Divorce for Christmas
9: Dead Horse – Eating The Reindeer
10: Palm Ghosts – Always Christmas Time
11: Charley Stone – Merry Christmas Actually
12: Premium Leisure ft. Piney Gir – September Gurls
13: Fierce Panda Records present Wynona Bleach – (Don’t Know Why) I Wished You Merry Christmas
14: LOUD WOMEN present I, Doris – Merry Menopause
15: Damaged Goods Records – Wild Billy Childish & The Musicians of The British Empire
16: Peter With Rosie – Shortest Day, Longest Night + And What Will Be Left of Them – Filthy Little Christmas
17: Here Are The Young Men & Uncle Peanut – Christmas In The Clink
18: PNKSLM Records present 7ebra – I Have a Lot to Say (Lucern Raze Remix)
19: myKey – Live & Learn + Glam Chops – Glue and Glitter + Don’t Be Glum, Be Glam
20: Fonda 500 – (Soon) The Snow
21: Who’s The Daddy Now? – A Daddy Christmas Eve
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