It’s the most wonderful time of the yeeeeeeear! Yes, the Joyzine Advent Calendar is back once again to bring you 24 days of fantastic free music downloads from a amazing array of our favourite artists. This year marks the 21st edition of our online calendar making it (as far as we’re aware) the longest running on the net (though we’re always happy to be corrected). As always, every track is completely free to download and we don’t require you to sign up for a mailing list (though you can if you want to) or hand over your personal data – it’s our way of saying thank you to everyone who’s visited the site during 2024 and to hopefully bring a few more listeners to some very deserving artists.
However, if you do enjoy the tracks we would love you to consider making a donation to our chosen cause, which this year is the wonderful First Timers Fest, a brilliant grassroots DIY organisation helping people take the first step into making music. Alumni include Joyzine faves Big Joanie, Panic Pocket, Charmpit and Breakup Haircut, with many more great bands coming through every year. We asked First Timers for a few words about what they do:
First Timers Fest is all about supporting new people into music! Yes that’s right, we mean you! We demystify the music making process through a series of beginners workshops that encourage people to try something new, no pressure to start a band after. The festival is open to everyone, but we particularly want to encourage people from marginalised groups to apply.
Next year we will be hosting our workshops at the Cavendish in Stockwell but following a sell out festival at the Victoria in Dalston we have decided to host the festival at a much bigger venue: The Oslo Hackney! This will take place on 4th May 2025. See you there!!!
We’ve got a sleigh-full of fantastic tracks for you again this year, including some festive tunes, plenty of exclusives and some of our favourite songs of 2024. Let’s get crack(er)ing!
Yesterday’s Advent Calendar track was all about old friends, with an exclusive tune from long-term Joyzine favourite and Calendar legend Piney Gir. Today is about new acquaintances, and one in particular. Nova Scotian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Minnikin popped up in our inbox in October with his luscious new album Anne Lorraine, a beautiful record of Americana infused low key alt country pop and drenched in melancholy. In a feat of extraordinarily bad timing I was taking a bit of time away from writing, and missed it first time around. Thankfully, when we sent out the call for Advent Calendar tunes, Gabriel answered with ‘Said Information’ – a stunning track that opens with the clang of a bell and a wall of heavenly ‘aaaaahs’ before bursting into a spray of morse code bleeps, stopping on a sixpence, and thrumming its way into the first verse. All splendid stuff, and if like me you’re new to Gabriel’s music, you’ll be wanting to check the full LP after this first listen.
We caught up with Gabriel to find out a little more:
Tell us a little about your track please
This track ‘Said Information’ is from my 6th album. The album is called Anne Lorraine and was released on October 26.
What have you been up to in 2024?
2024 was a hard one for mental health. A nervous year filled with loads of anxiety. The song ‘Said Information’ was written under duress. I was being bullied and harassed by anonymous cowards. I spent 2024 laying low, producing the album Anne Lorraine. I also got married to my best friend.
Christmas songs – love them or hate them? Why?
Very specific Christmas songs will always make my heart swell with memories of other times.
Download ‘Said Information‘
Make a donation to First Timers
Gabriel Minnikin: Bandcamp / Instagram
Catch up on all of this year’s Advent Calendar Tracks so far:
1: Piney Gir – Reindeer
Check back tomorrow for another free festive download!
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