Joy to the world! It’s the return of our favourite festive tradition, the Joyzine Advent Calendar, back for its 22nd consecutive edition, which as far as we’re aware makes it the longest running on the net.
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 2025 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 HOPE not hate, and their stirling work researching, campaigning, and supporting communities to build HOPE and oppose far-right extremism. You can make a donation here.
And for your delectation on day #3 of this most fabulous advent extravaganza of free music loveliness, a track from a very, very new Sheffield band. Trio The Happy Hollow are Sophie Evison, Steve Genn & Tom Darwent.
Tell us a little bit about your track please
Don’t try to work out any deeper meaning in the lyrics, there is no meaning, we just like those words in that order
Before the track name ‘Head’ emerged, the demo was called ‘Marching Snare’, and we thought it was possibly our most Christmassy track because of that little drummer boy link! Also a lot of people are in their own head around Christmas…
What have you been up to in 2025?
We released an album (In Search of Lost Space) back in May, and a video for the lead track, In the Dirt, made by Stephen Carley, and we are now working on our second album.
And what are your plans for next year?
The second album will be coming out. It’s got more of an electronic feel and even more tracks!
What have been your musical highlights of the year from other bands/artists?
Going to see a duo from Teeside called Benefits – that was quite an experience, especially given the current flag flying climate.
Christmas: The most wonderful time of the year or a big bag of humbug? Why?
A third of us hate mince pies and mulled wine, a third of us hate the cold and a third of us hate ‘works drinks’, but all of us love Wham!, which overrides everything.
Stream and download ‘Head’ below
Make a donation to HOPE not hate
The Happy Hollow: Instagram / Tidal / Vimeo
Check out more fantastic free music on this year’s calendar:
1: Piney Gir & Parenthesis Dot Dot Dot
2: Syd Howells
Check back tomorrow for another free festive download!
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