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 sterling work researching, campaigning, and supporting communities to build HOPE and oppose far-right extremism. You can make a donation here.
Alcopop! Records have long been purveyors of the sort of music that makes our brains dance with happiness, but this Christmas they have surpassed even their own lofty standards by bringing two iconic indie pop bands together to make a festive supergroup and take a crack at Christmas chart glory! The Sorry About That EP (so named because “it’s taken over a year to get everything together, and every conversation usually ended up with an email saying ‘sorry about that'”) sees long-term Joyzine faves Art Brut and DIY music scene legends bis team up to create four cover versions – one of each band covering a song by the other and collaborative takes on Paula Abdul’s 80s classic ‘Opposites Attract’ and Cass Elliot’s ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music’, the latter of which we’re offering you an exclusive download of ahead of the EP’s official release tomorrow! While you’re enjoying it why not pre-order a ltd. edition vinyl EP on Bandcamp.
Topping the festive (vinyl singles) chart would be the perfect way to sign off for 2025 ahead of a busy new year for Art Brut which will see them traverse the UK and Europe on tour with Maximo Park (with bis joining them at O2 Academy Glasgow on 6th February) before skipping across the Atlantic for their first US tour in fifteen years.
We caught up with Alcopop! head honcho Jack Clothier for a festive q&a session:
Tell us a little bit about your track please
Let’s be honest, we’ve all dreamt of a Christmas Number 1—beating X Factor folk, novelty anthems, and nostalgic festive fun to the top spot this seasonal time. So bis, Art Brut, and your friends at Alcopop! Records are gunning for it this year! A classic Indie Pop anthem Christmas Number 1… in the Vinyl Singles Chart. Yes, it’s the only chart that really matters, and the only chart you can possibly top with less than 500 copies, presuming of course that Oasis or Wizzard haven’t stuck some f*cking reissue out…but they might not have? And in that case, we reckon we’ve got a little squeak at this. So let’s bloody go. Top of the Pops and all that!
What have you been up to in 2025?
Oh blimey, it’s been wild busy – but super fun. We’ve had new releases from a stack of ludicrously brilliant artists, with The Wytches, PROJECTOR, Problem Patterns, CARSICK, KEG and Joe & The Shitboys just a few of the brilliant bands we’ve been working with. Honestly – we’ve had QUITE the best time, and despite it being a tough old year out there, we’ve been blessed with a group of dear friends who’ve just kept getting involved. Which is kind of them.
And what are your plans for next year?
Next year. Even busier. Bring it on! You know the drill Paul… Can’t really talk about the new stuff in the pipeline, but you can be sure, that though age piles upon Kev’s (and to a lesser extent) my face – our ears do not let up!!! They’re still golden.
What have been your musical highlights of the year from other bands/artists?
The Pill are great. COWZ are amazing. Do you know who I really like. Congratulations. Saw them supporting The Wytches recently and they’re a tremendous band. Really bring it!
Christmas: The most wonderful time of the year or a big bag of humbug?
Oh it’s the absolute best isn’t it. It’s like everyone’s birthday has come at once, and being the proud owner/parent/guardian of a two and a half year old, Christmas has RIGHT got its old sparkle back. BUT. We also gotta remember that it’s not that great for everyone, so we’ll be mucking in, doing some collections and donating some warm merch and stuff to suitable charities to help folk who really need it, plus we’ll be releasing some sorta PWYW thing if they need a little gift to cheer them up. In fact. If you are feeling really low this Christmas and a couple of records would make you smile, give us a shout, tell us what sorta stuff you like and we’ll get you something on us <3
Stream and download ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music’ below
Make a donation to HOPE not hate
Alcopop! Records: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Bluesky / Bandcamp
bis: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp
Art Brut: Website / Facebook / Instagram
Check out more fantastic free music on this year’s calendar:
1: Piney Gir & Parenthesis Dot Dot Dot
2: Syd Howells
3: The Happy Hollow
4: Stephen Evens
5: Ombudsmen
6: The Scaramanga Six
7: Dextro + Rubber Oh
8: Craig Fortnam
9: Salt The Snail
10: Cerys Hafana
Check back tomorrow for another free festive download!
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