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.
Today’s review is a two-for-one, featuring new tracks from The Gymkhana and The Pawnbroker. The two acts share a history, with Jason of The Gymkhana and Pete of The Pawnbroker having previously performed together in Here Are the Young Men and Uncle Peanut. The Gymkhana are a collaborative psychedelic pop project centred around Jason Applin, Matt Dyson and Patrick Hannan, while The Pawnbroker are a duo comprising Pete Brookes and Ben Sandiford.
The Gymkhana’s ‘Stop the Cavalry’ is a joyous, richly layered track brimming with playful energy. A cover of Jona Lewie’s 1980 single, the song’s original blend of Christmas cheer and anti-war sentiment is reimagined here with contemporary textures, inventive sounds and excellent mixing. While it retains the fun and immediacy of the original, this version injects the song with renewed vitality and a fresh sense of momentum.
By contrast, The Pawnbroker’s ‘Unanswered’ is a beautifully restrained, hymn-like piece, marked by spaciousness and subtle interplay between the musicians. The sensitivity of the piano accompaniment is a standout feature, providing both warmth and emotional depth. The air within the recording evokes a sense of scale and openness, while the harmonies gently frame the lyrics, highlighting key moments with quiet elegance and grace.
We caught up with them both for a festive q&a session:
Tell us a little bit about your track please
The Pawnbroker: ‘Unanswered’ was recorded using piano and our two vocal harmonies and written originally for a performance run of Von Horvath’s play Don Juan Comes Back From The War.
It’s the nearest we’ve ever got to a Christmas song; touching many of the thoughts of love, regret and loss that we all experience, especially more poignantly, over Christmas time.
The Gymkhana: It would have been obvious for a band so rooted in writing about the 1970s to pick ‘I Wish It Could be Christmas Everyday’ or ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’, but we just really like this song. It’s sort of dark lyrically which is always nice. Plus we could go to town on it a bit
What have you been up to in 2025?
The Pawnbroker: Writing and rehearsing;
Opening for one of the greatest living underrated songwriters – C Duncan – was a complete honour as we are both big fans;
We performed a special show for the übercool Buried Treasure record label in a chapel underneath a hospital a few weeks ago;
Finding a love for unexpected cover versions… REO Speedwagon, The Shamen, Blue Oyster Cult and Lloyd Cole & The Commotions….
The Gymkhana: Released our first album Follyfoot 71-73 (available exclusively on Bandcamp) played a few shows, picked up some radio play. Finished the year putting demos together for our next album. All whilst individually living our real lives.
And what are your plans for next year?
The Pawnbroker: To record our long awaited third album…. it’s been 12 years since our last one! Just piano, the felt, the hammers and the wood itself plus our two voices will be the sole instrumentation.
To play in London would be lovely, but we’re reliant upon venues having an actual piano – if any Joyziners have any recommendations then holler please. Our shows are rather special and few and far between as we try to find settings and acts that are more suited to our vibe.
The Gymkhana: Recording the second album and a few more shows. First one is on January 23rd at Guildford’s legendary Star Inn.
What have been your musical highlights of the year from other bands/artists?
The Pawnbroker:
Both –
- Jerskin Fendrix’s second album – Once Upon A Time in Shropshire and the resulting live show he did at Sinfonia in Smith Square.
- Benefits’ Constant Noise and their live shows were out of this world.
- KiF and their Still Out album. An unofficial follow up to KLF’s Chill Out and we reckon they have superseded the original!
- Perc Trax – the label and all things Perc – huge stunning banging techno releases which have pummelled our ears so regularly all year.
Ben – lots of hardcore, notably Terzij de Horde and plenty black metal – Lucerne Hammer is the pick of the crop.
Pete – a lot of hiphop – Brother Ali, Billy Woods, Westside Gunn, Rome Streetz plus Gazelle Twin, Daniel Avery and Ben Böhmer with Ethel Cain riding high too
The Gymkhana: Crayola Lectern, Billy Reeves and us.
Christmas: The most wonderful time of the year or a big bag of humbug?
The Pawnbroker: Wonderful. Love and gratitude seeps through every nook and cranny; warmth around family and friends. Magical.
The Gymkhana: Neither really, it’s ‘ok’ – a bit of time off work is always welcome. Best bit is just after when The Worlds Strongest Man is on the telly.
Stream and download ‘Stop The Cavalry’:
Stream and download ‘Unanswered’:
Make a donation to HOPE not hate
The Gymkhana: Instagram / Bandcamp
The Gymkhana Live double headliner show with CRAYOLA LECTERN Guildford Star Inn 23 January 2026
The Pawnbroker: Facebook / Bandcamp / Youtube
More tracks from 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
11: bis x Art Brut
12: Gemma Rogers
13: The Joyzine Christmas Band, Gift Box, Skink + Adam & Elvis
14: DRIFT. + Annie Gardiner
15: Kat Five + Charley Stone
16: MJ Hibbett & CJ Thorpe-Tracey
17: Crocodile Collective ft. Elisabeth Elektra, The Margins, Jolt, Charlie Salvidge, New Commercial Product + Great Silkie
Check back tomorrow for another free festive download!
Article by Mansell Bass
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