My favourite folky albums for Yule
I am a bit of a sucker for cheesy Christmas music being brought up on the film White Christmas and many Motown Christmas albums as well as all the glorious 1980's Christmas cheese. One Christmas my "card" was a compilation CD of my favourite Christmas songs complete with a knitted Christmas pudding CD sticker.
I also love a folky winter album. One of the reasons I like "christmas" folk albums, is that you can often enjoy them all winter. I always want to discover new ones so here are some of my favourites:
Bella Hardy - Bright Morning Star
I love Bella's voice. She does Christmas concerts in Edale where she lives and I have always wanted to go. We once saw her live in a medieval hall in winter with a roaring fire, it was so wonderful. This is a sweet and cheerful Christmas album. Favourite track - Sing Ovy, Sing Ivy
Cara Dillon - Upon a Winter's Night
Lots of traditional songs and Cara's gorgeous clear voice. I like to have this one on when I'm making the christmas cake and puddings. Favourite track - The Wexford Carol
Maddy Prior & The Carnival Band - An Evening of Carols and Capers
There are some great songs on here. Masters of the Hall is one of my favourites.
This has just come out and it's a beautiful album, I think it will be one I get out again and again. Favourite tracks are Dark December and Gower Wassail.
Janice Burns and Jon Doran - Great Joy to the New
This has just come out as well and there are some great tracks on here. Favourite tracks - Green Grows the Holly, The Wexford Carol.
Wassail! A Traditional Celebration of an English Midwinter
I've had this CD for a few years now and I was so excited to find out that John Kirkpatrick is on here and we saw him at an event recently, singing four of these songs and getting up to all sing along.
Lady Maisery - Awake Arise: A Winter Album
This album has traditional songs, folk carols and spoken word.
Turn the Year Around by The Wildnerness Yet is a lovely album.
Last but not least, probably my most played Christmas album, I absolutely love it. Favourite track has to be Ring Out Solstice Bells but I also love Bourée and Pavane.
Special mention to Solstice by Matt Berry which I adore.
Update on 20th December:
I've been through my stack of CD's and found some more I like to listen to:
The Watersons - Frost and Fire
Waterson : Carthy - Holy Heathens and the Old Green Man
The Albion Christmas Band - Winter Songs
Do you have any favourite folk Christmas albums? I'd love to know what they are.
1 comment
Thank you so much! I was searching everywhere for good recommendations for music to have at my Yule party, and this is 100% the best list I found so far. Cozy, festive, and delightful.