Christmas Cheer - 2009

Was tempted to tune into BBC4 (a rare thing in this household) to watch the "Christmas Sessions" and what a session...

The preview blurb states:

BBC Four celebrates merry midwinter in unique style, with an exhilarating blend of folk tradition and burlesque fun. Energetic 11-piece Bellowhead and Mercury-nominated alternative folkies The Unthanks get together with the impressive young singers Thea Gilmore and Lisa Knapp, plus other special guests.

Steered by genial host Paul Sartin [of Belshazzar’s Feast as well as Bellowhead], the assembled artists perform seasonal songs of their own alongside yuletide favourites, ranging from folk ballads and carols to parlour songs and carousing dance numbers, with everyone coming together for a final knees-up.


Filmed at the atmospheric Shoreditch Town Hall [and what a venue that looks], the setting evokes an old music hall combined with a festive Victorian family parlour, bedecked with garlands, period lamps and fireplace. Even the audience are dressed up in old-fashioned finery and prove themselves ready to kick up their heels.

I've been lucky enough to work with many of the acts at the Exeter Phoenix - Bellowhead, Thea and the Unthanks [twice] - and I toured the UK tour with Lisa earlier this year.

I do believe that Thea's "That'll Be Christmas" should be this year's Christmas hit rather than the bland X-Factor rubbish or the "rival" Rage Against The Machines's track "Killing In The Name" which has been championed by an internet campaign as an X Factor protest vote because of its anti-establishment sentiment.

And Lisa's singing of "The Coventry Carol" was sublime and my wife commented she'd liked to have heard more of Lisa [but that was true of many of the acts] - well that at least one of her Christmas wishes will be granted as there are extra songs and features on the show's website including Lisa's version of "The Cherry Tree Carol" (with Gerry Diver), along with a chance to watch the whole show on BBC i-Player for the next 14 days [by my reckoning that takes you to 30 December 2009].

The show is broadcast again at the following times:
Thu 17 Dec 2009 21:00 BBC Four
Thu 17 Dec 2009 23:30 BBC HD
Fri 18 Dec 2009 03:05 BBC Four
Sun 20 Dec 2009 22:30 BBC HD
Thu 24 Dec 2009 17:15 BBC HD
Thu 24 Dec 2009 22:30BBC Four
Fri 25 Dec 2009 03:00BBC Four

Oh and full marks to the sound engineers [Sound Supervisor was Mark Felton, credit where credit's due] working on the show - the sound was outstanding, crisp and crystal clear [even that devil's instrument, the banjo!].