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Holy Heathens and The Old Green Man is therefore something for which we should all be thankful. Plumbing the well of English celebration songs, the ever prolific family Waterson: Carthy with guest family member Tim Van Eyken and vocal trio The Devil’s Interval put out their take on a collection of festive tunes. All done with the level of care you would expect from a collective who have between them more folk awards than a festive pine tree has needles.

This isn’t just a collection of Christmas tunes, although there are wassails and carols aplenty: ‘May Day’ (have a guess when that one is meant for?) and the harvest song ‘Reaphook and Sickle’ build the case that there is a mine of decent festive music out there, and highlight the crossover between the folk tradition, ritual, and religious song.

Get something a little different for the next festive season, avoid the shops and the assault on the ears which is Christmas muzak and hole yourself up with Holy Heathens and The Old Green Man

Waterson:Carthy are on tour with The Devil’s Interval in December (maybe you can come out of your hibernation for that). Holy Heathens and The Old Green Man is released on 6 November. on Topic.