
2. Tara Scheyer & the Mud Puppy Band – All I Want for Christmas Is You
3. Sibling Strings – What Child Is This?
4. The Unmentionables – Christmas Again
5. John Kolbeck – Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’
6. Will McCranie – Go Tell It On the Mountain
7. Brandon Bower – The Christmas Song
8. NoStar – I Believe in Father Christmas
9. My Instant Lunch – O’ Little Town of Bethlehem
10. The Crowns – Baby’s First Christmas
11. 48Volt – Fake Snow
12. L.i.E. – Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
PURCHASE THROUGH The 12 BANDS WEBSITE
The 12 Bands of Christmas® is a not for profit organization committed to the mission of combining the universal appeal of music with the universal spirit of giving to support the fight against pediatric cancer. Now a 501(c)(3) organization, The 12 Bands of Christmas is engaged in a year long campaign to raise awareness and funds and to provide immediate patient care. The organization began with a concert put on by local artists in Augusta, Georgia. That was followed by a CD. Then another and another. This year, The 12 Bands of Christmas are releasing their 7th volume of holiday cheer. You'll even find the album available through Amazon for the first time this year, though I recommend buying from the source to ensure that as much as possible of what you pay for the CD will go to the kids. Besides, going to The 12 Bands of Christmas website will give you the chance to check out and/or purchase the previous 12 Bands Christmas CDs, as well as to read more about the mission and possibly make an additional donation.
The music on the 12 Bands CDs runs the gamut with most of it falling within the Pop and Rock spectra. But you'll also encounter folk, blues, soul, country, rap and other sounds and styles as well, depending on which CDs you buy. To be honest, I only just purchased some of these and am listening to my first--"The Best Of" edition from last year. And I can give that one a huge thumbs up. From the sprightly pop of Tara Scheyer's "Santa's Chimney Slide" that opens the set to the closing Blues number from Wycliffe Gordon, it's as well done and satisfying as anything you'll get from the major labels. This year's edition features some Country, Soul, and Rockabilly along the way.
This year, the 12 Bands organization is stretching out a bit--joining hands with like-minded artists in Florida's Rock By The Sea organization, also devoted to fighting cancer. Rock By The Sea, this year, will release their own Christmas album--their first. The album adapts the 12 Bands cover art but, the group notes, "our's goes up to 19!" Tracks that is. Look closely and you might even spot Sister Hazel on this one. You can order Rock By The Sea's Christmas CD through the 12 Bands website, through Amazon, or direct from Rock By The Sea.

2. Jackson Rohm – Home For Christmas
3. Scott Leger of Wideawake – Rocky Mountain Holiday
4. B-Liminal - White Christmas
5. The Heyday – Christmas Wouldn’t Be the Same Without You (Breaking My Heart)
6. Sarah Mac Band – Children Go Where I Send Thee
7. Brian Fechino – O Holy Night
8. Tim Warren of Alternate Routes – Christmas in New England
9. Keith Kane and Brian Fechino – Silver Bells
10. Tim Brantley – Christmas Time is Here
11. Sam Thacker and Michael Westbrook – Happy XMas
12. Dirty Shannon – The Christmas Song
13. Sister Hazel – Little Drummer Boy
14. JK and the Lost Boys – Once in Royal David’s City
PURCHASE FROM ROCK BY THE SEA 15. Bess Rogers – Little Saint Nick
16. Gareth Asher – Silent Night
17. Charlie Walker – Amazing Love
18. Lani Daniels – Man in Red
19. Michael Tolcher – Auld Lang Syne