And so it begins… our coverage of 2021’s new Christmas music starts now!
First out of the gate is a new song from Newberry & Verch. This versatile duo combines the singing, songwriting, and instrumental skills of Missouri-born old time banjoist Joe Newberry, with the fiddle and vocal stylings of Ottawa’s April Verch. Both of these artists pursue separate solo careers, but when they get together something special happens.
Their Christmas offering this year is On This Christmas Day, an album of new songs and timeless hymns and tunes with a holiday theme, born of the annual Holiday Cheer tour they have done together in December since 2016. All are performed with fiddle, banjo, and voices in simple arrangements, perfect for singing along.
The album releases digitally on December 3 and a debut single is available today, a new song called Round The Christmas Tree. It depicts a joyous day with family trimming the tree, singing and dancing, while all celebrate the Christmas spirit.
Joe characterizes it thusly…
“One of my favorites is the brand new song, Round the Christmas Tree, which April co-wrote with our friend Lynda Dawson. It describes pretty much every holiday gathering down through the years for the Newberrys in Missouri, and the Verch family in Canada!
As one of the verses puts it:
Dad will put the star on top, the only thing store-bought
Set the extra chairs out we’ll need every one we’ve got
Time to play a couple tunes and sing our favorite songs
All around the Christmas tree where everyone belongs”
Have a listen…
Pre-orders for On This Christmas Day are enabled now online, with digital delivery on December 3, in plenty of time for your own tree trimming and decorating next month.
