Holiday gift guide 2020: shop and support Haviah Mighty, Bahamas, Shred Kelly, the Good Lovelies, more
The best presents for music fans are ones that also support Canadian bands
Many musicians and the live music-related industry (everyone from sound engineers to bartenders to the cleaning crew) have been financially devastated by the pandemic. Plenty of music fans are in similarly stressful situations. The fact is, this coming holiday season looks different for everybody, which might make it a good time to rethink gift giving.
If you're buying presents for the music fans in your life, make the biggest impact possible with your purchase: directly support artists and bands you love. Go visit their sites and check out their merch shops and their Instagram pages. Donate to the causes they support. Make personalized playlists for your family and friends.
CBC Music has also curated this list of unique and seasonal merch from some of your favourite Canadian artists. From calendars and candles to singing Christmas grams and eco-friendly art that can be planted in the ground, there's something for everyone on this list.
Christmas-specific gifts
B.C.-based alt-folk-rock band Shred Kelly is offering personalized, singing Christmas grams!
From Shred Kelly: "Since we can't travel to be with all of our loved ones this Christmas, why not send them a personalized Christmas song and message to let them know you're thinking about them! ... We will be performing in front of a festive green screen and a festive Christmas set, and we will of course be wearing our most festive Christmas sweaters."
Price: $30.
The Good Lovelies' annual Christmas shows are legendary, and they're keeping the tradition alive with a virtual tour, merch, and a new holiday single (dropping Friday, Nov. 20) covering the Benjamin "Tex" Logan classic "Christmas Time's A Comin'."
Singer-songwriter/pianist Jeffery Straker embarks on a Very Prairie Christmas tour throughout Saskatchewan in support of his new EP, This Christmas. Ticket prices vary.
Jenn Grant's new album, Forever Christmas Eve, is due out Nov. 27, but you can pre-order it along with specialty packages from her fellow Nova Scotians, including candles, beard oil, clothing, and more.
Price: $10-$145.
Unique gifts
Bahamas' Afie Jurvanen has steered hard into his wonderfully titled newest record, Sad Hunk, with some equally compelling merchandise. Behold the 2021 "Dad's Chores" calendar (signed, $25) and this incredible "Sew Your Own Sad Hunk" pillow doll kit.
Price: $25.
Lido Pimienta's merch store is a dream come true for any art lover. There's everything from ceramics and silk screen prints to ornate Miss Colombia Coronas/Crowns (made by Pimienta's mom!).
Price: $15-$125.
Polaris Music Prize-winning rapper Haviah Mighty has a new merch store, which features clothing, exclusive vinyl and her signature line of limited edition rolling papers.
Price: $5-$30.
Halifax-based punk band Like a Motorcycle has a limited edition teal vinyl of its newest record, Dead Broke, and an amusing bit of merch in the form of the "Crap Dinner Meal Kit."
Price: $20.
Juno Award-nominated composer Joshua Van Tassel's Dance Music Volume II: More Songs for Slow Motion is exquisitely beautiful and thoughtful, so it's no surprise that his sole piece of merch echoes those principles. He's offering limited edition prints from Geordan Moore (The Quarrelsome Yeti) made with water-based ink on eco-friendly wildflower paper with a removable edge that you can plant! "Watch the flowers grow as you listen to the music!"
Poster: $15.
Singer-songwriter Rae Spoon releases a career-spanning, 11-album songbook with sheet music on Jan. 6, 2021. Pre-order it now via their label, Coax Records, and print out the cover art so that the gift recipient knows it's on the way. And like most art Spoon makes, the package has both a fixed price point ($40) and a pay-what-you-can option.
Stream CBC Music's entire Christmas Collection of curated playlists
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