Christmas Past From the Relix Archives
Holiday stories worth another look, pulled fresh from the vault for you
Relix Daily
December 25, 2025
December 25, 2025
FEATURE
John Popper’s memoir, Suck and Blow: And Other Stories I’m Not Supposed to Tell, written with Relix editor Dean Budnick, came out in April 2016. Popper details his musical relationship with Phish in the work, including how he came to use the band’s song “Divided Sky” to create a contemporary Christmas classic (or at least copyright the word Christmas).
FEATURE
Just as Sandy Rothman saw a longtime creative desire come to fruition with the free download of the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band’s version of “Christmas Time’s A-Comin’,” the JGAB mandolin/dobro/banjo/vocalist had to deal with a personal misfortune when a house fire caused him to seek shelter elsewhere and reorganize his life.
Merch that made 2025
REVIEW
“I decided to make a Christmas record because I felt like all the Christmas records that we re-listen to every year occupy one space for the most part,” Amanda Shires says of her new album, For Christmas. “Then, I was just thinking about the past year—along with other Christmases and family in general—and I thought, ‘There are more sides to this holiday season.’
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WATCH
Last night, husband-and-wife powerhouse Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks appeared on the holiday television special CMA Country Christmas. Motor City gospel singer BeBe Winans joined the pair to perform the spiritual Christmas carol, “Children, Go Where I Send Thee,” giving the classic number a soulful treatment that stayed true to each musician’s signature style.
LISTEN
Ah, yes. The holiday season. The joy, the anxiety, the forced awkward situations with relatives who may or may not have had too much to drink. It really is the most wonderful time of the year. As Christmas approaches, it only feels appropriate to revisit some of your favorite musician’s finest tributes to the holiday from the likes of Phish, the Grateful Dead, DMB, My Morning Jacket and Pearl Jam’s spirited take on The Sonics’ “Don’t Believe in Christmas” for the Scrooges out there.
GALLERY
Warren Haynes’ Annual Christmas Jam took place Saturday night at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, NC, featuring performances from Gov’t Mule, Jason Isbell, Love Canon, Hard Working Americans, The Revivalists, Billy & the Kids and more. Additionally, Jackie Greene and Mule combined for their Neil Young-themed set featuring takes on “Cinnamon Girl,” “Old Man,” “After the Gold Rush” and more. Dino Perrucci shared some images from the show.
FEATURE
Especially for a seasonal album, Jingle All the Way marked an important transitional moment for Béla Fleck & The Flecktones. A mix of vividly re-imagined Christmas classics, inspired instrumental arrangements and top-shelf medleys, the 16-track 2008 set turned out to be the bluegrass-fusion combo’s final LP with saxophonist Jeff Coffin, who spent a portion of that year subbing for LeRoi Moore following an ATV accident and eventually joined Dave Matthews Band on more regular basis after the musician’s passing.