It’s a tongue-in-cheek Christmas for London, Ontario’s preeminent folk-roots collective Maggie’s Wake. Their new single “Christmas Is Coming (For You)” is out now, with a December tour just in time for the holidays.
“Christmas Is Coming (For You)” is not your typical holiday single, however. Maggie’s Wake’s frontwomen Tara Dunphy (The Rizdales, Luther Wright and the Wrongs) and Lindsay Schindler (Rant Maggie Rant, Trent Severn) aren’t afraid to get candid about the ever-expanding holiday season– and how hard they often find it not to roll their eyes.
Listeners will relate to their quippy lyrics about spotting Christmas decorations pre-Halloween, accidentally overspending on gifts, and having to create “a gluten friendly, vegan, pescatarian” meal the whole family can enjoy. But that doesn’t mean Maggie’s Wake has penned a new anthem for Ebenezer Scrooge!
And then you start to feel it growing in your heart
The thing that they’ve been selling from the very start
It’s not about presents or the spending sprees
It’s the magic of the moment and the memories
“Somehow, despite my best efforts to barricade myself from the hype,” Dunphy concedes. “I find myself falling for it every year and on Christmas day I just let the magic that they’ve been force feeding us envelope me. It turns out I’m a sucker and that’s the moral of the story.”
Indeed, “Christmas Is Coming (For You)” is a song for practical people who can’t help but get swept up in holiday cheer, and is sure to spark smiles as a welcome addition to everyone’s holiday playlists.
Maggie’s Wake is a Canadian contemporary folk group, creating a new sound from traditional roots. Founded in 2022 by seasoned folk musicians Tara Dunphy and Lindsay Schindler, both veteran performers contribute fiddle and vocals, with Dunphy throwing in tin whistle, flute, guitar, and banjo. Their powerhouse backing band includes Stephan Szczesniak on percussion, Andrew Kosty on bass, Dean Harrison on piano and accordion, and Kenneth Palmer on guitar.
Be sure to catch Maggie’s Wake performing “Christmas Is Coming (For You)” and more holiday tunes on their Spirit of the Season tour, kicking off December 1st at Hugh’s Room Live in Toronto. Whether you’re a holiday enthusiast or a bit of a Grinch, Maggie’s Wake gets it, and celebrates you.
Maggie’s Wake Tour Dates:
Dec 1, Hugh’s Room, Toronto, Ontario
Dec 2, Aylmer Town Hall, Aylmer, Ontario
Dec 3, Revival House, Stratford, Ontario
Dec 9, Roxy Theatre, Owen Sound, Ontario
Dec 10, The Gibson Centre, Alliston, Ontario
Dec 17, Aeolian Hall, London, Ontario
