Guardian Music — We all have our own favourite seasonal songs. Mine work for a bleak midwinter – and for a profound, optimistic oneI've made it a rule that I can only start playing my favourite Christmas songs after 5 December, even if the supermarket ads have alre... more info

Guardian Music — He used to skive off school just to watch the Kinks drinking in a pub. So what did Julien Temple learn from making a film about his heroes?I first heard the Kinks at the age of 11 – listening to Radio Caroline on a crystal radio set beneath my bedc... more info

Abeano — By day, he’s history and sociology student Stephen Gomberg. By night he transforms into Fantastic Mr Fox, constructing digital hybrids by rummaging through emotive electronica and R&B beats. He’s set the heartbeats of dubstep’s darkside fl... more info

Totally Fuzzy — S R Management said... A "Plethora Of Silent Nights" from my favorite Christmas tricksters! And that's all you need to know, Merry Christmas. Silent Night Chant - Rotary Connection Bootsy Collins Booker T & MGs Claifornia Guitar Trio Armik Asleep At ... more info

Altsounds — Valencia are proud to ring in the holiday season and present their new video for “Father Christmas”: watch now at PureVolume (http://clicks.fanbridge.com/l.php?cid=685735&sid=128017086&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.purevolume.com%2F)! The ba... more info

Guardian Music — 9 December: Our musical Christmas countdown continues as Conor from Villagers talks us through his Spotify playlistDomino artist Villagers has pulled out all the stops for his advent calendar entry with a detailed run through every song on his playli... more info

Altsounds — Hey Scrooges, Grinches and Heat Misers, you don't have to be so pissed off at Christmas anymore. Orlando street-punk heroes *The Attack* have just released their rendition of *The Kinks'* classic Christmas tune *"Father Christmas."* You won't get st... more info

Guardian Music — Ray Davies is to curate next year's Meltdown festival. Jon Savage salutes a national treasureIn late 1965, Ray Davies threw a party. One of his guests was a clothes designer, and as Davies recalled: "I got pissed off with him always going on about fa... more info

Guardian Music — The Vampire Weekend frontman on fake rap posse the Lonely Island and the Kinks' exotic EnglishnessThis year began extremely well for Vampire Weekend: their second album, Contra, entered the US charts at No 1, a first for both the New York quartet and... more info

Guardian Music — Arcade Fire, LondonAlthough this was the year they achieved the benchmarks of the truly big – two nights at Madison Square Garden, for example – 2010 was also the year in which Arcade Fire tried to keep things smaller. The Suburbs, the band's thi... more info