🎄 Eclectic Wonderland Presents: “Fruitcake Returns With a Side of Festive Indie Delights” 🎄
If holiday music makes you think of the same old songs on repeat, think again. This week’s Eclectic Wonderland is here to rescue you from musical monotony with a playlist as rich and unexpected as, well… a fruitcake (minus the trauma).
Fruitcake isn’t just the title of this week’s show—it’s also the name of my long-standing holiday mixtape. For years, it’s been my mission to turn festive music on its head by curating tracks that are offbeat, indie-driven, and way cooler than any mall soundtrack.
This week’s episode, Fruitcake Returns With a Side of Festive Indie Delights, brings together a vibrant mix of genres—indie rock, quirky pop, surf punk, jazzy instrumentals, dreamy folk, blues, and more. It’s a holiday buffet for your ears, packed with tunes that will keep you smiling, swaying, and maybe even dancing (we won’t judge).
Here’s a taste of what to expect:
• Sufjan Stevens blending whimsy with holiday tradition in his signature style
• The Polyphonic Spree putting a symphonic spin on Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
• The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl delivering raw, emotional brilliance with Fairytale of New York
• The Magnetic Fields reminding us that Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree
• Bleached giving Jingle Bells a punky makeover
• Iggy Pop crooning his way through White Christmas in a way only Iggy could
• Lucius making us teary-eyed with their haunting rendition of Christmas Time Is Here
• Bob Dylan turning up the chaos with Must Be Santa
And that’s just the beginning! From cozy indie gems by Emma Wallace, The Mommyheads, and Beachfront Vinny, to holiday classics reimagined by legends like Leonard Cohen, Andrew Bird, and Cat Power, this playlist will take you on a journey of holiday cheer like no other.
Whether you’re wrapping presents, sipping cocoa, or recovering from fruitcake trauma of your own, this week’s show promises to be the perfect holiday soundtrack.
Tune in Wednesday, December 18th, and let’s make this season eclectic, festive, and fun!
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Listen live at:
91.9 FM WDRT Driftless Community Radio
or online at [WDRT.org]
Wednesdays from 1 to 3 PM {Central}
Eclectic Wonderland Links (Links In Pink!)
Merry! Merry! (Our Holiday Newsletter)
Check out the playlist for this show below, where you can discover songs, videos, and links to the artists!
🎶Fruitcake Returns Videos & Links For Artists {Links Are Pink}
We kicked off today’s show with a trio of holiday treats:
• Barenaked Ladies – Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
• The Superions – Fruitcake (yes, that fruitcake)
• The Aquabats! – Holiday Road
• Beachfront Vinny – Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (Instrumental vibes to set the mood)
The indie holiday spirit continues with some melodic gems and genre-spanning delights:
1. The Polyphonic Spree – Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (John Lennon’s classic gets the symphonic indie treatment)
2. Eux Autres – Another Christmas At Home (charming lo-fi holiday nostalgia)
3. G. Love – Christmas Baby (smooth blues with festive cheer)
4. The Magnetic Fields – Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree (quirky and delightfully offbeat)
Sprinkled throughout were more indie goodies:
5. Beachfront Vinny – Jolly Holiday (surf-inspired holiday fun)
6. Emma Wallace – Mom 4 XMAS (cozy indie vibes)
7. The Mommyheads – Christmas Song (a warm original for the season)
8. Beachfront Vinny – The New York Chanukah Song (because we’re inclusive with our festivities!)
9. The Mommyheads – Christmas Song (Catskills Version) (the same track, reimagined with Catskills flair)
10. Suddenly, Tammy! – Linus & Lucy (a jazzy take on the iconic holiday tune)
The holiday spirit continued with a mix of cozy classics and indie flair:
1. O and Shea – Christmas Times a Comin’ (a cheerful, homespun tune)
2. Sufjan Stevens – Mr. Frosty Man (a whimsical winter tale)
3. She & Him – Baby, It’s Cold Outside (a modern, charming take on the duet)
4. KT Tunstall – 2000 Miles (a heartfelt indie ballad for the season)
We kept the good vibes rolling with:
5. The Holiday Place & Family of the Year – OMG It’s Christmas (quirky and fun holiday energy)
{About The Song, Video Short}
6. Sufjan Stevens – Angels We Have Heard On High (ethereal and layered)
7. Brian Dewan – Flexible Flyer (a delightfully offbeat song)
8. Bleached – Jingle Bells (a punk-inspired twist on the classic)
9. The Defenders – Sleighride (a rocking version of the winter favorite)
Things took a slightly more classical and experimental turn while still keeping the festive mood alive:
1. Small Town Titans – You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch (gritty and fun)
2. Mannheim Steamroller – Faeries (a lush, instrumental holiday favorite)
3. The Bird and The Bee – Deck The Hall & Then Carol of the Bells (a dreamy, synth-driven double feature)
4. Lucius & Fug Yep Soundation – Christmas Time Is Here (beautiful and reflective)
5. Cat Power – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (hauntingly gorgeous)
6. Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah (a transcendent classic for any time of year)
7. The Minus 5 feat. Ben Gibbard – I See Angels (melancholic yet hopeful)
8. R. Stevie Moore – Dance of the Reed Flutes (quirky and playful instrumental)
9. Gareth Koch – Ding Dong Merrily On High (a bright, classical guitar rendition)
We closed out the show with a blend of rock, indie, and classics, leaving you ready to wrap your presents or sip on eggnog:
1. The Smashing Pumpkins – ChristmasTime (rock meets holiday cheer)
2. Exohxo – Thanks For Christmas (upbeat and sentimental)
3. Iggy Pop – White Christmas (a delightfully unconventional take from the punk legend)
4. Everclear – Santa Baby (a cheeky rock cover)
5. Bob Dylan – Must Be Santa (festive chaos courtesy of Dylan)
6. Keith Boynton – Firelight Jig (Getting Jiggy With It!)
7. The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl – Fairytale of New York (a raw and iconic holiday duet)
8. Rob Schwinner – Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire (a Fun Instrumental)
9. Andrew Bird – Auld Lang Syne (ethereal and wistful as we head into the new year)
10. The Zambonis – Stuck in the Snow (hockey-themed holiday fun to close things out)
🎶 The Fruitcake Mix tradition started as a way to share holiday cheer—without the actual fruitcake (thanks to some...traumatic childhood encounters with the freezer variety). We’re serving up a tastier tradition—one you’ll want to share! 🎶
The Backstory: The Fruitcake Saga
Every Christmas, my family received a fruitcake that immediately went into what we called the "Fruitcake CryoFreeze"—an ancient Frigidaire at the base of the stairs. Over the years, we amassed quite the collection, but no one dared eat them.
Years later, I tried a fruitcake soaked in rum (thanks to a friend's grandma). Let’s just say...it wasn’t for me. That’s when I decided to start a better tradition: creating holiday mixes we could actually enjoy. Hence, Fruitcake Mixes were born—fun, festive, and totally freezer-free!
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