Holiday Cheer History

Cheers

Image Caption: Cheers
by WFUV Staff | 11/29/2022 | 9:42am

We've been throwing a giant party every year since 2005 and inviting some of our favorite artists to perform. Our favorite listeners have brought their own joy too, of course.

In 2020, however, we're unable to gather together as we've done for so many years in the past.

We're grieving our beloved Rita Houston, who passed away on December 15. She spearheaded all of our Holiday Cheers with unparalled verve and vision. She loved nothing more, the nights of those benefit concerts, than proudly watching from backstage as John Prine, Brandi Carlile, Mavis Staples, Aimee Mann, Lucinda Williams and so many others rocked their sets.

So for the next few days, we're going to gather together to "Cheer from Here" — revisiting performances from over the years, hearing artists' Holiday Cheer memories, and thinking of Rita's shining light over each and every one of those evenings. We'll remember other dear friends who've passed on, like John Prine and Sharon Jones, and also recall so many memorable Holiday Cheer moments that have filled our hearts with the generous spirit of the holiday season.

Holiday Cheer for FUV is an important benefit concert for the radio station, so we thank everyone who has ever bought a ticket to join us. 

The first few years we rocked the pews at the Society for Ethical Culture; since then we've called the Beacon Theatre our Holiday Cheer home. We've been recording the shows and tucking them into the FUV Vault since 2012, either as a full stream or in individual sets.

LISTEN to past Holiday Cheer for FUV concerts:
2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012

Holiday Cheer for FUV audio by artist:

Holiday Cheer for FUV by date:

  • 2022: Spoon, Lucius, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Say She She
  • 2019: Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff, Mumford & Sons and Yola
  • 2018: John Prine, The Lone Bellow, Shannon Shaw and guest Nathaniel Rateliff
  • 2017: Aimee Mann, Randy Newman, Jeff Tweedy and Lo Moon
  • 2016: Amos Lee & Friends with Lucinda Williams, Corinne Bailey Rae and The Record Company
  • 2015: Brandi Carlile & Friends with Dawes, Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings and Lucius
  • 2014: Conor Oberst & Friends with Natalie Merchant, Suzanne Vega, Laura Marling, The Lone Bellow, The Felice Brothers and Jonathan Wilson
  • 2013: Iron & Wine and Friends with Calexico, Nick Lowe, Glen Hansard, Kathleen Edwards, Beth Orton and Amos Lee
  • 2012: Lucinda Williams, Shawn Colvin, Shelby Lynne, Steve Earle and Lake Street Dive
  • 2011: Mavis Staples, Josh Ritter, The Head and The Heart and Dawes
  • 2010: The Punch Brothers, The Secret Sisters, Citizen Cope
  • 2009: Rosanne Cash, The Low Anthem, Mike Doughty
  • 2008: Felice Brothers, Dar Williams, Bruce Hornsby, James Hunter
  • 2007: Suzanne Vega, Odetta, Madeliene Peyroux, Dan Wilson, Loudon Wainwright
  • 2006: Joan Osborne, Ollabelle, Rickie Lee Jones
  • 2005: Norah Jones and the Little Willies, Amos Lee, Martin Sexton, Richard Julian
     

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