UKNY For December 19

No white Christmas likely for either New York or Britain, but wishful holiday thinking will abound on tonight's UKNY at 11 with songs devoted utterly to jangling sleigh bells, drifting snow, smooching by the mistletoe, Yuletide breakups, mince pie joy, mulled wine, pickled walnuts and slow waltzes.

Expect covers of classics and original Christmas fare from Tracey Thorn, Elbow, Soak, and the cheeky Loose Tapestries, a side project of comedian Noel Fielding, Kasabian's Sergio Pizzorno and "Luther" star (and SAG and Golden Globe nominee) Idris Elba.

Also, caroling with The Joseph and Mary Chain, a Sunderland "supergroup" including members of Field Music, the Futureheads, Golden Virgins and Kathryn Williams, and Pesky, a precocious Cumbrian septet of kids on the Fierce Panda label.

Swigging eggnog at a Christmas party? You can catch up to UKNY on demand as of Monday in the FUV weekend archives up to two weeks after broadcast.

Songs played:

1. Tracey Thorn, “Maybe This Christmas,” Tinsel and Lights
2. Pesky, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” single
3. Summer Camp, “Christmas Wrapping,” Christmas EP
4. The Joseph and Mary Chain (Field Music, Futureheads, Golden Virgins, Kathryn Williams), “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” It’s Not Like Christmas
5. Loose Tapestries (Noel Fielding, Kasabian’s Sergio Pizzorno, Idris Elba) “Can’t Wait For Christmas,” single
6. Smoke Fairies, “Christmas Without A Kiss,” Wild Winter
7. Soak, “Christmas Waltz,” Indie For The Holidays
8. Sweet Baboo, “(Don’t Be Alone) This Christmas,” Dennis EP
9. Scritti Politti, “Snow in Sun,” White Bread, Black Beer
10. Elbow, “And It Snowed,” Lost Worker Bee EP
11. Laura Marling, “Goodbye England (Covered in Snow),” I Speak Because I Can
12. The Staves with Justin Vernon, “Make It Holy,” If I Was
13. Commonwealth Cut (Alberta, Canada): Corinne Bailey Rae and Herbie Hancock, “River” (Joni Mitchell cover), River – The Joni Letters
14. Vince Guaraldi, “Greensleeves” (Trad. English folk song), A Charlie Brown Christmas