Festive fireside folk

Warming seasonal sounds from the folk and acoustic world.

Mark plays O Tannenbaum by The Unthanks to lead us into a winter wonderland. The show also includes two Sheffield pub carols, a snapshot of Christmas in prison, and a pre-dawn Welsh plygain song.

There are also tracks from Fisherman's Friends, who, naturally, see some ships, the Tannahill Weavers, who provide a Hogmanay essential, and Steeleye Span, who pay tribute to the king of birds.

Paul Brady and Andy Irvine sing a classic song set on a Christmas morning. Mark also hears a poem read by John Tams, a song recorded by Sufjan Stevens as a Christmas gift to his family, and The Chieftains and Elvis Costello, who paint a picture of Boxing Day excess that some might recognise.