Christmas on the Lam and Other Songs from the Season

We at Red House Records, based in the nation’s icebox of Minnesota, have plenty of experience with below-zero temperatures, dark snowy nights, and the particular brand of inspiration that comes with a long winter. Oddly enough, though, we had never put out a record specifically to mark the holiday season. That changed when we invited artists from across the Red House family to contribute songs that captured their own take on winter, the holidays, and the emotions that come with this time of year.

The response brought out the best in both Red House veterans and newcomers. From Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jorma Kaukonen to Red Hot Mama Davina & The Vagabonds, from the “First Couple of Americana,” Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, to raw acoustic bluesman Charlie Parr, the collection brings together artists who approach the season from wildly different musical perspectives.

Rather than imposing a single holiday sound on the project, the songs were selected for their individuality. The resulting collection moves freely between roots rock, folk, blues, country, gospel, and soul, with artists bringing the same musical character and authenticity to seasonal material that define their regular work. Covers of songs by Elvis Presley and Gordon Lightfoot sit alongside a modern-day spiritual from The Wailin’ Jennys, creating a record that feels less like a traditional Christmas compilation and more like a musical snapshot of the Red House community.

The recording process was equally eclectic, drawing from sessions made in different studios and settings by artists accustomed to working in their own musical worlds. Some performances are intimate and acoustic, while others are full-band arrangements filled with horns, rhythm sections, harmony vocals, and roots-rock energy. What ties everything together is the character of the performers and the warmth of the songs.

Like the season itself, the collection embraces contradictions: lust and lament, loneliness and celebration, humor and reverence, gratitude and longing. There are traditional holiday sentiments, unexpected covers, winter-weary blues, and songs that simply feel right when the nights grow long.

And yes, even Santa gets a little lovin’, courtesy of Bill Kirchen & Austin de Lone. It’s a holiday record with the unmistakable Red House spirit—rootsy, irreverent, heartfelt, and full of surprises.