MISTLETOE VINYL: The Story of the Christmas No1 with Marc Burrows

Join us for this fun event where Marc Burrows explores the peculiarly British cultural phenomenon of the Christmas singles chart.

The festive top spot was something that, prior to 1973, wasn’t particularly important but has since become a cornerstone of the December news cycle and, for years, an annual cultural moment … that may have reached the end of its life.

He traces the origins of the concept, through the Beatles and the-years-when-it-wasn’t-really-a-thing, the Glam rock boom, Band Aid, novelty records, the X-Factor years and the awful Sausage Roll charity records of the 2020s. This exploration is supported by interviews with figures involved in some of the most iconic hits and notable chart battles of the past half century and obsessive, in-depth research. He explores the sometimes fascinating and sometimes weird and unlikely stories behind some of the most beloved (and some of the most utterly loathed) songs in British musical history.

The Story of the Christmas No. 1 is more than just a nostalgic music book. It subtly explores pop culture and social history, examining our relationship with Christmas, how our national identity is reflected in the music we listen to together, and how the music industry has changed. It also reveals how the Christmas No. 1 reflects the current social reality of today and how technology and culture have reshaped the way music is consumed.

We have two ticket options available: * Event Only and *Event with Discounted Book Combo deal - books will be available for collection at the Festival.

Our event will be followed by a dedicated signing event with Marc. RRP books will also be available for purchase on the day.

About the Author:

Marc Burrows is an award-winning author, comedian and musician, currently residing in Bristol. His 2020 biography of Sir Terry Pratchett won the Locus Award for best non-fiction and became the basis for a stand-up show that received rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe and has toured extensively across the UK.

His second book, The London Boys, explored 1960s London through the lives of the teenage David Bowie and Marc Bolan and received 8/10 from Classic Rock and four stars from Shindig! He plays bass in the cult punk band The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing, writes regularly for The Independent, Big Issue, The New Statesmen and many more and is working on a novel and a new stand up show. He is generally quite tired. His last book, NIRVANA: A detailed guide to the band that changed everything was published in November 2024.

Image: Alexis Dubus

Host or Publisher Louder Than Words Festival