Get festive with The Overtones at Swansea Brangwyn Hall

Ready to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with their new CD, Good Ol’ Fashioned Christmas, the quintet will follow the release with the new tour A Christmas Party with The Overtones which visits Brangwyn Hall, on Sunday (December 6).

After four consecutive Top 10 albums and over 800,000 sales, the Christmas album is The Overtones’ first on their own Gambling Man Records label.

The boys have compiled a stocking rammed with Christmas crackers in the shape of classics such as White Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Let It Snow.

The album – produced by their regular collaborators Graham Archer and Julian Hinton – also adds to the seasonal traditions with two brand new Christmas songs in the shape of Good Ol’ Fashioned Christmas and This Christmas Time.

The Overtones have established a reputation as a group with the unique ability to deliver consistently uplifting music infused with exquisitely crafted vocal harmonies.

In addition to their own tours, the quintet have proved to be a consistently popular attraction at major events including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert, the Festival of Remembrance, BT London Live and British Summer Time.

But right now, they can’t wait to get into the festive swing with fans and they even had time for chat with the South Wales Guardian about deciding on track listings, visiting Swansea and their plans for the New Year.

“It was an easy conversation in deciding on the songs,” explains Mike Crawshaw on the choice of tracks for the Christmas album.

“Tradition is obviously an incredibly important element of Christmas so we wanted to include the songs that are a tradition in many households, including our own.

“Tracks like White Christmas and Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire were must haves. For us you can't have a Christmas album without It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year and Sleigh Ride. It couldn't have happened more naturally.”

Timmy Matley sees the selection process a little different: “We had a simple game of arm wrestling- only joking!

“There was some clear front runners that we had to have on there, White Christmas, Most Wonderful Time of the Year, but also had to make room for two originals and a modern day classic - Driving Home for Christmas should had lots of lovely harmonies and is a real tear jerker.”

When it comes to visiting Swansea, the boys can’t wait.

“We will be singing a great selection of Christmas songs and also a lot of the classics that we have on previous albums, says Timmy.

“We want this tour to feel like your Christmas night out with friends, family, work colleagues. This is our first time in Swansea on tour so we are super excited. Cardiff is always a good night so we hoping Swansea will show them how it's done.”

“We always have a good party on tour,” adds Mike “of course being Christmas it has to be better than ever. We'll have you dancing on your chairs and in the isles. We make sure we party with you.”

Next year, the boys will be heading back into the studio for more recording and lining up another tour as well as festival and smaller gigs.

And touring is where their enthusiasm lies with both Timmy and Mike summing up why performing is the best part of their job.

Timmy says the best bit of touring is getting to meet the people that enjoy their music: “I love the responsibility we have in ensuring that we give people a night to remember.”

“For me it's standing on stage and seeing reaction our fans give to our performance,” says Mike.

“It's such a privilege and an honour to help make someone happy. No words can express the joy I feel.”

The Overtones will play Brangwyn Hall, Swansea on Sunday, December 6.

Tickets are available at gigst.rs/OT and theovertones.tmstor.es. The album is available to buy now.