Starting Monday morning, we'll be celebrating the season with 12 Days of XPN Local Music. Each day, we'll showcase a different, original holiday song from one of 12 local artists. Tune in to the XPN Morning Show with Michaela Majoun and again at 1:00 p.m. during Helen Leicht's XPN Local Pick of the Day feature. Each song is a free, featured, exclusive download, just for you, the XPN Listener.

Day 1: Monday, December 8

Marah

Counting the Days ('Til Christmas)
Known for their captivating live performances, rock band Marah has been together since the early 90's. This rootsy rock quartet is native to Philadelphia but also well associated with the uber hipster Brooklyn, N.Y. In 1997, members David Bielanko, Serge Bielanko, Danny Metz, Ronnie Vance and unofficial member, producer/engineer Paul Smith recorded some tracks that were released as the album, Let's Cut the Crap and Hook Up Later on Tonight on Cary Hudson's Black Dog Label. Their album and following performances at SxSW, scored them recognition from critics, including Rolling Stone's David Fricke and Steve Earle. Marah performed at the 1998 XPoNential Music Festival and since then, the band has gone on to release eight more albums, including 2008's Angels of Destruction.

Website: marah-usa.com
MySpace: myspace.com/marahusa

Day 2: Tuesday, December 9

The Swimmers

A Christmas Sound
This group of indie rockers recorded their debut album Fighting Trees in 2007 with renown Philadelphia producer Brian McTear (Matt Pond PA, Mazarin), however the band decided to release their soon to be hit album in 2008 on the Philadelphia-based label, Mad Dragon Records. According to the band members, "Fighting Trees mixes an indie-rock aesthetic with bright melodies and hook-filled choruses pulled from the pop and rock sounds of the 1960's." They performed at XPN's XPoNential Music Festival in 2008. Since the release of Fighting Trees in March 2008 the group has earned critical acclaim on a national level, earning the titles "A New Favorite, This Year" from The New York Times and "Eight to Watch in '08," by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Website: theswimmers.com
MySpace: myspace.com/helloswimmersh

Day 3: Wednesday, December 10

Ages

Frankincense Of Style
Ages is the reincarnation of an idyllic high school collaboration between Jeff Blatcher and David Downham (formerly of New Jersey's Up Up Down Down... and The Secession Movement). Almost by accident, in its grown up clothes, Ages has generated a full length album's worth of Christmas songs for the "merry weary." "Frankincense Of Style" was recorded at Downham's Gradwell House studio in Haddon Heights, N.J. for the annual Arbor Records Christmas show (2007). The band plans to release a full-length album of non-holiday-themed songs in 2009.

MySpace: myspace.com/agesnj

Day 4: Thursday, December 11

Dan May

Christmas in My Hometown
Dan May has been everything from a grave digger to a nuclear missile security guard and even a professional opera singer, touring across the country with numerous companies. Unfortunately, May underwent a vocal chord operation that disabled him from singing professional opera. However, this operation was a blessing in disguise as he is now a successful singer/songwriter, greatly contributing to the Philadelphia music scene. His most recent release, The Long Road Home, incorporates the talents of many renown local artists, such as Tin Bird Choir's Heather Hurlock, Antje Duvekot, and even Mike "Slo-Mo" Brenner on the guitar synthesizer.

Website: danmaycd.com/
MySpace: myspace.com/danmaycd

Day 5: Friday, December 12

Trisha O'Keefe

Christmas with You
Since the young age of 12, Trisha O'Keefe has been working hard in the music industry writing songs and recording demos. Instead of accepting a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music at the age of 17, Trisha independently released her first album All The Honest Liars. By 19, she became a regionally-touring artist and was a guest vocalist on her first national commercial, the Coke Zero campaign "ChillTop" with artist G Love, at the age of 20. Currently, her fourth album Star Burns Brightest under her belt, Trisha's musical prowess is as strong as ever, as she stays true to herself and her music.

MySpace: myspace.com/trishaokeefe

Day 6: Monday, December 15

Hoots & Hellmouth

A Song for Solstice
This local band has been enriching the local music scene for quite some time, taking their unique indie roots sounds wherever they can. Since their conception in early 2005 they have performed all over the country at venues ranging from large music festivals to small clubs, and even major music festivals like the Philly Folk Fest, and Popped! Their self-titled album, on Drexel's Mad Dragon Records, has been described as "new music for the old soul." The boys performed at the XPoNential Music Festival in 2007, and did a Free At Noon concert last year. They are currently in the studio working on their 2009 release. For more information, on upcoming concerts and other band info be sure to check out both their website and their MySpace listed below. To listen to the full concert archive of Hoots' XPN Free At Noon Concert, click here.

Website: hootsandhellmouth.com/
MySpace: myspace.com/hootshellmouth

Day 7: Tuesday, December 16

Erik Mitchell

I Think I've Been Good This Year
With a unique gift for narrative songwriting, Erik Mitchell conjoins his intellect, (educated at two Ivy League Universities as well as Berklee College of Music), wit, and poetic tendencies to paint a vivid picture in song. At the age of 20, Erik received his first guitar and started writing songs two years later. Having extensively toured the whole East Coast, Erik has gathered a following of steadfast fans. In 2005, Erik released his debut album All These Words, produced at the Grammy Award-winning MorningStar Studios.

Website: www.mitchellmusic.com/
MySpace: myspace.com/mitchellmusic

Day 8: Wednesday, December 17

John Flynn

Santa Claus and Micky Malone
A Temple University graduate in Political Science intended to become a lawyer, but after finding success writing country music in Nashville, Tennessee for major recording artists his life took a turn. Luckily, in the early 90s this fantastic artist decided to step away from the country music scene and come back to Philadelphia where he eagerly began a career in Folk/Americana music. He is a social activist who recently joined Arlo Guthrie and Willie Nelson on tour to benefit victims of Katrina. He is also an award-winning children's recording artist and heard frequently on WXPN's Kids Corner. John has made several performances at the XPoNential Music Festival, and other festivals and venues across the country. You may have heard him sing as a special guest at the Phillies games too!!

Website: johnflynn.net
MySpace: myspace.com/johnflynnfolksinger

Day 9: Thursday, December 18

Hiram Ring

Just a Single Season
Hailing from Lancaster, PA, Hiram Ring has been mastering the art of making music from an early age. Born in a small village in Africa, Ring learned to understand rhythms and harmonies, how to sing melody, how to understand rhythm and feel it in the depths of one's soul, from his local community. Ring is as real a person and musician as they come. His self-promoted four track EP, Go From Here sold over 500 copies in only three weeks and recently, he created his own label, Ring Records, where he creates his own music and works with talented musicians to help them understand the recording process and industry.

Website: hiramring.com/
MySpace: myspace.com/hiramring

Day 10: Friday, December 19

Cliff Hillis

On a Day like Christmas
Phoenixville native Cliff Hillis's album The Long Now, features his longtime backup band The Forward Thinkers, along with a talented array of guest musicians comprising of Eric Bazilian, Danny Wilde, and Willie Wisely. Hillis maintains his musical prowess on The Long Now with mulitple awards under his belt, such as winning both the East Coast-based Spark Magazine's "Best Singer-Songwriter" and Out & About Magazine's "Best Male Songwriter" award in 2007. Currently, in addition to pursuing movie and television offers, Hillis is promoting The Long Now, his second release on Los Angeles-based TallBoy Records.

Website: cliffhillis.com
MySpace: myspace.com/cliffhillis

Day 11: Monday, December 22

Fooling April

Every Single Christmas
Known for their catchy pop hooks, and unique melodies, this group of four talented Philly rockers have clearly found their niche on the local scene. The group's popularity has increased dramatically since their inception in 2002. The group has performed everywhere from XPN Local's Sgt. Pepper event, to live performances as featured artists on 6-ABC's Tuned In series and on QVC, (catch their video for "Someday I'll Be in Love at Christmas" on loop from Dec 23rd to the 26th), NBC, and FOX. They performed at our XPoNential Music Festival 2008 and have shared the stage with John Mayer, Dido, and many other major artists.

Website: foolingapril.com
MySpace: myspace.com/fa

Day 12: Tuesday, December 23

Andrew Lipke

A Winter Song
Born in South Africa, Andrew Lipke began playing the piano at the tender age of five. Growing up being influenced by music legends such as Pink Floyd and Bach, Lipke cultivated his deep passion for music. Lipke's love for music eventually led him to Philly's own University of the Arts, where he pursued a degree in Music Composition. Often compared to Rufus Wainwright or Jeff Buckley, Lipke is a natural at emoting through song. Currently, Andrew has released his second album on Mad Dragon Records Motherpearl and Dynamite, which only confirms his raw and pure talent as a musician. Andrew just performed an XPN Free At Noon Concert on 11/28/08.

MySpace: myspace.com/andrewlipke