We’ve resisted it as long as we can, but this is the week when Free Music Friday finally utters the C-word. Yep, we have the first of what we’re sure will be an avalanche of Christmas goodies for you.

We kick off with Galwegian scamps Dott who are streaming their Swoon album – and an effervescent blast of girl/boy garage pop it is too!

Signed to US independent Graveface, we’ll be talking to them in the bumper festival issue of Hot Press, which is out next Thursday.

We spring into streaming action this week at [link]3voor12.vpro.nl/luisterpaal/albums.html[/link] where new albums from Destroyer, Shearwater, Conforce, Brendan Benson, New War, ERAAS, Ital Tek, Mind Of Max and Hugh Coltman await; [link]www.npr.org/series/98679384/first-listen[/link] is home to the latest from L.I.A.R.S., Milosh and Shearwater plus I Heard The Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel From The Nashboro Label, 1951-1983, which is a must-have for all gospel fans; bEEdEEgEE, Heatsick, Barnett + Coloccia, Hackman and Magic Trick showcase their wares at [link]pitchfork.com/advance[/link]; [link]nytimes.com/interactive/arts/music/pressplay.html?_r=3&[/link] adds Glen Hansard’s Drive All Night EP to the mix and depending on where you live – the geopolitics of streaming! – Britney, Muse, British Sea Power, Biffy Clyro, Merz, Snoop Dogg and the new Bruce Springsteen single can be accessed at [link]albumstreams.com[/link]

Back at home, The Would Be's have very kindly offered up new single 'Could Be The Weather' for a completely FREE download. Taken from their excellent Beautiful Mess record, it's a typical slice of shrewd pop from the very much back in business outfit.

America’s National Public Radio also has this wonderful download session from The Kronos Quartet who were sadly without associate member Bryce Dessner who was away on National business.

The latest signing to Disclosure’s Method label, Tourist, says “hello” with the excellent Placid Acid EP.

Will Phillips – who also trades under the remix name of Little Loud – is part of what by all accounts is a very happening Brighton alt. dance scene.

In for a Christmas penny, in for a Christmas pound… Sufjan Stevens, Matt Wertz and Fiction Family open Free Music Friday’s festive account.

The aforementioned Mr. Stevens also joins the likes of The Olms, Nick Lowe, Otis Redding and Bright Eyes on a fabulous seasonal sampler from the people at Paste magazine.

We love the updated Yuletide classic that Mayer Hawthorne is giving away as a pressie at [link]mp3.com/free-mp3/mayer-hawthorne-christmas-time-is-here[/link] and from the same [link]mp3.com/free-mp3/amy-gore-her-valentines-fine-without-you[/link] source comes an introduction to Detroit buzz band Amy Gore & Her Valentines.

Hotshot Mancunian producer Ben Pearce treats Haim fans to an early Xmas pressie with this banging makeover of ‘Falling’.

Just a week after treating us to new tune ‘Brain Cells’, Maximo Park unveil the version of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Lover, Lover, Lover’ that will be on the bonus covers CD accompanying their new album, Too Much Information.

Also getting the angular Geordie pop treatment are The Fall, Townes Van Zandt, Nick Drake and Mazzy Star.

Bitter Rocc has premiered the video for ‘Photographs’, another taster from his MMXII Pt. Deux album, which is available as a free hotpress.com download.

Shot in his own Dublin backyard, it’s another striking piece of work from the multimedia artist also known as Richard O’Connor.

Irish-Indian singer Sarah Packiam, who to add to the multiculturalism relocated from Spain to Miami during the ‘80s and sung backing vocals with Shakira, demonstrates she’s a star in her own right with this free tune.

The South African-born, Irish songstress residing in Berlin – you able to follow all of that? – Candice Gordon has conjured up a mean ‘n’ moody version of the David Bowie chestnut, ‘John, I’m Only Dancing’, which is available for free [link]soundcloud.com/candice-gordon/john-im-only-dancing-bowie[/link] download.

The accompanying video also suggests that we’ll be hearing/seeing a lot more from Ms. G in the future.

The week’s big video premiere was this prison rodeo clip for the Kings Of Leon’s ‘Beautiful War’.

The latest tune to be lifted from their Mechanical Bulls album, it definitely tugs at the old heartstrings.

With the country understandably gripped by sick rugby-related parotdom, we thought we’d try and cheer you up with the world’s finest karaoke ensemble – Chic plus Bono and The Edge who couldn’t resist jamming out a few tunes with Nile Rodgers following last weekend’s (RED) Auction in New York, which raised a toone of money.

A fellow by the name of Michael Blatter – no relation as far as we know to Sepp – was at the after-party and captured the moment on his phone. He was also down the front when Bono and Chris Martin teamed up for run throughs of Lou’s ‘Perfect Day’ and a certain band’s ‘Beautiful Day’.

Enjoy!

The personages populating our Hot For 2014 are usually a closely-guarded secret, but anyone with half a musical brain will know that George Ezra is going to be on it!

We’d assumed that the Velvet Underground vaults had been fully plundered but nope, purchasers of the Deluxe edition of White Light/White Heat will be treated to the lost and recently re-discovered ‘I’m Not A Young Man Anymore’.

The Killers have debuted the video for ‘Just Another Girl’, one of the two new tracks from their Direct Hits ‘Best Of’, which drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. has tersely dismissed as “a douchie move; a contractual thing.”

The clip features Glee star Dianna Agron as a stand-in and just as pretty Brandon.

Another week, another Anchorman nod to Ireland!

This time Ron is holding forth on the Late Late Toy Show, which will be getting Christmas jumpered up tomorrow night.

Never mind Santa, it’s what Mr Burgundy has in his sack, which intrigues us!

Phew, that was pretty epic! We’ll have another bulging – and super-Christmasy - Free Music Friday for you next week. Keep them links coming to @stuartclark66