EXPECT jovial anecdotes, modern and traditional Christmas music and exquisite musicianship that will tug at the heart strings during Phil Cunningham’s ‘Christmas Songbook’.

Following on from its success over the last eight years, Phil is delighted to announce it is returning once again for five shows, in Aberdeen, Perth, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

He will be joined onstage by Eddi Reader and Karin Matheson on vocal duties, John McCusker on the fiddle, Kris Drever on vocals, guitar and mandolin, Ian Carr on guitar, Kevin McGuire on bass and The Songbook Brass Band.

He told the Advertiser: “These shows have become, for all of us, the highlight of our musical year. We love the atmosphere that became apparent the very first time we did the show. It’s also on many occasions, the first time in the year we get to see each other. Always a lot of fun.” There have been many highlights in the show over the years, but particularly significant is the first time every year the musicians reunite with the brass band.

Phil has realised this is often a highlight for the audience too and said stepping onto the stage and seeing a room filled with happy, festive revellers is always memorable.

Of the show, he said to expect fun: “We always call this our office party, it’s filled with lots of music, you can join in if you want... sing along with a mix of traditional and contemporary Christmas song and tunes.

“It is moving in many ways, there are the occasional emotional moments, lots of fun and laughter, but hopefully good music and a bucket load of Christmas vibes.” Material in the show is always a mixture of the old and new, Phil explained: “We have a core of songs that people expect us to sing, and during the year everyone tries to come up with a new song to add into the mix.

“We then get down to the creative process and work out which will work best. It’s an organic process. It’s all buoyed up with mince, tatties and doughballs during rehearsals.” For the musician, 25 December is normally the quietest date in his diary – which normally sees him making a Christmas curry and putting his feet up.

For him, the festive season is about watching the joy in other people – he likes to see happy people – and he enjoys the reaction of revellers when on stage.

He added: “In this show, I love the wee spontaneous musical things that happen and watching the reaction of the audience when they realise they’ve just witnessed a wee bit of Christmas magic. If we can connect with the audience, the show takes on a whole new feel. Also, we are all born show offs.” Christmas Songbook will be at Glasgow City Hall (Grand Hall), on Thursday 18 December, show is at 7.30pm, tickets are £21. It will also be at the Queen’s Hall, Clerk Street, Edinburgh, on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 December, show is at 7.30pm, tickets are £22.50.