Christmas Ain’t The Same By Ken Tizzard and Music For Goats

If you like your Christmas music with a little edge — something that delivers some humour and honesty — Ken Tizzard and Music For Goats deliver in spades.

According to their bio, “Ken Tizzard and Music For Goats is the product of Newfoundland musician Ken Tizzard as he returns to his roots, combining his passion for folk, bluegrass, punk, and country.” Tizzard is well-known as the bassist for The Watchmen. He is the co-founder of ’90s rock band Thornley, and closer to home, played with Ron Hynes.

Get more Christmas music from Newfoundland and Labrador! And check out the whole 2025 Advent Calendar.

Tizzard and Music for Goats 2020 EP Sketches of Christmas has quickly become a favourite of mine, especially the country/folk gem “Christmas Ain’t The Same.” It brings a welcome change of pace to the usual Christmas fare. I mean, it’s not every day you find a Christmas tune that slips in references to falling in the tree, ex-wives, and secret pregnancy — and still manages to be catchy.

But as the song implies, Christmas changes.

The EP is available now, and while you’re at it, give their newest release a listen — a fantastic version of Generation X’s “Kiss Me Deadly.”