For a holly jolly holiday season full of musical magic, Williamson Branch’s Very Merry Christmas is just the ticket to bring a joyous atmosphere to your gathering of family and friends. Opening with the title cut, written by David Stewart and Megan Torve, the family band features the three daughters (Melody, Caroline and Kadence) each singing a verse. “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” is given an upbeat Celtic-infused treatment, and “Joy to the World” makes for a lively bluegrass song. A slower song with a thoughtful message, “Be Born in Me” features the three daughters singing together, triple fiddles, along with colorings of Jeff Partin’s resophonic guitar and Chris Brown’s drums.

Very Merry Christmas offers a wonderful, tastefully arranged repertoire of familiar and less-oft-heard fare. A medley of “Christmas Time’s A Comin” and “White Christmas” is supercharged with spirited bluegrass ethos while “Silver Bells” is arranged in a fairly standard pleasing way. “Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree” features the vocals of Jimmy Fortune and piano of Buddy Hyatt. Some splendid Williamson family originals like “Good Tidings of Great Joy,” a 3/4-time “Coal in my Stocking” and a swinging “Momma’s Christmas List” are also well received in the tightly-crafted set.  “Children, Go Where I Send Thee” features all five members of the family singing a cappella.      

Originally from West Virginia but now based in Nashville, Kevin Williamson has played bluegrass music with such groups as Dave Evans, Redwing, Glen Duncan and Phoenix, Randy Waller and the Country Gentlemen, and Farm Hands Bluegrass Quartet. He fronted Shadow Ridge in the 1990s and has released previous albums on the Pinecastle label.  In 2014, Kevin formed Williamson Branch, a family band with his wife Debbie and daughters Melody (fiddle), Kadence (bass) and Caroline (vocals).  On Very Merry Christmas, band member Anthony Howell contributes banjo, as well as some guitar and mandolin. In 2020, Melody Williamson Keyes received the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Momentum Award for Vocalist of the Year. Her sisters likewise have very pleasant vocal presentations that together make the family band so very special and unique.

Williamson Branch has struck gold with their effervescent Very Merry Christmas album and its inspirational songs of hope, joy and optimism.  An entertaining family with a bright future, their 2021 gospel album helped others deal with challenges and struggles during troubled times. Now, with Very Merry Christmas, Williamson Branch gives us a set of holiday music that not only makes you think and shout, but also laugh and cheer. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)