Ptown’s The Crown & Anchor Releases First Album
Ptown performers ‘sleigh’ queerly-reimagined holiday tunes on “Provincetown Follies: Holly Folly at The Crown.”
For LGBTQ+ folx looking for a stocking stuffer, you may want to consider gifting The Crown & Anchor’s first album, “Provincetown Follies: Holly Folly at The Crown.” The new holiday album, from Provincetown’s premier entertainment complex, features 13 ‘queerly-reimagined’ tracks with 15 local artists including Qya Cristál, Tina Burner, Jon Richardson, Zoë Lewis, the Crown’s owner, Jonathan Hawkins, and more!
The album includes traditional holiday songs like Do You Hear What I Hear? and Joy to the World, plus queer twists on the classics like 12 Gays of Christmas. Yaron Spiwak and Jonathan Hawkins produced the album, which was recorded in Room 9 Studios at the Moffett House in Provincetown.
“Growing up in the church, Christmas time was always my favorite,” said Jonathan Hawkins, co-owner and general manager of the Crown & Anchor. “The brass, chimes, bells, and strings would come together, and something magical would happen. I felt Christmas. It was one of the only ‘seasons’ where I truly ‘felt the spirit.’ Whether that feeling was Jesus, the lush orchestrations, or a perfectly placed key change, I was hooked. Even after leaving the church, this music stuck with me. I think it’s universal. It can bring people together. It’s the music of the season, no matter what you believe.”
With original cover artwork by Heather MacFarland, this album is available to stream on all platforms and for purchase on iTunes and Amazon Music. Prints of the original album cover artwork are also available for sale at onlyatthecrown.com and come with a link for a digital download. Proceeds from the album and cover art purchases support the Provincetown Performing Arts Fund, whose mission is to fund housing for local artists.
Provincetown is where so many LGBTQ+ people have learned to love themselves. Where many first find acceptance. For artists, Ptown offers a sanctuary to experience the freedom of authentic expression. However, the holidays can leave many people feeling conflicted. The joy that holiday music brings so many can also represent shame and sorrow for others.
“Holiday traditions, especially its music and its message, have not always embraced the LGBTQ+ community,” said Hawkins. “For many of us, the magic of holiday music has been diminished by the churches, the ‘holders of holiday spirit,’ that have for so long left us out, asking us to come with voices but to leave behind our hearts and our true selves. This music represents peace, hope, and joy. It’s for all of us who choose to love one another. Somewhere in the world, a queer person is hearing this music and, for the first time, experiencing its true message,” said Hawkins.
Album Track List:
1. Joy To the World / For Unto Us
Artists: Qya Cristál, Jonathan Hawkins, Jon Richardson
2. Carol of The Bells
Artists: Qya Cristál, Jonathan Hawkins, Jon Richardson
3. River
Artist: Brittany Rolfs
4. Maoz Tsur
Artists: Jonathan Hawkins, Yaron Spiwak
5. Happy Holidays
Artists: João Santos, Olivia Lux
6. I’d Rather Be Naughty Than Nice
Artists: Tina Burner, Blake Allen
7. My Only Wish
Artist: Todd Alsup
8. 12 Gays of Christmas
Artist: Kristen Becker
9. Peking Duck
Artist: Zoë Lewis
10. Christmas Eve on Cape Cod Bay
Artists: Jon Richardson, Peter Donnelly
11. Do You Hear What I Hear?
Artists: Qya Cristál
12. O Holy Night
Artist: Jonathan Hawkins
13. Happy Xmas (War is Over)
Artists: Jake Glass, Jizzelle
Stream Provincetown Follies: Holly Folly at The Crown on all major music streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and others.
