8 Ball Aitken hails from Far North Queensland in Australia, where he spent his adolescence as a farm laborer on a banana plantation. As a hard-partying 19-year-old, it was a conversation with an Aboriginal elder that caused him to rethink his path and rechannel his energy into a more constructive lifestyle. Pouring himself into his music, he’s emerged on the world stage with a hard-driving alt-country sound. From his album Rebel With A Cause, he’s sharing two songs with us: Cyclone Country and Yellow Moon.

Jim Allchin made his name outside of music, joining Microsoft in 1990 and rising to head the Platforms & Services Division. After suffering a life-changing health crisis, Jim decided to change his focus: “…better make sure I do all the things I want to do.” A gifted blues guitarist, Jim combines instrumental prowess with his vocals, and mixes it all with life experience on his new album, Engima. You’ll want to hear I’m About To Fall and Rockin’ Chair.

Jessie Murphy In The Woods is a trio that combines indie pop with dark humor and classical sensibilities, consisting of Marcia Webb (flute, pan pipes, and clarinet, Wurlitzer electric piano, vocals), Amy Stratton (horn, flute, vocals, percussion), and Jessie Murphy (lead vocals, acoustic guitar). All are accomplished musicians in their own right…together, they create unique soulful stylings. There’s an infectious joy in the new album, Eight Belles, that sweeps the listener in its wake. By turns ethereal, mystical, spiritual and haunting, the NYC-based trio plays with a sense of wonder and discovery that makes them one of 2009’s singular new acts to watch. Check out New York City Lights.

All these songs can be downloaded now from GreatSongsFree.com

Find this song for free download now at GreatSongsFree.com!

Rock U Mentally is a group of 5 energetic young people who make some very lively music. Chris, Angie, Bucky, AJ and Ken have brought us the song CoOper8, from their album Who You Are IS Where It’s At!.

Abby and the Pipsqueaks are back with two new tunes as well. One, called 8 Days, is a Chanukah celebration song, while the other, Don’t Play With Fire, is from their new album Abby and the Pipsqueaks!

The-band-with-the-hard-to-forget name returns: They are The Boogers, and they’ve brought us two more terrific songs from their new album Road to Rock: Itsy Bitsy and Peanut Butter Jelly.

Jeff Oppen is the creator of the children’s cartoon, TOOLS. He has recorded fun children’s music for a number of years for various websites, cartoons and other projects. His new CD, Monkey Bars, is his first commercially-released children’s music CD, and he’s brought us the song Little Ducks to share with you.

Alex The Seal is the creation of Sam Finocchio, who has many years of experience creating children’s entertainment with credits that include music and sound effects for toys, CDs, movies, and television. Sam decided to team up with the musicians and voice talent with whom he has built long-standing relationships to release Alex in Wonderland, the first Alex the Seal album, and he’s brought us two songs to share with you: Pop Goes The Weasel and Stingray City.

Tim Stephens got together with Ms. Harmon’s Kindergarten Class, and created an album of singalongs which he creatively titled Mr. Stephens with Ms. Harmon’s Kindergarten Class. Half the proceeds of the album go to benefit the PTA at Thomas Paine School. You’ll enjoy Hey Bo Diddley.

John Hurbon has created a wiggle-worthy collection of original and traditional songs in an album called Puppy Song Party, featuring guitar and harmonica arrangements. And he’s brought us a song called Kids Fun Tune to share with you.

And finally, we have some individual offerings from a couple folks who don’t usually focus on music for children. Michael Askounes wrote a lullaby for his daughter, called Go To Sleep III. And Thalia Black is a mom of three who mostly records pop music, but felt that kids might enjoy Everyday’s A Party.

Where can you get your hands on these delightful songs? On FreeKidsMusic.com, of course.

Dirk Schreurs has composed and arranged over 250 tunes, many of which have found their way not only to the performing stage but also to the realm of radio and television around Western Europe. Next to playing the acoustic piano and electro-acoustic vintage keyboards, he also likes to operate analog synthesizers and modules. Since 1994 Dirk has been a professor of music, teaching piano/keyboards, improvisation theory, ensemble, and jazz methodology at the Jazz Department of the Brussels Royal Conservatory of Music. Nowadays you can find him at jazz clubs, theaters and on festival stages sitting in with The Roman Korolik Group, Chromatic Banana, Scora, and his own trio called DS3. He’s brought us a selection from his Extemporizations album, Extemporizations 4. You’ll find this beautiful solo piano piece at FreeSoloPiano.com

Over the past 5 years, Alexi Murdoch’s music has been quietly engaging a fast-growing audience across the globe. After the unprecedented indie success of a first home-spun EP in 2003, which ultimately sold over 50,000 copies, Murdoch released the critically acclaimed debut album Time Without Consequence through his own label in 2006. Rolling Stone quickly named Murdoch one of that year’s “10 Artists to Watch,” while Interview lauded his “ability to directly communicate a wellspring of deep emotion”. While his songs have been featured in such films as Gone Baby Gone and Garden State, as well as the trailer for Academy Award-nominated foreign film Paradise Now, his work on Away We Go represents the first instance where Murdoch is the primary musical voice of an entire film. A total of eight of Murdoch’s songs are featured in Away We Go which opens, fittingly, with All My Days, also the opening track from Time Without Consequence. The song has also been used in its entirety in the movie’s theatrical trailer, which is already creating a buzz about the film’s music. You’ll find this wonderful song at GreatSongsFree.com

El Patapsco is an instrumental rock band from Baltimore, MD…influenced by the usual suspects like Link Wray, Dick Dale and the Ventures as well as contemporary instrumental bands like Man or Astroman, Laika and the Cosmonauts and The Shadowy Men from a Shadowy Planet. That being said, you can hear plenty of punk, reggae, rockabilly and jazz in their songs. They are also big fans of TV and film scores of all eras and often tinker around with Mancini and Morricone tunes as well as more modern stuff such as the Buffy the Vampire Slayer theme. They’ve brought us the title song from their L.R.D.G. album (Long Range Desert Group).

Wacky Southern Current is Marco Cervellin from Italy who, with a little help from his friend Gianni Garbo, recorded these songs at a farmer’s country house and this calm of the surrounding rural scenery had a lasting effect on the songs. Ageless Calm in Times of War contains references to diverse music genres, but also contemporary ambient sounds. They’ve brought us Watercolour.

These last two instrumental pieces can be found at GreatInstrumentalDownloads.com

For over 26 years, Dave Powers has been a vital part of the Columbus, Ohio music scene as a pianist, keyboardist, and vocalist. Considered one of the most successful musicians in the local spectrum, he manages to win over the hearts of all who hear him perform. Dave performed his rendition of the popular church hymn Be Thou My Vision as part of the popular TV series The Piano Guy, and they’ve brought us this piece to share with you. You’ll find it at FreeSoloPiano.com

Finally, Morning Has Broken by Nat Kerr, who performed this song on The Piano Guy TV series. He’s one of Memphis’ hottest and most well-known keyboard players, and accompanies blues singer, Barbara Blue, during weekly performances at Silky O’Sullivans on world-famous Beale Street in Memphis. The song itself was a popular church hymn which has appeared in hymnbooks for many years…but was also recorded by Cat Stevens in 1971, becoming a top 10 pop hit in the U.S. in 1972. You’ll find this one at GreatInstrumentalDownloads.com

Jeff Herge has been composing New Age music for performance for over 20 years. He’s received a lot of awards and positive reviews. But this is the first time he’s appeared on our site. From his debut, eponymous album, he’s brought us two songs: Autumn Snow and Rain Drops.

And finally, we’ve heard recently from Will O’Donnell. He doesn’t have a web site yet, so we can’t share much about him, but he has offered up 3 delightful pieces to share with you: Almost All The Black Keys, Closing All The Miles and Laura’s Song

All these songs are available for immediate, free download at FreeSoloPiano.com

First up is British singer-songwriter Bethan Marshall. She’s delivered one of the season’s sweetest surprises with her gorgeous acappella version of O Come, O Come Emanuel. Don’t let this one slip past you. And it’s worth noting that that’s just one of 10 tracks on the freely-downloadable album A Zang Christmas. You’ll find the link to the Zang website beside the download links for Bethan’s track.

Next up, Aaron Kane came knocking again. You may remember his beautiful mashup of We Three Kings posted last week. This week, he’s grabbed another track from our site (this time, Solomon Keal’s Away in a Manger) and worked his vocal “mash-magic” once more. Very tasty.

Joel Rakes is a singer-songwriter based out of Philadelphia, and for each of the last 3 Christmas seasons, he’s whipped up a 5-song EP of holiday favorites. He’s sharing two of this year’s songs (Joy to the World and Once in Royal David’s City) on this site. Don’t forget to pop on over to his site and check out the others as well!

Also new on the site is Little Tommy Tingle by Deborah Malena, and I’ll Sing a Song For You (This Christmas) from Douglas Campbell.

Find ‘em all right here: Feels Like Christmas

Tonic Sol-fa is a group of four seriously-hip vocalizers hailing from the upper Midwest. You will not want to miss their acapella rendition of Joy to the World.

David Tolley popped onto the public stage completely by accident. No, seriously…when the scheduled guest pianist didn’t show for The Tonight Show in 1985, Johnny Carson asked for a volunteer from the audience. David’s hand went up, both hands hit the ivories…and the rest (as they say) is history. This guy can play! You may also have seen his guest appearance on PBS’s The Piano Guy. He’s brought us David’s rendition of Carol of The Bells.

Drongomala is a Scotsman who was living in Kerala, India for 2 years recording with Carnatic musicians. His fascinating version of Silent Night was recorded by an interfaith group of singers and musicians there.

Laffy is a collaboration between a critically-acclaimed Hollywood screenwriter and a TV/film score producer. Your kids will want to hear this version of Jingle Bells. But you may want to put a limit on the number of times they are allowed to listen to it per hour in your presence.

You’ll find all this great music (and scores of other great free Christmas music downloads) on FeelsLikeChristmas.com

Sixpence None The Richer is fronted by the lovely Leigh Nash…and its her delicate, lilting voice that sold the world on the radio hit Kiss Me, as well as its followup, There She Goes. It’s our great fortune that she’s also singing the traditional Christmas favorite for us: Angels We Have Heard On High (from their album The Dawn of Grace)

Romeo Spike is fronted by Mike Kunz and Donn Aaron. Perturbed by the hyper-commercialization and shallowness of the holiday season (now evident each year around Halloween), their hip, slightly-spooky tune Christmas Diablo points toward hope of something better for Christmas this year.

These three free song downloads (and many more!) are available now at FeelsLikeChristmas.com

Richard Souther – Richard is a Grammy-nominated composer, producer, arranger, sound designer and multi-keyboardist who has built a strong reputation as a top contemporary solo instrumentalist for over twenty years, creating numerous best-selling albums in the New Age, Smooth Jazz, Electronica and the Classical/Crossover markets…as well as acclaimed recordings for the CCM music scene. He’s brought us beautiful instrumental arrangements of two Christmas favorites: I Wonder As I Wander and The Holly & The Ivy, both from his album Interpretations of the Season.

Mike Hyden – Mike shared a song with us last Christmas: The Loneliest Lonely, which was dedicated to the brave men and women stationed overseas. This year, he’s back with a beautiful love song, called Christmas Eve with You.

You’ll find all three of these wonderful songs at FeelsLikeChristmas.com