Old Crow Medicine Show rolls into Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on December 17 with their first-ever Holiday Hootenanny, bringing a fully reimagined seasonal show powered by the band’s rowdy new album, OCMS XMAS. Bassist Morgan Jahnig says fans can expect a one-of-a-kind holiday blowout—new arrangements, festive twists, and the fiery presence of Bronwyn Keith-Hynes—all delivered with Old Crow’s trademark string-band stomp. The album’s lead single, “Corn Whiskey Christmas,” sets the tone with a bootlegger barreling through snowy backroads, captured both in the song’s propulsive bassline and its delightfully gritty video filmed at Santa’s Pub.
The album breaks holiday convention with 11 original songs, stretching from Appalachian roots to Zydeco grooves while staying grounded in the band’s long-running love of American musical traditions. They kept just two covers—“Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Breakin’ Up Xmas”—songs that already felt at home in their world. Another standout moment came from recording “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” alongside students from the Episcopal School of Nashville, a collaboration Jahnig says brought fresh emotional weight to a global peace anthem.
For Old Crow, releasing a Christmas record at the 25-year mark felt like a natural step in their evolution—playful, heartfelt, and true to their roots. The holiday material has energized the band heading into their year-end Ryman shows, where the new songs continue to fuel their momentum. And for Jahnig, the season still comes down to the simple joys: family, food, a spinning record, and maybe a sip of something strong—a personal touch of “Corn Whiskey Christmas” to close out the year.
