The Barbican gathered a number of artists together to celebrate the darker side, or shall we say, hidden meaning of Christmas. They did not praise the bling bling fake joviality of the season but took a long look underneath today’s yuletide traditions and brought a dark evening of performances, featuring their own versions of Christmas songs of the past, present, and future. Dazed Digital rounded up Patrick Wolf, Bonfire Madigan, Sandy Dillon, The Smoke Fairies and Daniel Knox for some Christmas chat.

DD: Have you been in a festive mood?
Daniel Knox: You know, I still work at the movie theatre and we do a holiday show… Have the time I come home to the kid and she’s all excited and that’s what’s great about them but when I go to the outside world and wade though the people, decorations and all of that business, I have no use for it. It’s like I see both sides of the coin… but once you start doing the maths, it becomes a problem.
Bonfire Madigan: I am keen to bring the contrast, you know, this time is about the shorter days and the longer nights, and the solstice, and I respond to this very animal and physical level… I mean, this season has become all about consumerism and fight terrorism and fix the economy with your consumer power (laughs) but that’s a JOKE.
Patrick Wolf: Yeah, I am enjoying the Christmas cheer in London, yes, and I went to see my auntie and she asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I asked for me and my man to get married and a bottle of rum. (laughs).
The Smoke Fairies: We’ve been writing our Christmas songs and dressing up as elves!

DD: What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear ‘Christmas’?
Daniel Knox: You’ll have to give me a moment… (laughs).
Sandy Dillon: GOD!
Bonfire Madigan: Oh Gosh….(laughs). …Ok…. ‘Intentional family’.
The Smoke Fairies: Christmas trees!
Patrick Wolf: Mulled wine!

DD: New Year’s resolution?
Daniel Knox: (Laughs) Keep last year’s resolution, whatever that was.
Sandy Dillon: I’ll have to say: stay off the fags…
The Smoke Fairies: That’s a tricky one. Maybe, uhm, taking up kickboxing… but it may not happen.
Bonfire Madigan: Get my new studio album out, let it go! (laughs). It’s done, it’s in the world.
Patrick Wolf: A Grammy (laughs).

DD: Whom would you kiss under the mistletoe?
Daniel Knox: That would be my girlfriend.
Sandy Dillon: Definitely, my husband.
The Smoke Fairies: Father Christmas.
Bonfire Madigan: Aaahhh! A dream kiss?? Oh these questions are fun. Hmm, Maybe Katy Perry, to see if she really likes it. I wanna know if she’s telling us the truth.
Patrick Wolf: My beautiful husband… well, one day (laughs)… when he sorts himself out, you know?

DD: Favourite Christmas food and drink?
Daniel Knox: Pumpkin pie, it’s always around – and hot chocolate.
Sandy Dillon: I hate Christmas food! Errr… brandy?! (laughs).
Bonfire Madigan: Mulled wine and minced pies. Are they vegetarian? 
The Smoke Fairies: Yes, minced pies and mulled wine.
Patrick Wolf: Ok, mulled wine… no…no…I’m an alcoholic (laughs) so Baileys… the White Russian … 1 part vodka, 1 part Baileys, 1 part Kahlúa… it is niiiice. And Christmas pudding by my grandma, from Ireland. If she was alive, she’d send it from Cork… yes, delicious.