Interview: Jeffery Straker Releases ‘A Very Prairie Christmas,’ a Tender Holiday Album Full of Warmth and Wonder

Saskatchewan-born singer-songwriter Jeffery Straker shares A Very Prairie Christmas, a 12-song recording shaped by nearly a decade of his beloved annual holiday shows. Blending nostalgic classics, intimate arrangements, and Straker’s signature piano-driven storytelling, the album captures the way Christmas memories evolve while still holding their magic.

“When I was selecting these songs, I had the benefit of having performed my annual holiday show for nine years,” Straker explains. “Listeners enjoyed my originals, but it was clear that the classic Christmas tunes were important and needed to be included. Folks have so many memories attached to those songs. If there was a thought bubble over everyone’s head in the auditorium – with a little movie-of-memories playing while we performed – each song would be different for everyone.”

After years of fans asking at the merch table whether a Christmas album existed, Straker finally set out to record one, naming the project after his long-running shows. The entire album was recorded and produced in Saskatchewan with a cast of local musicians. Sessions took place in July and August, with summer heat outside and a Christmas tree set up inside his living room-turned-studio. “It was fascinating how the songs immediately transported us into full festive mode,” he says. “These songs were all I needed to virtually hang some holly and lights around my house.”

The album’s focus track, “Holly Jolly Christmas,” is a long-standing audience favourite from Straker’s annual show. Written by holiday hitmaker Johnny Marks and made famous by Burl Ives, the song shines with bright, nostalgic cheer. “It’s like the flashing coloured lights on a Christmas tree,” Straker says. “I don’t think Christmas is complete without this song and its spirit-lifting powers.”

The recorded version reflects the full-band energy of his hometown holiday show, featuring a 10-piece ensemble – upright piano, drums, upright bass, mandolin, acoustic guitar, two violins, saxophone, trumpet, and two backing singers. “It’s short, sweet, and pure Christmas magic,” Straker says. “The message is simple: it’s Christmastime, so be happy and celebrate it.”

1. What did you enjoy most about the creation of this new release?
The process of making this new recording was pretty fun for me in that we did it all in my hometown of Regina SK, with much of it done in my living room using my old upright piano for the piano tracks. And in addition to that, I had my good friend and long time side-guitar player, Bryn Besse, engineer and produce the majority of it. We got to do it at our own pace at my house, not worrying about a clock ticking in a studio and getting to muck around and try different ideas until we found what works best. It was really relaxing. It’s a Christmas album that we made in July and August in peak summer heat. So we set up a tree to give us some holiday vibes and a way we went. I totally enjoyed the experience.

2. Share a nugget of advice that has resonated with you most over the years.
Perseverance is one of the main keys to success in the music industry. I was actually told this at a musician meet-up by folk-music icon Sylvia Tyson many many years ago. She said, “Keep on going even when the going gets really tough – most people just can’t hack it”. I remember the conversation so vividly because she was just so matter-of-fact about it. As it turns out, she was really right. The music business is a really funny business in that there are so many walls you run up against quite constantly. I think the ratio I’ve (unscientifically) determined is that for every “yes” you receive you’ll have received nine “no’s”. It’s about a one to 10 ratio lol and I’m not even joking. Sylvia was right and I would tell that to anybody looking to get into this wacky world of music creation and touring.

3. Who would be your dream artist/band to co-headline a tour with?
Dolly Parton. Dream big they say!

4. What sets your music apart from others in your genre?
As a singer-songwriter in the folk-roots genre there aren’t a lot of piano players around. I’m a guy at the keyboard singing my original songs and it’s just not that common for listeners to encounter keyboard players these days vs the guitar playing troubadours. My piano style is unique too in that it’s a little bit honky tonk influenced.

5. Tell us what your favourite song is at the moment and why.
I’ve been listening to Joni Mitchell’s ‘Both Sides Now’ from the 2000 album with the same title. The orchestra was arranged by Vince Mendoza and the album deservingly won two Grammys. On this recording her voice had aged and had some gravity to it that to me her original 1969 release of the song didn’t have. Her voice was so young and pure sounding in 1969 that it almost didn’t seem to carry the song as well as this later 2000 version does. Both are gorgeous of course. I just find the 2000 recording even more gorgeous.