Hello magical friends, and welcome to episode 132: the final episode of 2025! I’m your hostwitch Bess and I hope you’re having a very cozy holiday season.
Today’s episode is dedicated to James, who put in an extra-special request for the Mudbloods Christmas trilogy. So while we’ll be starting off, as is tradition, with “A Very Severus Christmas,” we’re also going to share a full story time today.
But first, of course, we start the season with Muggle Mike’s “A Very Severus Christmas,” the only way to ring in the holidays.
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That was “A Very Severus Christmas” by Muggle Mike, “Happy Christmas” by Horrible Fiction, “The Mandrake’s Carol” from Roonil Wazlib [lyrics], The Sidekicks with “Outside On A Doorstep,” and Muggle Snuggle singing “Oh Voldy Night” [lyrics].
Our Special Correspondent in the Field is here, with their final report of the year. Take it away, DQ!
SCitF DQ: Greetings and salutations to all the members of the wizard rock nation, wherever you are, whoever you are, and whatever holiday you are celebrating or not celebrating as we enter this most festive time of year. this is Special Correspondent in the Field DQ with a look back on all things wizard rock for the year of 2025. In a perfect world, I would grab my time rurner and I would go back and relive every wizard rock moment over and over again. Unfortunately, I don’t have a time turner, so memories will have to do. Actually, I’d like to start recapping this year of wizard rock by looking ahead, because one of my personal favorites that got me really excited for next year is when we started planning for WZRDFest 2.0, along with a dedicated team of talented and creative people, including your hostwitch, the Galleon Guy, and the Bookish Hufflepuff. We are aiming to have an event in Portland, Oregon next May, and there are still details to be worked out, but even with what we have now, I think we are in for an unforgettable weekend of wizard rock, and you can reach out to myself or any of those other people for details about how you can get involved.
While it’s true that wizard rock live performances may not be as abundant as they once were, I think everyone who was present can agree that the Wrock After Dark show that took place in St. Louis during EnchantiCon was one for the books. It’s not often that musicians are expected to put on a show in near total darkness with absolutely no electrical equipment, but wizard rockers have this wonderful way of making things happen no matter what. And while the show may not have been part of the convention proper, if wizard rockers have proved anything over time, it’s when wizard rockers gather in one place, a wizard rock show is inevitable.
One thing wizard rock fans are known for is unique and interesting compilation albums, and we definitely had some of those this year. We had the Wizard Rock Super Awesome Electronic Masquerade Ball Extravaganza put together by myself and Striking Down Diggory. We had the Summer! Of! Fun! compilation organized by your hostwitch which included an incredible zine, and the 2025 Wrock Mix Tape Swap organized by the Galleon Guy, which, as of the release of this episode of WZRD Radio, has yet to come out, so stay excited for that. On a personal level, I would like to say that ever since finding my way into this community, one of my absolute favorite events of every year is the release of the Annual Wizard Rock Sampler, so the fact that I inherited stewardship of this incredible project was something that meant more to me than I can really explain and I hope it came across that I put my heart and my soul into making sure that it was an amazing Sampler. But I can’t take all the credit for that. In fact, I don’t think I can take most of the credit because it could not have happened without the contributions of all of the amazing wizard rockers who made sure that they had something to say on that album. I could go on, but given that it’s the holiday season, you probably have an event to get to or something to prepare for. I know I do. So for now, I would just like to say to all my fellow members of the wizard rock community, thank you for making sure that 2025 was a truly magical year. This is Special Correspondent in the Field DQ saying see you in 2026.
Thank you so much for that incredible retrospective, DQ. What a year we’ve had!
Now it’s time for the James Hinsey Music Block, beginning with “An Epic Christmas Tale, Chapter One” from The Mudbloods.
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That block was a Mudbloods extravaganza, with the Epic Tale trilogy; “Chapter One: How the Thestrals Saved Christmas” [lyrics], “Chapter Two: Murder at the Top of the World,” and “Chapter Three: We Lift Each Other Up.”
December is here and you know what that means, magical friends: Yule Balls. Everyone and their library is hosting one, so make sure your dress robes are pressed and ready!
On December 5th, if you’re in Lakewood, NY, you can attend a “relaxed, festive” Harry Potter Club meeting. [link]
The Harry Potter meetup group in Virginia, the DADA, are hosting their Yule Ball on December 6th in Alexandria, VA. It’s potluck, so prepare for a feast. [link]
Also on the 6th, the Eccentric Englishman in Northamptonshire, UK is hosting a Harry Potter Afternoon Tea. [link]
The Merry Magical Market is back December 12-14th with performances by Tonks & the Aurors and Lauren Fairweather—and it’s online! [link]
A rarity for the fandom—an adults focused Yule Ball—is happening on December 20th in Claremore, OK. [link]
On December 21st, the New York Order of the Phoenix is going Harry Potter Caroling in NYC. And don’t worry, they’re bringing the lyric sheets. [link]
And get excited, magical friends! December 27th we’re going to see the return of the virtual Yule Ball! Keep an eye on WitchWich socials to get details as they’re released.
We had a whole bunch of music come out last month!
Veil Into Black released “Who will forgive our curses?” and “Lycanthropy,” [link] [link]
We got the Wizard Rock Super Awesome Electronic Masquerade Ball Extravaganza. [link]
The Bookish Hufflepuff covered Lauren Fairweather’s “Do What You Love.” [link]
And Striking Down Diggory is at it again with “Wizzy Raps 2.” [link]
All these events and more can be found on the Potterhead Calendar on the WZRD website.
Let’s get back to the music! Here’s “Fallow Fandom Winter” from Fangirl Riot.
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That was Fangirl Riot with “Fallow Fandom Winter” [lyrics], “Seamus & Dean” by Totally Knuts [lyrics], The Hermione Crookshanks Experience with “Dismal Christmas,” and Accio Lumos’ “Accio Christmas.”
And that’s the end of our episode! I want to give a shout-out to Comet for being the first to guess episode 130’s theme of “Moaning Myrtle.” Nicely done!
If you heard your new favorite song, go to the transcript at WZRDRadioPod.com, follow the link, and buy yourself a copy. You’ll get a great new addition to your music collection and a wizard rocker will know they’ve got a fan. And you know what I always say: without our wizard rockers, we wouldn’t be here.
You can support WZRD and the Community Wrock Fund by joining the Patreon at Patreon.com/WZRDRadioPod. There are two, five, and ten dollar tiers that all get the same perks, including early episodes and bonus content, and support the Fund in helping our wizard rockers get their music out there.
You can still guess this episode’s theme on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok at WZRDRadioPod. You can also get in touch by commenting on the transcript or emailing me at WZRDRadioPod@gmail.com.
Until next time, magical friends: Hope you, er, have a good holiday…
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