Will Riding: ‘My Duvet Knows It’s Christmas’
(IMAGE CREDIT: WINNIE AT WOWSERS PHOTOGRAPHY)
Chester songwriter Will Riding has long been a champion of the city’s grassroots scene. Whether hosting open mics, lending support to local festivals, or sharing stages with visiting artists, he’s one of those steady presences who keeps the circuit alive.
This December, Riding turned inward with a track that’s been waiting decades to be written. ‘My Duvet Knows It’s Christmas’ is out now on Bandcamp, released on a pay‑what‑you‑like basis…A gesture that reflects his DIY ethos and commitment to accessibility.
He explains: “My Duvet Knows It’s Christmas is a line that has been bouncing around my head annually for nigh on forty years. It’s actually more of an exorcism than a songwriting exercise. Nigel Blackwell rightly noted ‘It’s clichéd to be cynical at Christmas’, but open your curtains, look outside, watch the news, check your socials; it’s all a bit grubby. The best we can do is fight our own little battles, sing between the showers and scrabble round for positives. Cling to those moments of pleasure like limpets.”
The song captures that tension perfectly: humour and honesty wrapped together, a reminder that Christmas isn’t all sparkle. It’s about holding on to the small joys, even when the world outside feels heavy.
For Circl8 followers, Riding’s release isn’t just another seasonal single. It’s the work of a musician who has spent years nurturing Chester’s grassroots, giving back to the scene that shaped him, and now offering a track that feels both personal and communal.
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That’s it for the blog for 2025. We’ll be back in the first week of January with a 2026 gig preview for the region.
Until then, and from all of us at Circl8, we wish you and your loved one a very merry christmas and a happy new year.
