Our parents have bought us all sorts of great gifts over the years, getting us everything from that first bike to the money we used to buy our first album, but when it comes time to return the favour, they can be seriously hard to shop for.
If they’re music lovers though, things become a bit easier, as there are some really cool music-themed gifts out there that’ll give you a warm fuzzy feeling to see unwrapped by your folks on Christmas Day.
From the ideal festival experience, to a bunch of records they’ll love, here are some of our favourite ideas for ideal Chrissy presents for any music-loving parents this year.
A relaxing music festival getaway in wine country
Whether they like country or blues, Crossroads in the Vines has the perfect festival for the older crowd
If you’d like to send your folks away for a day of music festival fun, but they’re a bit too old to be rapping along to Future at Listen Out, then Crossroads in the Vines is exactly what you’re after.
You know how your parents probably wondered for ages what exactly the difference was between Pokemon Red and Blue, and which one it was you actually wanted? Well, Crossroads in the Vines is a bit like that, as it actually gives you a ‘Country’ version and a ‘Blues’ version, each bringing some of their genres’ biggest names to Australia’s picturesque wine country.
First up, Crossroads Country in the Vines boasts multi-platinum ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ singer (and Miley dad) Billy Ray Cyrus leading the charge, along with country icons like Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers, Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole, and a host of others on March 24, 2018.
If your folks are blues fans though, Crossroads Blues in the Vines is the one, with 7-time Grammy Award winner and U.S. blues guitar legend Buddy Guy joined by an assortment of local and international legends like Ian Moss, Mia Dyson, Diesel, Russell Morris and more on February 10.
Both of them bring great music and the boutique festival experience to the Roche Estate right in the middle of NSW’s Hunter Valley wine region, so if your parents enjoy a nice drop and some gourmet food, even better.
Tickets to both festival are on sale now, and you can find out more here
Action Bronson’s ‘Fuck, That’s Delicious’ cook book
Rapper action Bronson is also a mean chef
Are your folks still whipping up recipes from ancient clippings taken from Women’s Weekly and Reader’s Digest back when Princess Diana was on the cover every week? Might be time to update their shelf with something a bit more modern, like rapper and chef Action Bronson’s new cook book, based on his hit Viceland TV series.
If your parents are into hip hop, that’ll probably help, but Bronson’s show is actually wildly entertaining even if you don’t care a bit about rap, and the recipes are just ridiculously satisfying goodness sourced from all over the world during his travels. The book was written together with acclaimed food writer Rachel Wharton, so between the two of them they definitely know what they’re doing – check it out here.
Britney Spears on vinyl… or a vinyl club subscription
Whether they like Britney or U2, there are some great new vinyl records out
Okay, maybe this one’s a little outside the box… but deep down your parents probably miss hearing ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ belting out of your room non-stop when you were younger, so why not get them something that’ll have them feeling all nostalgic, but also sits nicely between ‘The Beatles’ and ‘Bob Dylan’ in their record collection, like the first ever vinyl version of Britney’s debut album?
If you’d rather get them something that’ll be more of a safe bet, however, there are some really great records being reissued in shiny box sets at the moment, like U2’s ‘Super Deluxe Edition’ of Joshua Tree that comes with a load of great extras, or the career-spanning Midnight Oil box set so big, it’s packaged up in its own water tank.
And if you have no idea and just want to let someone else do the choosing for you, a subscription to a service like Vinyl Me, Please will have a fresh record showing up on your folks’ doorstep every month, and the option to swap the album out if they’d rather get something from the archive – not bad at all.
This sweet Bluetooth speaker from Marshall
What oldie wouldn’t want to play their music through this baby?
Sometimes new tech like portable speakers can be a little bit intimidating, so if your parents would take one look at a UE Boom and give up, maybe this incredible vintage-looking Bluetooth speaker from Marshall might be a better option – especially if they can’t get their Bluetooth working, and just want to plug the built-in cable into their phone.
Taking on the classic form of a vintage Marshall amp, the Kilburn isn’t just pretty to look at, as by all accounts the audio pros have made sure that the speaker belts out the sort of impressive sound you’d expect of the brand, with reviews regularly nearing the five star mark from critics and fans.
And seriously, wouldn’t it just be great to unwrap this bad boy on Christmas? Check it out here.
Music-themed booze
Beer is at least 50% better with a band logo on it
Because what else is Christmas but an excuse for families everywhere to get a bit tipsy around each other – and it’s a scientifically-proven fact that alcohol tastes at least 20% better when a band you like is getting a share of the profits.
Every ageing rocker has their name on their favourite type of beer or spirit, from the classic AC/DC lager and the Iron maiden Trooper Ale, to Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar with his Beach Bar Rum, and even blonde brothers Hanson have their own beer, which is of course called ‘Mmmhops’.
Sure, it might take a bit of extra effort to get these shipped to your door compared to grabbing a sixer of Fat Yak from the Dan Murphy’s down the road, but the effort is probably worth it for any die-hard fans just for the sheer novelty.
