Polk Records readies local holiday compilation and cheery two-day festival

If the holiday lights hung over Harvard Avenue in Allston and along Central Square in Cambridge didn't get you all rocked out for the season, then Polk Records is here to shove some aural yuletide cheer down your Baileys Irish Cream-coated throat.

Head Polkster Albert Polk is not only throwing Polkfest 4, a 40-band, two-day all-ages local music fest at All Asia Cafe on Dec. 11 and 12, he's also releasing A Very Polk Christmas 1, a 16-track downloadable album of New England bands playing holiday songs. Standout tracks include Andrew Mello and friends doing a tolerable take on Paul McCartney's fairly nauseating "Wonderful Christmastime," Left Hand Does Wham!-img up their own "Last Christmas" and School For Robots channeling Captain Beefheart in convincing us "There Ain't No Santa Claus On The Evening Stage." It's the hap-hap-happiest collaboration since Bing Crosby danced with David fucking Bowie. Other bands taking part include the Points North, Woodrow Wilsons and Polk's own Streight Angular.

Here's Mr. Polk on his fest, which is headlined by Call Of The Drum on Saturday and Night Fruit on Sunday: 

Polkfest 4 will be festival of 40 bands representing the best new music in New England joining together to celebrate music, poetry and art. It will be holiday themed and participants are encouraged to dress up in fancy-Ball Style clothing or Fun Christmas Sweaters. There will be live painting and visuals being projected on bands. There will be comedy and poets. It will be a $5 suggested donation to get in to the show.

The A Very Polk Christmas 1 compilation is available for purchase at the nice price of $whatever you want, via bandcamp. It officially drops tomorrow, but it looks already downloadable. Get into the season.