It seems like every year, there’s a new song designed to become the next Christmas classic.
In 2023, Cher released “DJ Play a Christmas Song,” a dance party ode to the holiday. Ed Sheeran and Elton John collaborated on the festive, upbeat “Merry Christmas” in 2021. While they can’t all be Lou Monte’s seminal “Dominick the Donkey,” everyone has a Christmas song that’s special to them. And this year, thanks to some talented local musicians, North Forkers have a new tune made just for them.
The Hunkerdowns, a collective of North Fork residents and musicians including Glen Hoffman, singer-songwriter Brady Rymer and Karl Schmitt, have released “Christmas Out East,” a holiday tribute to the North Fork, rife with local references like Whiskey Wind, Briermere, Southold FIsh Market and many others. The song’s music video was produced by Hoffman on the North Fork and includes a drive through the region, with visits to various Christmas tree farms, Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., and even a Broken Down Valise drive-by.
“For the past couple of years, I’ve been doing a holiday tune,” says Hoffman, a creative director with a penchant for songwriting. “Brady Rymer and I often collaborate — I make most of his music videos — and I played [this song] for him and we spun it into this. I’ve always been a fan of the sort-of Celtic vibe, and have been inspired by a [song] by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl called ‘Fairytale of New York.’ She’s one of my hero songwriters and has always inspired me when it comes to holiday music.”
For the video, Hoffman worked with Mike Malkush of North Fork Vintage Cars and North Fork Scavenger Hunts. Malkush provided the video’s vintage meadow green pickup truck riding through North, Oregon and Main Roads, while Malkush’s son, Chris Malkush, of North Fork Designated Driver, helped Hoffman with some pickup shots.
Some of the key locations in the video are places that are special to Hoffman, including Oregon Road, where he first lived when he moved to the North Fork, and Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., which Hoffman has frequented since its original opening weekend in Greenport 15 years ago. The video also features appearances by recognizable local faces such as Greenport Harbor Brewing’s Richard Vandenburgh and Southold Fish Market’s Charlie Manwaring.
The Hunkerdowns first formed as a creative outlet for the trio of musicians to produce music during the Covid lockdown. Their first project, “Shenanigans,” was released in 2020 and is a humorous and sweet song about social distancing during Christmas. Hoffman sings, writes and DJs, Rymer is a three-time Grammy nominee for his children’s music, and Schmitt is a multi-instrumentalist who also sings.
“I’ve always loved the holidays,” says Hoffman. “I have always gotten such a joyous feeling from the season and the lights.”
Listen to the song on Spotify, and watch the music video for “Christmas Out East” below.
