If you’ve got a music lover in your life you need to buy for, congratulations! You just got a nice easy deal when it comes to Christmas gifts as there are SO many different, cool things you can buy across all budgets! At the same time, it can be a bit overwhelming where to start! As a music loving couple, there are always lots of music related gifts under the tree. So below we’ve shared some inspiration for when you’re out of ideas.
There’s no financial incentive for us here, we’re just sharing things we’ve gifted each other in the past.
New speakers/headphones to improve their sound experience
Universally appealing and requiring no knowledge of what their record collection looks like, an audio upgrade is always much appreciated by the music lover. The beauty of this is you can really go as big or small as you like when it comes to spending.
While we don’t have the money to spend thousands on speakers, we love JBL’s range of portable Bluetooth speakers. I got Ian the JBL Charge 4 three or four years ago and it still sounds impeccable and the battery life is fantastic. The Charge 5 tends to sit between £120-£130.
On the stocking filler end of the spectrum, I got him the Tribit Audio Stormbox Micro 2 last year for around £50, which is lightweight and portable yet still packs a punch. JBL also does the neat keyring speaker series – Go – for around £35 in different colours.
While Ian doesn’t really use on-ear headphones, my dad loves them and I recently upgraded his really old Sony pair to a newer model. I tend to just go for the latest iteration of their Bluetooth ones, which sit around £30-£40 and offer a really rich sound with plenty of bass for the price.
Physical Records/CDs – but get creative
Buying records as a gift is always risky, unless you have full access to their ever-expanding catalogue. However, buying them a limited or signed edition of an album is generally a safe bet as no record collector will turn down a unique additional version of an LP they already own.
Follow Blood Records on X to see what their latest drops are, as they do some really cool entirely unique designs. But you have to be quick.
Alternatively, check for band signings at record stores and see if the record store website offers personalised signing orders for delivery. I recently ordered a personally signed copy of Midas by Wunderhorse from Banquet. Also check stock in a record store after a gig or signing has happened, as they will often have any leftovers in the shop.
DVD/Blu Rays of band’s live performances or documentaries
Many acts from the 90s and 00s have tour DVDs and documentaries which can be a great stocking filler and collectible item. Offering nostalgia or a unique backstage insight into a band in their hay day, they were popular during the late 90s and 00s. Acts have started to do this again, particularly as many are doing big comeback tours. We recently got the tour DVD of Blur’s Wembley Stadium gig we were at. It’s even better if the recipient was at the gig/tour when the filming took place!
Setlist/tour prints of a memorable gig/festival
If you go to as many gigs as us, they might start to blur into one, but there will also be that handful of special ‘can’t believe we were there’ ones whose memories still send a pleasant shiver down your spine.
If you went to a really memorable or iconic gig together, a poster or print of that gig can look really classy on the wall when framed. I got Ian a print of Blur’s Wembley 2023 gig, as it was such an electric atmosphere and a gig that will stay with us forever. You can often also find tour setlist prints on band’s merch stores. Alternatively, if your wall space is more packed than a nightclub toilet, a tour t-shirt is always an option.
A really cool, unique gift I got for Ian on Etsy was an illustration of us at a festival. I sent the seller a photo of us at Glastonbury and she turned it into a really cool print of us watching Coldplay together.
Also, shoutout to Alce Harfield who does amazing paintings of Glastonbury sets. I bought her A Sky Full of Stars a few years ago and then won a competition for her True Colours print. She also does cups, tea towels and cushions and is completely independent and resides in Glastonbury.
Autobiography or book by one of their favourite artists
This isn’t necessarily something for someone who’s only into emerging acts, but for those who love some of the older bands (anything 00s or older) then there’s usually an autobiography or book that can make a great stocking filler. Last year, I got Ian Marr’s Guitars (Johnny Marr) and he’s just bought himself (tut tut) The Lyrics by Paul McCartney.
Not only do they look great on a bookshelf, but it’s also nice to read a physical book when switching off, rather than reading an online article riddled with ads while being interrupted by social app notifications!
Gig or festival tickets somewhere new
I know gig tickets might seem an obvious present for a music lover, but rather than buying tickets to see an act in your hometown, why not look somewhere in Europe with cheap flights? There are so many gigs and tours being announced right now it’s hard to keep up, and acts that sell out in the UK may not be as popular elsewhere. It’s a great way to incorporate a city break and gig into one trip. Ian did this for my birthday in 2024; he took me to see Olivia Rodrigo in Antwerp (as UK tickets were impossible to get!) and we got to see Brussels and Ghent within the same trip!