CLYDEBANK musician and songwriter Graham Holley is making a bid for the Christmas number one spot with his release of his song Very Merry Christmas.

He says he has produced the single in a style that evokes the best Christmas songs of the past – Wizzard, Slade, Mud, Shaking Stevens and many more.

For Graham, it’s second time around, having already released it last year but was too late in December for any real impact to be made.

Graham told the Post: “I’m trying to do a better job of it this time.”

The song is available on Apple Music, Amazon and Spotify to buy or stream.

“Sadly it’s not a charity song as musicians are in need of a little charity themselves”, added the singer/songwriter.

Graham, 50, who is married with two children, does around 150 gigs per year and has incorporated it into his set list when he plays clubs and bars, and it seems to be going down pretty well. He even caught his six-year-old son Jack singing it while he was waiting in the queue at the bank recently.

Graham explained: “I originally wrote and produced the song as part of a university project and people liked it so much that I was encouraged to release it as a single.”

Graham is in third year at the University of West of Scotland, studying music and preparing to do honours next year.

Married to Darice, the Clydebank couple have one other child, Sophie, 13.

He combines his university studies with being a full-time musician, and takes part in regular gigs in the Clydebank area, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and is preparing to release a band in March 2018, with his backing band Stateside.

Graham added: “I was formerly working in insurance and accountancy and four of five years ago I decided to have a change of lifestyle and put my musical talents to use. I had played in bands previously, but now it is all taking off. I have a busy schedule planned over the festive period.”