Welcome, welcome, one and all, to the third and final part of the Wizrocklopedia’s Wizard Rock Six Month Report for July – December, 2020! Check out parts one and two as well for even more releases. It’s been an outstanding six months for wizard rock and I’m so happy to have had you along on the ride! To quote Grace Kendall, “I love you all!” I can’t wait to see what 2021 holds for the community (several albums have already been announced—plus an incredible new Compilation Club project from the ‘Pedia and the Wizard Rock Sampler!!!).

Before we jump into the final set of new releases and rereleases, I’d love to offer some stats for y’all. Over the past six months, there have been 49 new releases in the wizard rock community, totaling more than 220 songs! In addition, 31 old albums and EPs have been rereleased to a new audience, containing some 200 songs! Believe me when I tell you that there are many more rereleases to come in the Wizrocklopedia’s Gringotts vault…and many more new releases too!

All that is pretty darn impressive, y’all! With all this activity happening and so much extraordinary new music coming out, don’t let anybody tell you that wizard rock is dead. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Wizard rock is alive and well. We aren’t going anywhere, and neither is the fandom. Let’s wrock on into the future, y’all!

Ready? Heeeeere we go!

September 21: Malfoy Manor – What is Right and What is Easy reissued EP: Bandcamp

Split Seven Ways had an electronica side project called Malfoy Manor! Zoë from S7W rereleased MM’s second EP in September, with all proceeds going to the UK charity Gendered Intelligence. Dark, lyrical and utterly splendid!

September 28: Slytherin-Dubs – “Dark Magic:” Bandcamp

Another single from wizard rock’s current dubstep master! This one is super creepy (in the best way possible!) and uses samples of Dueling Club and wolf howls along with a razor-sharp beat.

September 28: Slytherin-Dubs – “Dark Magic [VIP]:” Bandcamp

On the same day as “Dark Magic,” Slytherin-Dubs also released a different mix of the song (I actually like this one better than the non-VIP version!). Can you hear the differences???

September 30: Totally Knuts – “Brian and Jill:” YouTube

As you may have heard, in August, Brian Ross and Jill Sebacher moved to Florida from Malfoy Manor, their longtime home/concert venue in Rhode Island. Totally Knuts penned this tribute to their community-building, set to the tune of “My Dad is Rich!”

Sometime in September: Various Artists – Beyond Magic: Songs from the HPA Internet Club album: not publicly available

This compilation from the Harry Potter Alliance isn’t currently available to the public, but I’m told that it includes exclusive new songs by Pottörhead, Sonorus, Flitwick and the Charmers and more! If you’ve heard it, please let us know what you think of it!!! A tracklist can be found here.

October 2: Various Artists – Rocking Out Against Voldemedia reissued album: Bandcamp

This memorable compilation about media consolidation was originally released in 2007 by the Harry Potter Alliance. It features exclusive and wrocking songs by Gred and Forge, Catchlove, Roonil Wazlib and many more timeless musicians! CW: The album contains a song by the Remus Lupins, included for historical completeness.

October 2: Edgar and the Family Bones – A Change is Gonna Come reissued EP: Bandcamp

Beloved wizard rocker Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls had a side project called Edgar and the Family Bones! We were stoked to rerelease their one and only EP on October 2. The rerelease includes 2 never-before-heard tracks that complete the EP’s darkly electronic sound.

October 9: Draco and the Malfoys – Boggarts in the Closet album: Bandcamp

Draco and the Malfoys compiled a bunch of rare songs and deep cuts into this album (including some never-before-heard tracks!). DatM doesn’t have any new music, but check out Brian’s new Star Wars album and Bradley’s new ICP mashup single if you want new content from the half-brothers!

October 11: Various Artists – Transfiguration: A Wrock Comp for Trans Rights album: Bandcamp

This terrific compilation, released in response to JK Rowling’s bigoted TERFery, includes songs from Grace Kendall, Tonks and the Aurors, Aguamenti and many more wrocking musicians—as well as several hard-hitting poems! All proceeds from the album go to the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition and Camp Lilac!

October 16: Luna Wants a Longbottom – ‘You’re Just as Sane as We Are!’ reissued album: Bandcamp

This British band never got the attention it should have for its one and only album! Featuring songs in a variety of different styles and from many different perspectives, it’s an unjustly forgotten gem that we’re so glad to introduce to today’s wrock fans!

October 18: Neville’s Diary – Floo Fighters EP: Bandcamp

This much anticipated EP by Neville’s Diary is their first new music in 9 years! Flawless Foo Fighters parodies, reinterpreted from Neville Longbottom’s viewpoint—what’s not to love? The EP is an emotional journey into Neville’s mind and features incredible songwriting and musicianship alike.

October 30: Dots and Lines – “Great Hall Bats:” YouTube

Congratulations to recent Yes All Witches Grant winner Dots and Lines! This release, their first song since winning the grant and their first non-parody tune, is a magical explanation of just how the Great Hall is full of bats on Halloween! The images in the lyrics linger long after the song finishes.

October 31: Luna (Not) Lovegood – Songs of a Slytherin album: iTunes | Spotify | Website | YouTube

New wizard rock artist Luna (Not) Lovegood exploded onto the scene on Halloween with her debut album! Slytherin love songs? Magnificent storytelling? Impeccable musicianship? It’s all here, and a whole lot more besides!

November 1: Les Barnabas Cuffe – 20 balais de la Gazette du Sorcier – Enregistrement live EP: Soundcloud

On Soundcloud, French wizard rock band Les Barnabas Cuffe released the recording of their concert at the 20^th anniversary celebration of la Gazette du Sorcier, a French HP fansite! If you like witty acoustic wrock songs in French, this is for you! CW: the last track is a song by Alex Carpenter.

November 2: The Hinky Punks – “I Can’t Breathe:” iTunes | Spotify | YouTube

This most recent single by the Hinky Punks, originally included on the 2020 Wizard Rock Sampler, to me conjures images of Ginny’s longing for Harry as she’s stuck in the Burrow in book 7. It’s a beautiful song!

November 6: The Hermione Crookshanks Experience – How to Write with a Feather reissued album: Bandcamp

This classic full-length album has long been out of print (far too long!). We at the ‘Pedia were absolutely stoked to bring it to light once again! If you like minimalist pop songs with lilting vocals and perfectly on-point character-driven lyrics—this is for you!

November 6: Creevey Crisis – Silence Fell Between EP: Bandcamp

Creevey Crisis did something a little different for this, their third release of the year (WOW)! Russ reinterpreted some of his older songs as live acoustic sessions—and included a brand-new song as the title track! The songs all work incredibly well in their acoustic renditions, even though they’re all so different from the originals.

November 20: Bella and the Deatheaters – Even Deatheaters Need Love (with bonus tracks) reissued album: Bandcamp

Bella and the Deatheaters released one EP back in 2007, along with several singles subsequently. This ‘Pedia rerelease contains all of it! Insightfully written in character from the perspective of Bellatrix Lestrange, these songs will get you wondering what was really going on in her head all along…

November 22: Candle Wix – “Diagon Alley in the Time of Covid-19 (A Cappella Demo):” Google Drive

November’s Bertie Botts Every Flavor Jam theme was “Diagon Alley.” I submitted this demo of a very topical song about how Diagon Alley might look during the current pandemic. Best listened to back-to-back with Ludo Bagman and the Trash’s “Wizard Quarantine!”

November 25: Totally Knuts – “Diagon Alley:” YouTube

Also for the November Bertie Botts challenge, Totally Knuts covered Tonks and the Aurors’ song “Diagon Alley!” I just love their interpretation of it!

November 30: Bradley Mehrenbacher – “(Wizard Rock) Homies:” YouTube

Bradley from Draco and Malfoys has a silly ukulele tutorial YouTube channel. This tune from the channel is a mashup/parody of Insane Clown Posse’s “Homies” that includes some wickedly funny commentary on JK Rowling’s TERFiness and the wizard rock community! Noice.

November 30: Grace Kendall – “Quiet Night:” YouTube

Bertie Botts organizer (and all-around ridiculously awesome person) Grace Kendall covered a song by Diagon Alley for the November theme! Want to submit a creative project yourself? The January theme is “divination!”

December 4: The Quaffle Kids – Bludgers and Broomsticks reissued album: Bandcamp

Written and played with heart, humor and in many different musical styles (including several hilarious parodies!), this fantastic 2007 album by the Quaffle Kids has long been out of print. The songwriting and musicianship in this album should be an inspiration to today’s wrockers!

December 23: Ludo Bagman and the Trash – A Very Merry Bagmas Vol. 3 EP: Bandcamp

What a delight this EP is! A super smooth and swinging EP about Bagmas: you know, Christmas for bags & Ludo Bagman! It’s such fun—and also features Brian from Draco and the Malfoys on bass!

December 24: Voldi and the Morts – Voldis knorke XMESS Banger album: Bandcamp

The silly and utterly fun debut album by this Austrian group, inspired by the HP fan podcast Fanatical Fics and Where to Find Them, contains various parodies of well-known Christmas songs, rewritten from the perspective of many different HP characters and fanfic viewpoints. These songs both make me laugh and make me think, a great combination on any day of the year!

December 27: First Person SINGular – “A Snow Falls Soft:” Bandcamp

For the December Bertie Botts theme, Mermanda from the band Muggle Snuggle covered this classic Hawthorn & Holly tune as her solo project, First Person SINGular! Featuring instruments like mandolin, bass xylophone and lyre harp, this cover brings a whole different level of beauty to the song.

Aaaaaand that is a wrap, folks! I have no words—just an infinitude of heart emojis for everyone in the community. Once again, if you read to the end, we’ve got a surprise! To celebrate the amazing creations of the wrock community this year, we’re hosting a BandCamp gift card giveaway! Just comment on any one of these 6-month round up posts with your favorite release of the year. (One comment per person, please!) The winner will be announced on January 10! I greatly look forward to reading all of your comments.

LET IT WROCK.