Rockers Marillion have added their name to Santa's sack of festive albums, revealing they're close to completing a new holiday release.

Frontman Steve Hogarth made the announcement on the band's website earlier this month (Oct14), explaining the compilation will feature "all the loopy Christmas freebies we have put out in the past" for fan club members.

The untitled album will also feature the band's cover of John Lennon's classic Happy Christmas (War is Over).

Hogarth jokes, "I'll be recording some hammered-dulcimer and maybe a balalaika. Looking forward to that."

Marillion's holiday album will join a crowded Christmas market, which also features new collections from LeAnn Rimes, Earth, Wind & Fire, Seth MACFarlane and Darius Rucker.

Meanwhile, Idina Menzel kicked off the holiday season early on Tuesday (14Oct14) with the release of her new album Holiday Wishes, which features a duet with Michael Buble on Baby, It's Cold Outside and a cover of Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You.