We're sending you into the New Year in style with a jam-packed final issue of the year!

With Bruce Springsteen having added Broadway to his list of musical and performance conquests, Hot Press Deputy Editor Stuart Clark casts an eye back over the show's record-breaking run, and the Netflix film its spawned. We also get an insider account of the show itself, and explore how it became a runaway success.

In our Christmas Roundtable, Hot Press invites Musical Messrs. Emma Langford, Jerry Fish, Danny O'Donoghue, Touts' Matthew Crossan, Erica Cody, Dara Quilty and The Murder Capital's James McGovern to the newly opened Hot Press Covers Room for a wide-ranging discussion about the year-that-was.

In our music section, Pat Carty sits down with Damien Dempsey for a frank and honest interview, where they cover Damo's new collaborative album Union, tradition, diversity, Peter Casey, and the Irish tribe. Meanwhile, Paul Nolan catches Guns N'Roses' stunning gig in Hong Kong as they blaze their way through a blistering world tour.

On top of that, Peter McGoran takes an in-depth look at how 2018 became the Year of Irish Hip-Hop. Talking to the likes of Kojaque, Rejjie Snow, Erica Cody, Bobby Basil and Mango X Mathman, we hear from the people who are pushing original forms of music from the fringes to the mainstream in Ireland, and why this country's music has become all the better for it.

Elsewhere in the issue, Bruce Springsteen crops up again, as Pat Carty rounds-up of the 20 Greatest Christmas Songs ever. Some classics, a few dodgy efforts, and one or two outright turkeys feature on this definitive list of Christmas songs. We also have an in-depth interview with Steve Lillywhite, former husband of Kirsty McColl, and producer of 'Fairytale of New York', who gives an insight into the enduring legacy of this song.

In the Hot Press Interview, Jason O'Toole talks to Fianna Fail's young gun Robert Troy. Troy first made headlines in 2016, when during a Dail debate he discussed suffering from anxiety and panic attacks. In his first major national interview, the Longford-Westmeath TD opens up further about his mental health struggles after the last election. He also talks about run-ins with Shane Ross, being 'snubbed' by Leo Varadkar. Plus, he discusses teenage strip-club visits, porn, religion, and drink-driving in his youth.

We also have some substantial Festive Guides for the lead-up to Christmas. On top of of our six page Gift Guide, we've also got a sumptuous Drinks Feature, and we give you an overview of the best in entertainment, gigging and TV & Film for the weeks ahead!

In our film section, Roe McDermott sits down with Hugo Weaving for a thoughtful conversation about new post-apocalyptic film Mortal Engines, as well as talking about his role in Irish famine film Black 47 and the fractious times we live in...

In our book section, we round up the year with our best recommendations. We also speak to widely acclaimed Belfast short story writer Wendy Erskine, who talks us through her contribution to the annual Winter Papers Anthology (one of our top recommendations for a Christmas gift this year).

That's all before mentioning interviews with the likes of Holly Carpenter, Def Leppard's Joe Elliot, The Prodigy's Liam Howlett and rising Irish punk duo Vulpynes. We also bring you all the news, previews and reviews you'd expect of Hot Press, including in-depth looks at new releases from Van Morrison, Earl Sweatshirt, Neil Young and more.

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