May 2019 | Folk Roots Radio

Folk Roots Radio Episode 453: feat. Steve Poltz & More New Releases

May 31 2019

Singer-songwriter and humourist Steve Poltz is back on Folk Roots Radio. Steve joins us on Episode 453 to chat about his latest album “Shine On”, which was recorded in Nashville with Will Kimbrough. He’s also back out on the festival circuit again this summer, including some dates in Canada. A fabulous live performer, you’ll be entranced, even if you’re not completely familiar with his music. Steve Poltz is always great fun to talk to you – we’re fairly sure you’re really going to enjoy this one. Alongside the interview, we also check out more new releases, and this time round it’s new music from Bob Sumner, Meg Tennant, The Gloaming, Jean-Paul De Roover, Gabrielle Papillon, Irish Mythen and JW-Jones. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 452: feat. Whiskey Jack & More New Releases

May 31 2019

Whiskey Jack have been making music together for over 40 years. Band leader and banjo player, Duncan Fremlin, joins us on Episode 452 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about the band, and their experience on the road with Stompin’ Tom Connors, as his tour band. Since Stompin’ Tom’s death in 2013, Whiskey Jack have been keeping his songs and legacy alive with a tribute show “Stories & Songs of Stompin’ Tom”. Chatting with Duncan was great fun, and it’s a great interview – and definitely worth sticking around for. As usual, we also check out more of the latest new releases, and this time around it’s new music from Villages, The Maes, Jay Gavin And The Tired Sunday Choir, Mike Klein, Jean-Paul De Roover and David Kaufman. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 451: feat. Lydia Persaud & More New Releases

May 23 2019

Episode 451 of Folk Roots Radio features an interview with Toronto’s Lydia Persaud who joins us to chat about her first full-length solo album “Let Me Show You”. A member of both the wonderful Toronto female vocal trio The O’Pears and renowned cover band, Dwayne Gretzky, you’ll be able to catch Lydia Persaud live this summer at both the Hillside Festival (July 12-14) at Guelph Lake ON and the Home County Music & Arts Festival (July 19-21) in London ON. It’s a great interview – well worth sticking around for. We also check out new music from Bob Sumner, Leaf Rapids, Kevin Breit, David Grier, Dwayne Gretzky, Midnight Shine and Del Barber. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 350: Cathy Hutch In The Studio

May 23 2019

New Brunswick’s Cathy Hutch joins us in the studio on Episode 450 of Folk Roots Radio for a wonderful in-depth conversation about her music and some live songs. A wonderful bluesy singer-songwriter, she’s also comfortable in folk, country and rock. So settle down and enjoy Cathy Hutch live in the studio on Folk Roots Radio. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 449: feat. Leanne Hoffman & More New Releases

May 18 2019

Halifax based singer-songwriter Leanne Hoffman has just released a fabulous new folk/pop album “What Remains”. Her debut as a solo performer, the new album was produced by Erin Costelo, who also co-wrote a couple of the songs on the new recording. Leanne joins us on Episode 449 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about her music, alongside four tracks from the new album. We also check out new releases from Steve Murphy, Tim Moxam, Mattie Leon, Lucas Choi Zimbel, April Verch and Pretty Archie. Check out the full playlist below.

May 17 2019

Khalid Yassein from Toronto’s folk-pop band Wild Rivers is our special guest on Episode 448 of Folk Roots Radio. After two album releases and a couple of singles, the Toronto-based band are really gaining traction, and have already developed a loyal fan base. They’ve just been touring Western Canada with Matt Andersen and his band, and this summer, they’ll be playing the wonderful Hillside Festival (July 12-14), at beautiful Guelph Lake, just outside Guelph ON. We check out their latest single “Moving Target”, plus two tracks from their 2018 E.P. “Eighty Eight”. We also take a look at more of the new releases we’ve received and this time around we include new music from Merival, Geneviève Racette, Our Native Daughters (Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Leyla McCalla, Allison Russell), Irish Mythen, RUNA, Michelle Rumball, Manx Marriner Mainline (feat. Harry Manx and Steve Marriner), Bryan McPherson and Onion Honey. Check out the full playlist below.

Steve Poltz - Shine On - Folk Roots Radio Interview

May 17 2019

Halifax-born, San Diego raised and now Nashville based singer/songwriter and humourist Steve Poltz returns to Canada on tour again this May. A fantastic live performer – you’ll be entranced, even if you’re not completely familiar with his music. Steve Poltz will also be stopping by the Ottawa Bluesfest (July 4), Mariposa Folk Festival (July 5), Calgary Folk Festival (July 26) and Trout Forest Music Festival (August 9) this summer. Steve Poltz released his latest album “Shine On” earlier this year. The new album was recorded in Nashville with Will Kimbrough and features 10 new songs, including co-writes with Scot Sax, Molly Tuttle and Anthony Da Costa. As usual for a Steve Poltz recording, the album is replete with whimsy and quirky humour but also some beautiful songwriting, with songs about hope, love, contemplation, a celebration of Wednesdays, pharmacists and what windows would say to each other if they could actually talk. To learn more about the new album, we’re pleased to welcome Steve Poltz back to Folk Roots Radio. For more information on all Steve Poltz upcoming tour dates, visit poltz.com. Music: Steve Poltz “Pharmacist”, “4th July”, “Windows of Halifax”, “Shine On” from “Shine On” (2019, Red House Records / Compass Records).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 447: feat. Pete Eastmure & More New Releases

May 10 2019

Pete Eastmure joins us on Episode 447 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his latest album “Keep Your Love Steady”, a pedal steel drenched vintage Americana recording with a wonderful Texas swing that is sure to bring a smile to your face and get your toes tapping. Also check out our new music from Geneviève Racette, Abigail Lapell, Còig, RUNA, Richard Garvey, The Co-Conspirators, Ken Dunn and Kete Bowers. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 446: In Conversation with... Dave Sills

May 10 2019

We’re giving the whole of Episode 446 of Folk Roots Radio to an in-depth conversation with singer-songwriter, severe weather scientist and social activist Dave Sills, who has just released a wonderful debut album, “Fifty”. Dave Sills was a musical guest on my Guelph focused show Royal City Rag several times over the years. Dave joined us in the Folk Roots Radio studio to chat about the weather, storm-chasing, climate change and making his first album at the age of fifty – alongside a selection of tracks from the new album. Check out the full playlist below.

Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage - Hidden Things - Folk Roots Radio Interview

May 07 2019

Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage came together as a duo after a chance meeting at their local folk club, the Black Fen Folk Club, in Cambridge, England. Their music is deceptively simple, just two beautiful voices with accompaniment from mountain dulcimer, dobro and guitar – intimate duets around a single microphone, that draw you in and open you up. Since arriving as a duo on the folk scene in 2016, they have released two critically acclaimed studio albums, “Before the Sun” (2016) and “Awake” (2018), both recorded in Toronto with highly regarded producer David Travers-Smith. They’ve just released a new single “Hidden Things”, the first of three written on the road and inspired by their relationship to the spirit of place. In fact “Hidden Things” was inspired by time spent in northern Sweden. According to Hannah… “I was sitting on the coast of Stockholm’s Archipelago reading my friend Francesco Dimitri’s novel ‘Book of Hidden Things’ which is set in Southern Italy. I was moved by the idea that landscapes hold dreams – love, mystery, loss… Dimitri’s book is about how stories become part of our connection to landscape. Like stories, songs can be a way of bringing the land’s dreams to life.” Hidden Things is accompanied by a lovely and moving video that reflects on the differences between the urban and rural landscapes and the stories that they may lie concealed. You can check out that video HERE. For more information about the music of Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, visit hannahbenmusic.com. Music: Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage “Way Over Yonder In A Minor Key”, “A Thousand New Moons” and “7” from “Awake” (2018, Sungrazing Records / Proper) and “Hidden Things” (single) (2019, Sungrazing Records / Proper).

Whiskey Jack – Rhymes & Good Times With Stompin’ Tom – Folk Roots Radio Interview

May 06 2019

Whiskey Jack have been making music together for over 40 years. In the 1980’s, they were featured weekly on The Ol’ Back Porch of the CBC’s Tommy Hunter Show. In 1993, Whiskey Jack joined Stompin’ Tom in the studio to make the album “Dr. Stompin’ Tom… Eh?” – the title referring to the fact that Tom had been awarded an honorary doctorate by St. Thomas University in Fredericton. They then became his tour band and continued to perform with Tom until his death in 2013. Since then, they have developed and toured “Stories & Songs of Stompin’ Tom” – a show dedicated to Stompin’ Tom’s songs and legacy. Touring across Canada, they often include special guests such as Russell de Carle (Prairie Oyster), Cindy Church (Quartette), Canadian country singer Marie Bottrell and The Good Brothers. Whiskey Jack have just released their second tribute album “Rhymes and Good Times with Stompin’ Tom” which was recorded at Canterbury Sound in Toronto with four time Juno Award winning producer, Danny Greenspoon (Sylvia Tyson). The performers on the album include members of Whiskey Jack: Duncan Fremlin (banjo, banjola, vocals), Douglas John Cameron (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Randy Morrison (fiddle), Eric Jackson (bass) and Al Cross (drums), with guests John Sheard (piano), Sean O’Connor (clarinet), Howard Willett (harmonica), Burke Carroll (steel guitar), Denis Keldie (accordion), Danny Greenspoon (guitar), Cindy Church (vocals) and Tom Mifflin (vocals). Whiskey Jack leader and banjo player Duncan Fremlin has also just released a great new book “My Good Times with Stompin’ Tom”. Duncan Fremlin joined us on Folk Roots Radio to chat about the new album, book and live show. For more information about Whiskey Jack and upcoming tour dates, visit whiskeyjackmusic.com. Music: Whiskey Jack “Better Things To Do Than Miss You”, “My Last Farewell”, “Around The Bay And Back Again” and “Stories and Songs” from “Rhymes & Good Times with Stompin’ Tom” (2019, Self).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 445: feat. Gillian Nicola & More New Releases

May 03 2019

Americana singer-songwriter Gillian Nicola joins us on Episode 445 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about her first full-length album “Dried Flowers”. It’s an excellent album, and, though we’re a bit biased, a great interview. We hope you’ll check it out. We also a look at more of the latest new releases, including new music from Pretty Archie, Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys, Whiskey Jack, Tomato Tomato, Allison Lupton and Sofia Talvik. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 444: feat. Dave McEathron & More New Releases

May 03 2019

Hamilton based multi-instrumentalist Dave McEathron, the former frontman and principal songwriter of Toronto roots rockers – the much loved and sadly departed The Warped 45s, joins us on Episode 444 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his wonderful full-length solo album “Abandoned Companions” which is accompanied by an equally wonderful band E.P., appropriately entitled “The Abandoned Companions Companion Piece”. It was a wonderful and insightful conversation – definitely worth sticking around for. We also take a look at more of the new releases we’ve received, and this time around we’re including music from Pete Seeger, Al Lerman, Lee Palmer and Michael Jerome Browne. Check out the full playlist below.

Jabbour - St Bernard - Folk Roots Radio Interview

May 02 2019

Jabbour are a bilingual contemporary roots band from Quebec with a love of musical collaboration, Cajun music and travel. Whether playing live or on record, they love to mix things up as they move from dramatic waltzes to Quebec chansonnier style tales, swinging rhythms and toe-tapping two-steps. From Guillaume Jabbour’s roots in chansonnier music from Québec and France, PEI native Bill Collier’s east coast songwriting excursions, to Bill Gossage’s Irish fiddle and the upright bass of blues and jazz player Carl Rufh – they are sure fire crowd pleasers who love making music together. They’re getting ready to release “Saint Bernard”, the follow up to their 2016 debut album “Round The Clock”. The new recording, produced by John McColgan features 12 original songs in both French & English, alongside covers from two revered chansonniers Gilles Vigneault (“J’ai pour toi un lac”) and Jean-Pierre Ferland (“Les journalistes”). We caught up with band leader Guillaume Jabbour at home in Montreal to chat about the new album. Jabbour will be releasing “Saint Bernard” at Petit Campus (Café Campus) in Montréal on Sunday, May 12 at 8 p.m. They will also be playing Montreal’s Festival Folk sur le canal on Saturday June 15 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit jabbourband.com. Photo: Tanis Saucier. Music: Jabbour “La job”, “Everywhere Wild”, “Les fruits” and “Ses pas sont lents” from “Saint Bernard” (2019, Self)