November 2020 | Folk Roots Radio

Big Little Lions – Covid Times Edition – Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions

Nov 28 2020

Helen Austin and Paul Otten are two fabulous songwriters who make music together as Big Little Lions. They were on tour as the coronavirus pandemic hit, and despite having to head home and into lockdown, they have continued to make great music – including the release of a pandemic inspired album “Are We there Yet?”. They join us on a special ‘Covid Times’ edition of our video sister show, the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions, for a fun in-depth conversation about how their lives and their music have been changed by the on-going emergency, while sharing some of the great videos they have been producing in lockdown. Unfortunately because of the ongoing pandemic, we haven’t been able to record any more video sessions, so we’ve switched to a socially distanced interview format similar to Folk Roots Radio. Since we started the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions, we’ve had 50 different artists/bands join us in the studio. Check them out online at sunparloursessions.com. Enjoy!.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 554: Piper & Carson In Conversation – Edgewalker’s Remedy

Nov 28 2020

We have another very special interview to bring you on Episode 554 of Folk Roots Radio. Hamilton ON based duo Piper Hayes & Carson Ritcey Thorpe who make music together as Piper & Carson, join us to chat about their wonderful new recording “Edgewalker’s Remedy” – a concept album specifically designed to provoke reflection about our lives and what we all take for granted. Piper & Carson definitely walk the talk, and firmly believe that folk music can change the world. They describe their work as deeply rooted in intention and both have a strong desire to use their platform to promote social change and self-awareness. So, settle down and enjoy Piper & Carson in Conversation – Edgewalker’s Remedy on Folk Roots Radio. Check out the full playlist below.

Steve Poltz – Covid Times Edition – Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions

Nov 25 2020

Singer-songwriter and humorist Steve Poltz joins us on a special ‘Covid Times’ edition of our video sister show, the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions, to chat about how he has been spending his time off the road during these strange, strange times – including the release of a wonderful lockdown single, appropriately entitled “Quarantine Blues”. Unfortunately because of the ongoing pandemic, we haven’t been able to record any more video sessions, so we’ve switched to a socially distanced interview format similar to Folk Roots Radio. Since we started the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions, we’ve had 50 different artists/bands join us in the studio. Check them out online at sunparloursessions.com. Enjoy!

Folk Roots Radio Episode 553: We’re All About The Music! (The Keep Going Edition)

Nov 22 2020

We’re holding back the interviews on Episode 553 of Folk Roots Radio to bring you another hour of great new music to help you get through these strange Covid times. This time around we hear from The Bengsons, Gillian Tuite, Moira & Claire, Beppe Gambetta, Big Little Lions, Michael Lane, River North, Reid Jamieson, The Avenoir Project, Flo Perlin & Pilgrims’ Dream, Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar, iskwē & Tom Wilson (Lee Harvey Osmond), Tomato Tomato, Langhorne Slim and Ricky Green & Danny Traves. Remember, if you like the artists you hear on this show, don’t just stream their music – BUY their music and then you’ll really make a difference to their income during this difficult time when it’s much more challenging to find live shows. Check out the full playlist below.

Fresh Breath – Covid Times Edition – Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions

Nov 22 2020

Fresh Breath‘s Josh & Katie Pascoe are probably two of the most positive people you’ll ever meet. In fact, they really walk the talk – proudly describing themselves as artists whose attitude is gratitude. They join us on a special ‘Covid Times’ edition of our video sister show, the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions, to chat about the great singles, with accompanying videos, they recorded during Covid-19 lockdown. Unfortunately because of the ongoing pandemic, we haven’t been able to record any more video sessions, so we’ve switched to a socially distanced interview format similar to Folk Roots Radio. Since we started the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions, we’ve had 50 different artists/bands join us in the studio. Check them out online at sunparloursessions.com. Enjoy!

Folk Roots Radio Episode 552: feat. Glen MacNeil – Self Titled EP & More New Releases

Folk Roots Radio Episode 552: feat. Glen MacNeil - Self Title E.P. & More New Releases

Nov 20 2020

Tecumseh ON singer-songwriter Glen MacNeil joins us on Episode 552 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his new self-titled EP, the follow up to the wonderful “Where The Heart Remains” from 2015 – one of our favourite albums of that year. The new EP, most of which was recorded in Covid lockdown, is also an excellent album. As always, we wrap up the episode with more of the latest new releases and this time around we hear from Leah Barley, Sophia Clark, Terra Spencer, Grace Pettis, Redi Hasa, Steve Conn and VISSIA. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 551: feat. The Fugitives - Trench Songs & More New Releases

Nov 15 2020

Brendan McLeod and Adrian Glynn from Vancouver based folk collective The Fugitives join us on Episode 551 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about their wonderful new album “Trench Songs”, which takes as its source material, lyrics from songs written by frontline soldiers during the First World War – set to new music from the band. It’s a great interview. We hope you’ll stay with us to check it out. As always, we wrap up the episode with more new releases, and this time around we hear from Christa Couture, Emily Rockarts, Karl Mullen, Ian Foster, The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc and James Gates. Check out the full playlist below.

Tannis Slimmon – 2020 FMO Estelle Klein Award Interview

Nov 15 2020

After being honoured with Folk Music Ontario‘s 2019 Estelle Klein Award for her contribution to the folk music community, it was a real pleasure for Jan Hall from Folk Roots Radio to interview the 2020 honouree, Guelph ON based singer-songwriter Tannis Slimmon. It’s a great conversation. Enjoy!

Folk Roots Radio Episode 550: feat. Rick Fines – Solar Powered Too & More New Releases

Nov 13 2020

Canadian roots and blues artist Rick Fines joins us on Episode 550 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his truly fabulous new folk blues album “Solar Powered Too” which started out as a straightforward guitar and voice album, to be recorded at his solar powered cottage in the Kawartha Highlands, before turning into something rather special. It’s a really great interview – we can only bring part of it to you on this episode, but we do hope you’ll check it out, as we’re sure this album will feature in our favourite albums of 2020. We’ll be releasing the full interview very soon, so stay tuned for that. As always, we wrap up the episode with more new releases and this time around we hear from JJ Shiplett, Maybe Babs, Justin Farren, Kennedy Road, Brian Blain, The Mastersons, David Gillis, Donal Hinely and Dan Tuffy. Check out the full playlist below.

The Fugitives - Trench Songs - Folk Roots Radio Interview

Nov 11 2020

Vancouver based folk collective The Fugitives have just released a fabulous new album “Trench Songs” which takes as its source material, lyrics from songs written by frontline soldiers during the First World War – set to new music from the band. The album is based on “Ridge”, a new stage show by The Fugitives’ Brendan McLeod which was due to be performed in front of a live audience at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts in Vancouver this past March. Unfortunately, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, those live shows had to be cancelled – however Ridge has now been re-imagined as a feature film, using a variety of locations throughout the Chan Centre to tell the story. Co-leaders of the Fugitives Brendan McLeod and Adrian Glynn joined us on Folk Roots Radio to chat about the new project. Watch the feature film version of Ridge HERE. For more information about The Fugitives, visit fugitives.ca. Music: The Fugitives “Thirteen Pence”, “Hymn 43”, “If I Could Turn The Clock Back”, “After Loos”, “The Next Man Who Dies”, “Where Do We Go, Boys” and “Take Me Back To Old Ontario” from “Trench Songs” (2020, Borealis Records).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 549: feat. Countermeasure – Guest Sessions & More New Releases

Nov 08 2020

We have a very special interview to bring you on Episode 549 of Folk Roots Radio. Aaron Jensen, the composer and arranger for Toronto based a cappella group Countermeasure joins us to chat about their new concept album “Guest Sessions” which features collaborations with world class instrumentalists like Kevin Fox, Christian Roberge, Randy Brecker, Evelyn Glennie and Natalie McMaster; each piece on the new recording being specifically tailored to compliment the sound and aesthetic of the guest artist. It’s a great album and an excellent interview – we hope you’ll check it out. We wrap up the episode with new songs inspired by Canadian icon Leonard Cohen (who left us four years ago) from Lynn Jackson, Imogen Joy and Shawn William Clarke; alongside two of the tracks that the great man was working on prior to his death, that are included on his posthumous album “Thanks For The Dance” – the sublime “The Goal” and the beautiful title track. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 548: We're All About The Music! (Gettin' By Edition)

Nov 01 2020

We’re holding back the interviews again on Episode 548 of Folk Roots Radio as we bring you an hour of the latest new releases including more Covid tunes, and some great new protest songs. Join us for new music from Paul Snider, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Philip Scott Poli, The Roxton Rambles with Ken Whiteley & Ceilidh Wood, Valeri Dimchev with Anton Apostolov & Valeri Pastarmadzhiev, Justin Farren, Brian Blain, Adam Wendler, Moira Smiley & Seamus Egan (with Sam Amidon), HuDost and Gabriel Campagne. We also include special tributes to outlaw country pioneers Jerry Jeff Walker and Billy Joe Shaver who both sadly passed away recently. Remember, if you like what you hear on this show… don’t just stream the music – BUY the music and then you’ll really make a difference to artists income during this difficult time when it’s much more challenging to find live shows. Check out the full playlist below.