Episode 236: David Woodhead & Brad Woods

Coming up as we go Live & Local on Folk Roots Radio, we’re featuring an interview with acclaimed bassist and multi-instrumentalist David Woodhead, who joins us to chat about his upcoming Ontario tour dates with his genre-defying side project Confabulation. Guelph-based storyteller Brad Woods also joins us to chat about his new live storytelling album “The Woods” and upcoming appearance at the Guelph Civic Museum for Fourth Friday on January 22nd.

We started off the hour with a five-song tribute to one of the greatest creative forces of our time, David Bowie, who sadly passed away this week – leading off with his new single and what may be his final musical message, the hauntingly beautiful “Lazarus” from his critically acclaimed new album “Blackstar” (2016, ISO Records). Many people believe the song and the fabulous accompanying video are indeed Bowie’s farewell to a world that he’s leaving behind, but it’s equally possible that an artist who planned all his musical transitions so carefully and delighted in the unexpected, may yet have another surprise for us.

And then, cover versions of two of my favourite Bowie songs – Nova Scotia’s Mo Kenney with her great version of “Five Years”, the opening track from Bowie’s classic 1972 album The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. You can find Mo’s version, which feels completely different, on her self-titled 2012 debut album. After that, we played Rickie Lee Jones and her version of “Rebel Rebel”, originally on the Bowie’s 1974 album Diamond Dogs – you can find Rickie’s version on her 1993 album “Traffic from Paradise”.

We followed those two covers with what may be my all-time favourite Bowie song, Life On Mars, from the 1971 album Hunky Dory (1971), and featuring some fabulous piano from keyboard maestro Rick Wakeman, and, finally, a Bowie instrumental – the wonderfully atmospheric “Warszawa” from his 1977 album Low.

David Bowie… a truly gifted individual, a genius, one of a kind… wherever you are, thanks for the memories!

Bassist and multi-instrumentalist David Woodhead is taking his side project Confabulation out on tour in Ontario during January. A world-renowned bass player, David has played on over 200 different albums, and toured with Stan Rogers, Loreena McKennitt, Valdy and James Keelaghan among others. Confabulation is an ever-evolving genre-defying showcase for some of Toronto’s most accomplished performers. Over the years its featured more than 20 different top drawer performers including Jaron Freeman-Fox, Rich Brown, Anne Lindsay and the Shuffle Demons’ Richard Underhill. The current line-up features keyboardist Doug Wilde, drummer Rich Greenspoon, reeds player Colleen Allen and guitarist Bob Cohen. Confabulation visits The Moonshine Café, Oakville (8:30 p.m.; $10) on Thursday, January 21, The Pearl Company, Hamilton on Friday January 22 ($20, advance/student/senior – $15), Silence, Guelph on Sunday January 24 – (8 p.m. ; $10) and the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery Club, Kingston Sunday, January 31 (2 p.m.; $15). Prepare to be enchanted by a sonic musical experience unlike any other. David joined us from Toronto to chat about the tour, he also gave us a sneak peek at a lovely new tune for the gourd banjo – “Windy Apples”. You can listen to the interview HERE.

Guelph-based storyteller Brad Woods is the featured performer for Fourth Friday at the Guelph Civic Museum on Friday January 22. As on every Fourth Friday, general admission to the museum is free after 5 p.m. and the free show runs from 7-9 p.m. Brad has just release his latest storytelling album “The Woods”, dedicated to his parents and featuring his brother Greg on percussion. We caught up with Brad at home in Guelph to chat about the new album. Listen to the interview again HERE.

Samantha Martin will be playing her band Delta Sugar to Manhattans in Guelph on January 24. She has an amazing stage presence and is fabulous in concert. Advance tickets can be purchased in person at Manhattans or via Ticketscene. You can also call (519) 767-2440 for a dinner reservation (Last dinner seating will be at 7:30 p.m.) The show starts at 8:30 p.m.

Well, that’s all we have time for. Check out the full playlist with artist links below and share your love for all the great folk and roots music out there. Thanks to all the artists who share their music with us, and thank you for listening. We have a lot of great music to bring you on future shows. I hope you’ll join us! You can listen to this show again on Mixcloud by following the link below.

Folk Roots Radio: Episode 236 Live & Local by Folk Roots Radio on Mixcloud

Nicolas & The Iceni (Theme)
Lucy She Rises (Demo)
Roll Right (expected 2016)

David Bowie
Lazarus
Blackstar (2016, ISO Records)

Mo Kenney
Five Years (David Bowie cover)
Mo Kenney (2012, Self) CDN

Rickie Lee Jones
Rebel Rebel (David Bowie cover)
Traffic from Paradise (1993, UMG Recordings)

David Bowie
Life On Mars
Hunky Dory (1971) (1990, Rykodisc)

David Bowie
Warszawa
Low (1977, Parlophone Records)

Confabulation
Bozeny Parasy
Confabulation (2010, Self) CDN

Interview: David Woodhead discussing his upcoming Ontario tour with Confabulation. Listen to the interview again HERE.

Confabulation
Windy Apples
Demo (2015, Self) CDN

Interview: Brad Woods discussing his latest storytelling album “The Woods”. Listen to the interview again HERE.

Brad Woods
His City
The Woods (2015, Self)

Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar
Addicted
Send the Nightingale (2015, Self) CDN