Episode 249: Glen MacNeil & Andrew “Too Tall” Queen

Apr 23 2016

On this episode we’re featuring an interview and live session with South Western Ontario singer-songwriter Glen McNeil and an excerpt from an interview with Toronto based children’s performer Andrew “Too Tall” Queen who also performs live for us, with a cameo from yours truly. Both interviews were recorded at the Folk Music Ontario conference this past October. As always we added some new music we’ve received into the mix.

Glen McNeil produced one of our favourite albums of 2015, “The Island Where The Heart Remains”. A veteran of the South West Ontario music scene, it was hard to believe that this was Glen’s debut album. Featuring a fine selection of beautifully-crafted songs focusing on relationships, family and life in general with some fabulous musicianship and beautifully understated production from John Law from The Laws, the album is truly a joy for the ears. Listen to our interview/session with Glen MacNeil again HERE.

Andrew Queen started out playing jug and washtub bass in celebrated Toronto bluegrass Canadiana jugband Jughead before developing a caeer as a children’s entertainer renowned for comic tales and a lively stage performance. Christened “Too Tall” because he’s a little taller than everyone else, Andrew was voted Children’s Artist of the Year at the 2011 Indies, and picked up Parent’s Choice Recommended Awards and Canadian Folk Music Award nominations for “Too Tall” (2010, Self) and “GROW” (2012, Self). Andrew is rebranding some of his children’s performances as the Campfire Crew to acknowledgement the contribution of his life partner and co-songwriter, Karen Stille. Our interview with Andrew features a wonderful version of Andrew’s song “Goin’ on a Gator Hunt” with a cameo support from the big kid in yours truly, which should be reason enough to check to it. I think the phrase ‘a fabulous time was had by all’ just about sums it up! You can listen to our full interview with Andrew, including another live song, HERE.

Well, that’s all we have time for this week. 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.

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

Thomas Hine
Before The Sun Rises
Some Notion or Novelty (2016, Self)

Sofia Talvik
Aha-Aha
Big Sky Country (2015, Makiki Music)

Moors & McCumber
Silver Lake
Live At Blue Rock (2016, Self)

City Of The Sun
Everything
To The Sun And All The Cities (2016, Chesky Records)

Glen McNeil
If I Could I Would (Live)

Interview: Glen McNeil recorded at the Folk Music Ontario conference. Listen to the interview/session again HERE.

Glen McNeil
The Island Is Where The Heart Remains (Live)

Glen McNeil
Up On High (Live)

Glen McNeil
I’m In Love (Live)

The Bills
Forgotten Beach Groove
Trail Of Tales (2016, Borealis Records)

Interview: Andrew “Too Tall” Queen recorded at the Folk Music Ontario conference. Listen to the full interview HERE.