Folk Roots Radio Episode 323: Ian Foster Interview & More New Releases

Singer-songwriter Ian Foster from St John’s NF joins us on Episode 323 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his latest album, “Sleeper Years”, the follow up to the very well received “The Great Wave” from 2014. We also check out more of the latest releases on the folk and roots scene. Listen to the episode and check out the playlist below.

Interview

Sleeper Years is quintessential Ian Foster featuring song stories like the excellent “The Stinging Nettle” and “Postcards” alongside issue related appeals “Feels Like It Wants To Rain” or “New Rush For An Old Town”. Ian Foster’s growing interest in film is clearly evident with many of the songs having more of an indie cinematic feel than some of his earlier efforts. The album also contains a beautiful tribute to the late great Ron Hynes who passed away in 2015. We caught up with Ian at home in Newfoundland to chat about the new album. You can check out our full interview with Ian Foster HERE.

For more information about Ian Foster and his upcoming tour dates, visit ianfoster.ca. Photo: Chris LeDrew.

Show Notes

Notes about some of the new music on our radar that made it into Episode 323 of Folk Roots Radio.

Mike McKenna Jr. has released his new album “Pacific Northwest Bound” (2017, Self). A bit of a concept album, the album features some dark and dusted-off Maritime stories and sea shanties told from a unique, millennial perspective. The album was recorded in a small cabin studio north of Montreal, in the charming Quebec village of St-Come – a hub for traditional Quebecois music, with two-time Felix Award winning and Canadian Folk Music Awards nominated producer, Simon Marion.

Mike McKenna Jr. joined us at the Folk Music Ontario conference this past October to chat about his music. You can find that interview online HERE. For more information about the music of Mike McKenna Jr, visit mikemckennajr.com.

Veteran folk and blues acoustic singer-songwriter Sandy Ross passed away recently. Her latest album, the wonderfully titled 2015 album “Grandma’s Got a Boombox”, was very well received and features the lovely song “Distant Campfire”, which we included in this episode as a tribute. Her last project, an acoustic blues compilation CD, “All My Heroes Sang the Blues” is scheduled for release this summer. For more information, visit sandyross.com.

And that’s all we have time for, this time around. Thanks to all the artists who share their music with us, and thank you for listening. We have a lot of great music and interviews to bring you on future shows. I hope you’ll join us!

Listen

You can listen to this episode again on Mixcloud by following the link below. You can also listen to episodes of Folk Roots Radio, on demand, via iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher and Tune-in Radio. (Click on the highlighted link to reach your chosen platform.)

Playlist

Nicolas & The Iceni (Theme)
Lucy She Rises (Demo)
Roll Right (Pre-release, self)

The Eisenhauers
Don’t Lose Me
The Road We Once Knew (2017, Black Hen Music) CDN

The Malvinas
Light (O, Let Your Light Shine Bright)
God Bless the Grass (2017, Soona Songs)

Sarah Jane Scouten
Crack In Your Windshield
When the Bloom Falls From the Rose (2017, Light Organ Records) CDN

Zephaniah OHora with the 18 Wheelers
I Do Believe I’ve Had Enough
This Highway (2017, Last Roundup Records)

MANdolinMAN
Mazurka Houtem
Unfolding The Roots (2017, Arc Music)

Ian Foster
Our Love Was
Sleeper Years (2017, Self) CDN

Interview: Ian Foster discussing new album “Sleeper Years” (2017, Self)

Ian Foster
The Stinging Nettle
Sleeper Years (2017, Self) CDN

Ian Foster
You Left A Song (For Ron Hynes)
Sleeper Years (2017, Self) CDN

The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer
Running
Apocalipstick (2017, Self) CDN

Mike McKenna Jr.
Bright Sunny South
Pacific Northwest Bound (2017, Self) CDN

Sandy Ross
Distant Campfire
Grandma’s Got a Boombox (2015, Self)