Folk Roots Radio Episode 339: Gregger Botting Interview & More New Releases

Gregger Botting is a young singer-songwriter from Petrolia Ontario who just released his first full length album, “Never Saw A Thing Coming”. Earlier this year, Gregger Botting joined us in the studio to record an edition of the video series, the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions. We’re pleased to bring our interview with Gregger to Episode 339 of Folk Roots Radio alongside a couple of live songs from his debut album. As always, we also check out more of the new music we’ve received. Check out the full playlist below.

Interview

Episodes of the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions are recorded in the Quantum Sound Productions studio in Kingsville Ontario. Artists join us in the studio to record five or six songs live and chat about their music. Gregger Botting’s full session will be released in the fall of 2017.

Gregger Botting released his debut album “Never Saw A Thing Coming” in early 2017. Likened to a young John Prine, the recording features 11 original songs about life, loss and, a nostalgia for the way things used to be.

For more information about Gregger Botting, visit greggerbotting.com. Check out the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions online at sunparloursessions.com.

Show Notes

Notes about some of the new music on our radar that made it into Episode 339 of Folk Roots Radio.

The The Barrowdowns are a five piece band from Halifax NS who describe themselves as progressive folkies and love five part vocal harmonies. They’ve just released their debut full length album “Come What May Come” (2017, Self).

The Heather Pierson Acoustic Trio have just released the full-length album “Singin'” (2017, Vessel Recordings), the follow up to their hugely successful debut EP, “Still She Will Fly” (2015, Vessel Recordings). Singin’ features ten Heather Pierson originals and a couple of well chosen covers that move effortlessly from Appalachian folk to New Orleans traditional jazz. Heather Pierson plays piano, acoustic guitar, tenor banjo, ukulele, and melodica on the album with support from Davy Sturtevant on dobro, fiddle, mandolin, cornet, banjo, and acoustic guitar; and Shawn Nadeau on upright bass. Check out Heather Pierson online at heatherpierson.com.

Matthew Byrne from St John’s NF has just released his third album, “Horizon Lines”, the follow-up to “Hearts & Heroes” which picked up Traditional Recording of the Year at the 2015 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Featuring songs from both sides of the Atlantic, “Horizon Lines” also allows Matthew to explore his own rich musical heritage in song. The song we play on this episode, “Adelaide” is a beautiful, original love song that Matthew describes as “a traditional song just waiting to be written”. The album also includes a guest appearance by his father, Joe Byrne. For more information about Matthew Byrne, visit and matthewbyrne.net.

Emily Pinkerton, Ellen Gozion and Rachel Eddy are The Early Mays. They just released their sophomore album of Appalachian soaked trad songs and instrumentals, “Chase The Sun” – the follow up to their very well received self-titled debut which was one of our favourite albums of 2015. On this episode we play the Emily Pinkerton song “Say-O” which features Emily Pinkerton on vocal and beautiful clawhammer banjo, with Rachel Eddy on harmonizing guitar.

Rebb Firman from California makes his living collecting pollen for fruit growers, but he also loves to write songs and play for the love of it. On this episode we play the title track from his new FREEBO produced album “Songs I Left Behind”.

Ty Hall is an Ottawa based singer-songwriter who writes songs in the acoustic roots and alternative rock genres. After releasing five EPs, he’s just released his first full length “Nothing But Time” (2017, Self). On this episode we lean towards indie pop on the laid-back “Not So Different”.

Montreal based alt. folk quartet Franklin Electric have just released their second album “Blue Ceilings” on Indica Records. Featuring the compelling voice and thought provoking songs of Jon Matte, they also throw some horns and a bit of synth into the mix.

Toronto singer-songwriter Shawna Caspi has just released “Never Enough”, the great first single from her upcoming album “Forest Fire”. Forest Fire was recorded in Toronto with Don Kerr. Judging by the lovely warm feel of the single, the album should be well worth checking out. In the coming weeks, we’ll be sitting down with Shawna Caspi to chat about the new album, however, you can also find an interview recorded at the Folk Music Ontario conference and a couple of live songs on our website HERE.

Country great Glen Campbell passed away recently after a six-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. As a tribute we included three songs from Glen to wrap the hour, starting off with one of our favourite songs from the golden age of country music, Glen Campbell’s classic version of Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman” which reached No 3 on the US charts – . We followed that with “A Better Place” from his last great album of original songs, 2011’s “Ghost On The Canvas” (2011, Surfdog Records) and the final song Glen Campbell recorded, “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” which features members of his old session musician mates,  The Wrecking Crew . “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” appears on the soundtrack of the inspirational documentary covering Glen’s  final tour while slowly succumbing to Alzheimer’s Disease, “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me”. Glen Campbell’s musical career goes full circle on a life very well lived. A class act who left behind a great legacy.

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 Barrowdowns
Landlocked
Come What May Come (2017, Self) CDN

Heather Pierson Acoustic Trio
Righteous Song
Singin’ (2017, Vessel Recordings)

The Early Mays
Say-O
Chase The Sun (2017, Bird on the Wing Records)

Matthew Byrne
Adelaide
Horizon Lines (2017, Self) CDN

Robbie Bankes
Hegelson’s Charge
Foothills (2016, Self) CDN

Gregger Botting
Never Saw A Thing Coming
Live at the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions

Interview: Gregger Botting at the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions.

Gregger Botting
As Fast As You Come (You Disappear)
Live at the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions

Shawna Caspi
Never Enough
Forest Fire (2017, Self) CDN

Franklin Electric
Burning Flame
Blue Ceilings (2017, Indica Records) CDN

Ty Hall
Not So Different
Nothing But Time (2017, Self) CDN

Rebb Firman
Songs I Left Behind
Songs I Left Behind (2017, Self)

Glen Campbell
Wichita Lineman (1968)
Glen Campbell: All The Best (2003, Capitol)

Glen Campbell
A Better Place
Ghost On The Canvas (2011, Surfdog Records)

Glen Campbell & The Wrecking Crew
I’m Not Gonna Miss You
Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me (2014, Big Machine Records)