Folk Roots Radio Episode 530: feat. Adrian Glynn – Ghostlight Sessions & More New Releases

Singer-songwriter, member of fabulous Vancouver based folk collective The Fugitives and actor, Adrian Glynn joins us on Episode 530 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his wonderful new lockdown recording “Ghostlight Sessions”, which was recorded on the stage of an empty theatre in Kamloops BC after the play he was about to star in was put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. It’s a great album, and an excellent, and wide-ranging interview that moves beyond the music to discuss the impact of the pandemic on people in the arts. We also take a look at more of the latest new releases, and this time around we hear from Emily Barker, Lizzy Hardingham, Kristen Grainger & True North, Monica Lee, Marie Fielding, Michael Barry and Red Wanting Blue. Check out the full playlist below.

Interview

Adrian Glynn‘s third solo recording, “Ghostlight Sessions” is definitely an album with a difference – it was recorded on an empty theatre stage in Kamloops BC at the start of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. At the time, Adrian was about to reprise his role as the ‘The Writer’ in Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, which was being put on by the Western Canada Theatre.

After Covid prevention protocols forced rehearsals to stop in mid-March, the theatre company generously paid out the actors’ full contracts and allowed them to remain in their Kamloops accommodation. With time on his hands, and no place to be, Adrian elected to start work on what he describes as a homemade album – nine songs from the vault recorded in a stripped down way without much more than a single mic and guitar. An introspective, acoustic folk record, the songs on the album move from a talkin’ blues about suicidal depression, to a modern satirical take on “If I Had A Hammer”, to an ode to slide-guitar guru Kelly Joe Phelps. Ghostlight Sessions is only available as a digital download from Bandcamp. A portion of the proceeds (25%) will go to the NAACP and BIPOC-Covid related organizations.

Adrian Glynn (as Adrian Glynn McMorran) also takes the lead role in a new sci-fi psychological thriller, Volition (2019), from writing/directing team, the Smith Brothers. After screening at festivals worldwide and picking up many awards, including Best Feature at several festivals and a Best Actor win for Glynn at Italy’s Ostia festival, the movie is now available for on-demand viewing on streamings services. Adrian Glynn is also co-leader of Vancouver folk collective The Fugitives with Brendan McLeod. The Fugitives have just recorded a new album, “Trench Songs”, a re-imagining of songs and poems from the First World War period. Another album of original songs is also in the works. The release dates for both new projects have yet to be determined.

For more information about Adrian Glynn, visit adrianglynn.com.

That’s all we have time for. 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 episodes.

If you enjoy the music we play on this show and want to support the artists – many of whom aren’t able to play live at the moment because of the Covid-19 pandemic, don’t just stream their music – that earns them much less than a penny per play. Instead, buy their music – and really make a difference to their income. They’ll love you for it!

Listen

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

Playlist

Nicolas & The Iceni (Theme)
Lucy She Rises
Roll Right (2019, self)

Emily Barker
The Woman Who Planted Trees
Dark Murmuration Of Words (2020, Everyone Sang / Thirty Tigers)

Lizzy Hardingham
Shallow Brown
Seven (2020, Self)

Kristen Grainger & True North
She Flies With Her Own Wings
Ghost Tattoo (2020, Self)

Monica Lee
4 in the Afternoon
Farewell (2020, Self) CDN

Marie Fielding
Mayo 2 Manchester
The Spectrum Project (2020, Rumford Records)

Adrian Glynn
Acting My Age
Ghostlight Sessions (2020, Self) CDN

Interview: Adrian Glynn discussing his latest album “Ghostlight Sessions”.

Adrian Glynn
Hammer
Ghostlight Sessions (2020, Self) CDN

Adrian Glynn
Kelly Joe, I Heard You Sold Your Last Guitar
Ghostlight Sessions (2020, Self) CDN

Adrian Glynn
Talkin’ Suicidal Depression Blues
Ghostlight Sessions (2020, Self) CDN

Michael Barry
Party At The End Of The World
(single) (2020, Ignatius J. Records)

Red Wanting Blue
This Is The End
The Peppermint Sessions (Premium Edition) (2020, Blue Élan Records)