Folk Roots Radio Episode 452: feat. Whiskey Jack & More New Releases

Whiskey Jack have been making music together for over 40 years. Band leader and banjo player, Duncan Fremlin, joins us on Episode 452 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about the band, and their experience on the road with Stompin’ Tom Connors, as his tour band. Since Stompin’ Tom’s death in 2013, Whiskey Jack have been keeping his songs and legacy alive with a tribute show “Stories & Songs of Stompin’ Tom”. Chatting with Duncan was great fun, and it’s a great interview – and definitely worth sticking around for. As usual, we also check out more of the latest new releases, and this time around it’s new music from Villages, The Maes, Jay Gavin And The Tired Sunday Choir, Mike Klein, Jean-Paul De Roover and David Kaufman. Check out the full playlist below.

Interview

Whiskey Jack have been making music together for over 40 years. In the 1980’s, they were featured weekly on The Ol’ Back Porch of the CBC’s Tommy Hunter Show. In 1993, Whiskey Jack joined Stompin’ Tom in the studio to make the album “Dr. Stompin’ Tom… Eh?” – the title referring to the fact that Tom had been awarded an honorary doctorate by St. Thomas University in Fredericton. They then became his tour band and continued to perform with Tom until his death in 2013. Since then, they have developed and toured “Stories & Songs of Stompin’ Tom” – a show dedicated to Stompin’ Tom’s songs and legacy. Touring across Canada, they often include special guests such as Russell de Carle (Prairie Oyster), Cindy Church (Quartette), Canadian country singer Marie Bottrell and The Good Brothers.

Whiskey Jack have just released their second tribute album “Rhymes and Good Times with Stompin’ Tom” which was recorded at Canterbury Sound in Toronto with four time Juno Award winning producer, Danny Greenspoon (Sylvia Tyson). The performers on the album include members of Whiskey Jack: Duncan Fremlin (banjo, banjola, vocals), Douglas John Cameron (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Randy Morrison (fiddle), Eric Jackson (bass) and Al Cross (drums), with guests John Sheard (piano), Sean O’Connor (clarinet), Howard Willett (harmonica), Burke Carroll (steel guitar), Denis Keldie (accordion), Danny Greenspoon (guitar), Cindy Church (vocals) and Tom Mifflin (vocals). Whiskey Jack leader and banjo player Duncan Fremlin has also just released a great new book “My Good Times with Stompin’ Tom”.

For more information about Whiskey Jack and upcoming tour dates, visit whiskeyjackmusic.com.

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 iTunes, Stitcher and Tune-in Radio. (Click on the highlighted link to reach your chosen platform.)

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

Villages
Awakening Of Spring
Villages (2019, Self) CDN

The Maes
Sunrise
The Maes (2019, Self)

Jay Gavin and the Tired Sunday Choir
Eloise
Boat On A Whale (2019, Self) CDN

Mike Klein
Hunting The Buffalo / Nail That Catfish To A Tree
Over The Waves (2019, Self) CDN

Whiskey Jack
Better Things To Do Than Miss You
Rhymes & Good Times With Stompin’ Tom (2019, Self) CDN

Interview: Duncan Fremlin from Whiskey Jack discussing their new album “Rhymes & Good Times With Stompin’ Tom” and tribute show “Stories & Songs of Stompin’ Tom”.

Whiskey Jack
My Last Farewell
Rhymes & Good Times With Stompin’ Tom (2019, Self) CDN

Whiskey Jack
Around The Bay And Back Again
Rhymes & Good Times With Stompin’ Tom (2019, Self) CDN

Whiskey Jack
Stories And Songs
Rhymes & Good Times With Stompin’ Tom (2019, Self) CDN

Jean-Paul De Roover
Salt Friendly
Love (2019, Self) CDN

David Kaufman
David’s Dream
Second Promise (2019, Self) CDN