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Folk Roots Radio Episode 363: Jeremie Albino & More New Releases

Mar 01 2018

Young country blues singer-songwriter Jeremie Albino joins us on Episode 363 of Folk Roots Radio. Jeremie sat down with us at the 2017 Folk Music Ontario conference to chat about his music and played three of his original songs live. Musically he’s the real deal – when he performs, it’s like he’s channeling music from another place and time. It’s an interview that is definitely worth checking out. And as always on Folk Roots Radio, we check out more of the new folk and roots music we’ve received, including new releases from The Kelly Song Collective, KC Groves, The Fugitives and The New Customs. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Root Radio Episode 362 - Chris Ronald & New Releases

Feb 15 2018

Vancouver based singer-songwriter Chris Ronald moved to Canada from England in 2002 and has built himself a great career as a songwriter renowned for his songcraft with a sound that has been described as “Canadian folk with British roots”. Chris joins us on Episode 362 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his latest release, “Fragments” and also plays three songs from the new album live. We also check out more of the latest new releases including new music from Steve Howell & Jason Weinheimer, Dennis Johnson, Dan Whitener and Kerri Powers. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Root Radio Episode 361 - Ryan Cook & New Releases

Feb 15 2018

Troubadour country roots singer-songwriter Ryan Cook started off playing heavy metal and punk before discovering a love for old time country music. He’s just released his fourth album “Having A Great Time”. Ryan Cook joins us on Episode 361 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his music and also plays a song from the new album live. It’s a great interview – definitely worth sticking around for. And, as always on this show, we check out more of the new folk and roots music we’ve received including new music from Shannon Kingsbury, The LYNNeS, Sarah Hiltz and Sean McConnell. Check out the full playlist below.
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Jeremie Albino – Folk Roots Radio at FMO

Feb 14 2018

Jeremy Albino is a young musician with an old soul, and the classic sound of old time country blues surging through his veins. Musically he’s the real deal – when he plays live, it’s like he’s channeling music from another place and time. Jeremie grew up in Scarborough Toronto before deciding to pass up city life for the slower pace and rooted appeal of rural Prince Edward County. Though still developing as an artist, and yet to put anything down on record, he’s already building quite a name for himself. Jeremie Albino sat down with Jan Hall from Folk Roots Radio at the Folk Music Ontario conference to chat about his music and play three of his original songs live. Jeremie Albino will be playing the Roots North Music Festival in Orillia ON on Saturday April 21 2018. For more information about the music of Jeremie Albino visit jeremiealbinomusic.com. Music: Jeremie Albino “Shipwreck” (Live), “Klondike Man” (Live) and “Trouble” (Live).

The Rough & Tumble – We Made Ourselves A Home When We Didn’t Know

Feb 13 2018

Playful Americana-folk duo The Rough & Tumble first arrived on our radar with their very cute video for their song “Teeny Tiny Folk Band” from their 2017 E.P. “Cardboard and Christmas Lights”. After a string of E.P.s, they’ve just released their first full length album “We Made Ourselves A Home When We Didn’t Know” (2018, Rock Candy Recordings). Featuring the close harmonies, versatile instrumentation and engaging songwriting of Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler, the album celebrates their chosen nomadic lifestyle, out on the open road, travelling from gig to gig in their sixteen foot camper van, with their dogs for company. A beautiful Americana duo recording, We Made Ourselves A Home When We Didn’t Know features some lovely harmonies from Mallory and Scott with an accompaniment of accordion, melodica, bells, home-based found sounds, and a bowed glockenspiel that gives it that homespun feel. The album was recorded by Dave Coleman at Howard’s Apartment Studio in East Nashville, with rhythm section support from Mike Shannon & Chris Leonard. We caught up with Mallory and Scott live from the road, to talk about the new album. You can visit The Rough & Tumble online at theroughandtumble.com. Music: The Rough & Tumble “Wildfire”, “Baggage” and “Let’s Get The Band Together” and “Take Me With You” from “We Made Ourselves A Home When We Didn’t Know” (2018, Self).

Andrew Collins – Folk Roots Radio at FMO

Feb 11 2018

The music of five times JUNO nominee and seven times Canadian Folk Music Award winning mando-maestro Andrew Collins (Foggy Hogtown Boys, Creaking Tree String Quartet) can broadly be described as folk, bluegrass and jazz though as a composer, it’s all about creating new original acoustic music and trying not to sound like other things. His most recent recording, the critically acclaimed instrumental concept album “And It Was Good” (2016) was based on the biblical seven days of creation – one track for each day of creation plus the title track to wrap it all up. Andrew Collins is now back in the studio working on a new project, two separate but connected albums – one a vocal selection of mostly reworked and reimagined cover songs, the other an album of new instrumental music. In live performance, the Andrew Collins Trio, featuring fellow string-meisters Mike Mezzatesta (mandolin, guitar, fiddle) and James McEleney (bass, mandocello), love to take the audience on a fun ride that effortlessly moves from folk to new acoustic roots, to bluegrass, and jazz, with some fine interplay on a variety of stringed instruments, punctuated by lead vocals from Andrew Collins and fine harmonies from his bandmates. Andrew Collins sat down with Jan Hall at the Folk Music Ontario conference to chat about his current projects and future plans, and played an instrumental and a couple of songs live for us. For more information about Andrew’s music, visit andrewcollinstrio.com. You can find an interview recorded at the time of the release of And It Was Good HERE. Music: Andrew Collins “Banish Misfortune” (live), “Coming Into Hard Times Blues” (live) and “Nothing About Us” (live).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 360: Shari Ulrich & More New Releases

Episode 360 - Shari Ulrich & New Releases

Feb 08 2018

Multi-instrumentalist (fiddle, mandolin, guitar and piano) singer-songwriter; two time Juno Award winner; and inductee in the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, Shari Ulrich joins us on Episode 360 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about her long and storied music career – both as a singer-songwriter and as part of such great bands as Pied Pumkin, The Hometown Band, Ulrich Henderson Forbes (UHF), Bentall Taylor Ulrich (BTU), and the bluegrass band, The High Bar Gang. It’s a great interview and very inspiring. We hope you’ll check it out. And, as always, we check out more of the great new music we’ve received including new albums from The Rough & Tumble, Lynn Miles and Lynne Hanson as The LYNNeS and Ange Hardy from Somerset, England.

Feb 07 2018

Ryan Cook started out playing punk and heavy metal music before discovering a love for classic country and western music from the 40s and 50s and the likes of (early) George Jones, Patsy Cline, Ernest Tubbs and Jimmy Rodgers. His latest release, album number four, “Having A Great Time” playfully explores the ups and downs of life on the road as a snowbirding itinerant troubadour singer-songwriter, travelling from place to place in a thirty five year old camper van. Whether performing live solo or as part of a duo or trio, expect to be regaled by some of Ryan’s fine original country folk – with a modern sensibility, alongside a few songs from the golden age of country music. Ryan Cook joined Jan Hall from Folk Roots Radio at the Folk Music Ontario conference to chat about his music, and played a song from the new album live. For more information about Ryan Cook, visit ryancook.ca. Music: Ryan Cook “Cult Of My Own” from “Having A Great Time” (2017, Self), “Uncomplicated” (Live) and “Memory Foam” from “Having A Great Time” (2017, Self).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 359: Ashley Condon & More New Releases

Folk Root Radio Episode 359 - Ashley Condon & New Releases

Jan 28 2018

Acclaimed Prince Edward Island singer-songwriter Ashley Condon joins us on Episode 359 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about her most thoroughly PEI album to date, her third full-length recording “Can You Hear Me” – an album that features a series of co-writes with other PEI artists and artists who came to the island on creative exchanges. The album also features some beautiful harmony vocals from Ashley’s fellow Eastern Belles – Catherine MacLellan and Meaghan Blanchard, and some great production from her producer, (Anne Murray’s nephew) Dale Murray. It’s an excellent album, and a great interview. I hope you’ll stay with us to check it out. And, as always, on Folk Roots Radio, we check out more of the new folk and roots music we’ve received. Check out the full playlist below.

Jan 25 2018

Multi-instrumentalist (fiddle, mandolin, guitar and piano) singer-songwriter; two time Juno Award winner; and inductee in the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, Shari Ulrich has released 23 albums to date during a storied career that has also included work with Pied Pumkin, The Hometown Band, Ulrich Henderson Forbes (UHF), Bentall Taylor Ulrich (BTU), and the bluegrass band, The High Bar Gang. As a songwriter, Shari is a huge believer in serving the song. “It’s not about the ego or proving you are a great player. When I’m performing I’m celebrating the song and what it does for people.” Her most recent solo release, 2014’s “Everywhere I Go” took home the Canadian Folk Music Award for (English) Songwriter of the year. She’s currently hard at work on a new solo project and will be touring Ontario in May 2018 with her trio featuring her daughter Julia Graff (on violin, mandolin, guitar & vocals) and fellow High Bar Gang member Kirby Barber (on bass, guitar and vocals). Shari Ulrich sat down with Jan Hall from Folk Roots Radio at the 2017 Folk Music Ontario conference. To learn more about her music, visit shariulrich.com. Music: Shari Ulrich “Freefall” from “Everywhere I Go” (2014, Borealis Records), The High Bar Gang “Don’t This Road Look Rough & Rocky” from “Someday The Heart Will Trouble The Mind” (2016, Borealis Records) and Bentall Taylor Ulrich “You Got Lost” from “Tightrope Walk” (2016, Borealis Records).

Chris Ronald – Folk Roots Radio at FMO

Jan 25 2018

Vancouver based singer-songwriter Chris Ronald moved to Canada from England in 2002 and has built himself a great career as a songwriter renowned for his songcraft producing an Americana and Canadiana sound that has been described as “Canadian folk with British roots”. Chris released a lovely fourth album, “Fragments” in 2017 on the Canadian folk label Borealis Records. In live performance, whether solo or with his trio with multi-instrumentalist guitarist John MacArthur Ellis and fiddle player Mike Sanyshyn, Chris draws on his abilities as a highly skilled singer, storyteller, and musician to deliver a fabulous show. Chris sat down with Jan Hall from Folk Roots Radio at the Folk Music Ontario conference to chat about his music and play three songs live from Fragments. To learn more about Chris Ronald, visit chrisronald.com. Music: Chris Ronald “Everything Goes Green” (Live), “Mosquito” (Live) and “Retirement Plan” (Live). All of the tracks can be found on the 2017 Borealis album “Fragments”.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 358: Rob Lutes & More New Releases

Folk Root Radio Episode 358 - Rob Lutes & New Releases

Jan 11 2018

Montreal singer-songwriter Rob Lutes joins us on Episode 358 of Folk Roots Radio for a wonderful conversation about his latest album, “Walk In The Dark”, a blues roots delight and our favourite album of 2017. As always, we also check out more of the great new folk and roots releases we’ve received. Check out the full playlist below.

Mark Martyre "Rivers" - Folk Roots Radio Interview

Jan 09 2018

Prolific Toronto based writer and musician Mark Martyre has just released his latest collection, “Rivers” – his fifth full-length studio album since 2012, and following on from “Down, Record” (2012), “London” (2013), “Red Letters” (2014), “Bluebird” (2016), and several live recordings, and bootlegs. Mark’s also published a collection of his lyrics, spanning his music between 2012-2016. Rivers features ten new reflective Mark Martyre songs, with his characteristic Tom Waits like vocal delivery, some beautifully relaxed piano work and some lovely backing vocals from Stacey Dowswell. Also, joining Mark Martyre (guitar, vocals & harmonica) on the album are Darrin Baldwin (piano), Matt Antaya (electric guitar), Graydon James (drums), Jason Lapidus (bass), Ed Michael Roth (accordion), and Raha Javanfar (violin). Rivers was recorded in Toronto at the Lincoln County Social Club with John Dinsmore. We caught up with Mark Martyre in Toronto to chat about the new album. For more information, visit markmartyre.com. Music: Mark Martyre “Come Lie Beside Me, Dear”, “Carry On”, “(I Think) We Might Be OK” and “Anywhere But Here” from “Rivers” (2017, Self).

Ashley Condon – Can You Hear Me – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Jan 09 2018

Acclaimed Prince Edward Island singer-songwriter Ashley Condon released what might be her most thoroughly PEI album to date, “Can You Hear Me”, in October. Her third full length recording, Can you Hear Me features a series of co-writes with other PEI artists and artists who came to PEI on creative exchanges. The album also features some beautiful harmony vocals from Ashley’s fellow Eastern Belles – Catherine MacLellan and Meaghan Blanchard, and a sophisticated sonic palette thanks, in part, to her producer, (Anne Murray’s nephew) Dale Murray (formerly of The Guthries and Cuff the Duke). The album is not the only new thing on Ashley Condon’s horizon; she has also launched a PEI-based microbrewery Copper Bottom Brewing with her husband and brewmaster, Ken Spears. We caught up with Ashley at home on PEI to chat about the new album, the island’s wonderful music community and the family microbrewery, which is also a music venue, in Montague PEI. For more information about the music of Ashley Condon, visit ashleycondon.com. Check out the video for “The Rain” HERE. Music: Ashley Condon “Diamond Sky”, “The Rain” and “Oh My Love” from “Can You Hear Me” (2017, Self).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 357: Best of 2017 – The Next 15

Folk Roots Radio Best of 2017 - The Next 15

Jan 04 2018

We’ve already released our Top Ten albums of 2017 – you can find those on Episode 356 of Folk Roots Radio. This time around we tackle ‘The Next Fifteen’ with an episode featuring some of our favourite tracks from those albums. It’s a great privilege to bring lots of great music and interviews to you each week on Folk Roots Radio, something we’re looking forward to continuing to do throughout 2018. As always, this list only includes those albums that were received from October 1st, 2016 – September 30th, 2017. Listen to tracks from the Next 15 and check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Best of 2017 - The Top 10

Dec 28 2017

Well, it’s that time of year – time to run down our favourite albums of 2017. One of the best things about doing a radio show is that you get loads of great music to audition each week. One of the hardest things to do, though, is to take all that great music and narrow it down to your ten favourite recordings of the year. As someone who loves to make best of lists, it’s a fun thing to do, and, if, by doing that, I can expose people to new music they may not have heard, so much the better. As always, this Best of 2017 list only includes those albums that were received from October 1st, 2016 – September 30th, 2017. Listen to tracks from the Top 10 and check out the full playlist below.

Folk Root Radio Episode 355 - More Folk Roots Radio At Christmas

Dec 15 2017

Welcome to another hour of festive music for the holidays. Folk Roots Radio at Christmas features a selection of mostly new and original holiday music by independent artists, who hope to bring something new to a genre that’s often criticized as being a vapid and uninspiring marketing tool for a consumer culture, that, let’s be honest, goes mad during the holiday season. With that in mind, we’re also including an interview with Chris McKhool, the leader of world music combo, Sultans Of String, who talks enthusiastically and engagingly about their new spin on seasonal music, “Christmas Caravan”, which really attempts to bring something new to holiday standards many people see as tired, boring and, dare I say it, rather predictable. So here it is. Stoke up the fire, pour yourself some egg nog, settle down in your favourite chair and enjoy! Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Root Radio Episode 354 - Folk Roots Radio At Christmas

Dec 15 2017

Well, it’s that time of year… time for a very special holiday season edition of Folk Roots Radio. Now, I don’t know about you, but I love Christmas music, I just hate the uninspiring way it gets used in the run up to the holiday… especially if you’re in the mall, or the grocery store or dare I say it, listening to the radio. So here it is, my attempt at some thoughtful and insightful holiday music programming – featuring mostly new self-written songs, and if they’re not original compositions, well let’s just say the artists concerned definitely take them a little off the beaten track. Enjoy! Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Root Radio Episode 353 - Raine Hamilton & New Releases

Nov 29 2017

Winnipeg based singer-songwriter Raine Hamilton will release her second album “Night Sky” in March 2018. Raine sat down with Folk Roots Radio at the 2017 Folk Music Ontario conference to chat about her music and the new album. She also played a couple of new songs live. We’re pleased to bring that interview to Episode 353 of Folk Roots Radio and as always, we also check out more of the latest new releases including new music from Carmel Mikol, The Barrel Boys and Be Good Tanyas founder members Jolie Holland & Samantha Parton. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Root Radio Episode 352 - Erin Costelo & New Releases

Nov 29 2017

Episode 352 of Folk Roots Radio features an interview with Erin Costelo recorded at the 2017 Folk Music Ontario conference. Erin released a wonderful album in 2016, “Down Below, The Status Quo”, a fabulous slice of genre-bending soulful pop that skips from R&B/Soul to bluesy jazz, and an album that was deservedly one of our Favourite Albums of 2016. Erin joins us to chat about her current musical activities, including starting work on a new album in January. We also check out more of the best new releases including new music from Trent Severn, Susan Cattaneo, Janie Barnett & Blue Room and Edward Sayers. Check out the full playlist below.

Sultans of String Christmas Caravan - Folk Roots Radio Interview

Nov 26 2017

Canadian world folk supergroup the Sultans of String have just released their first holiday album, “Christmas Caravan”. Turning the notion of holiday music completely on its head, the new album, recorded and co-produced with JUNO Award winning engineer John ‘Beetle’ Bailey, features Quebecois fiddle tunes and collaborations with a traditional Turkish string ensemble, and jumps from a classic Andrews Sisters holiday sound, to a Himalayan sleigh ride, African roots music, Gypsy-jazz, rumba flamenco, ska, and the grandeur of the symphony. You name it, its in there. To help celebrate the season, the band brought in an all star cast of guest musicians including six times Grammy winning Paddy Moloney (The Chieftains), Ruben Blades & Luba Mason, platinum-selling jazz vocalist Nikki Yanofsky, Alex Cuba, Benoit Bourque of Quebec’s Bottine Souriante, African-American a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock, Cameroon’s Richard Bona, Rebecca Campbell (Emmylou Harris, Alanis Morissette), singer Mary Fahl from NYC’s October Project, a recording collective of Turkish Roma violinists in Istanbul, Sudanese-Canadian singer Waleed Abdulhamid, Nashville-based JUNO Award winning country singer Crystal Shawanda, sitar virtuoso Anwar Khurshid, and hang drum player David Charrier from France. We caught up with Sultans of String fiddle maestro, Chris McKhool, at home in Toronto, to learn more about the new album. The Sultans of String will be touring the album across Canada in the run up to the holidays, including a visit to the Registry Theatre in Kitchener ON (December 1), the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto (December 2) and Aeolian Hall in London (December 3). Check out all the dates and visit the Sultans of String online at sultansofstring.com. Music: Sultans of String, “Turkish Greensleeves”, “Himalayan Sleigh Ride” and “Hallelujah” from “Christmas Caravan” (2017, Self).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 351: Ken Yates and The Canadian Folk Music Awards

Folk Roots Radio Episode 350 - Ken Yates Interview & 2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards

Nov 23 2017

The winners of the 2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards were recently announced at a couple of very special gala evenings in Ottawa. On Episode 351 of Folk Roots Radio we feature music from some of the award winners alongside an interview with double award-winning singer-songwriter Ken Yates, recorded at this year’s Summerfolk. Ken took home the awards for both English Songwriter of the Year and New/Emerging Artist of the Year for his wonderful 2016 album “Huntsville”. Check out the playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 350 - 2017 Developing Artist Program

Nov 17 2017

We’re all about the Folk Music Ontario conference 2017 Developing Artist Program on Episode 350 of Folk Roots Radio. Each year during the annual conference, a group of developing artists – youth performers are paired with mentors from the Ontario folk community to work on a showcase performance and participate in professional development activities. Join us as we chat to participants in this year’s program and check out some of their music. The program is open to residents of Ontario and the National Capital Region, between the ages 15 and 21, who are chosen for their interest, ability and experience. This episode features commentary and musical contributions from program coordinator and mentor Treasa Levasseur; Mentors: Kaia Kater, Cindy Doire, AHI, Yao and Leonard Sumner; Youth: Madison Galloway, Sara Gougeon, Moscow Apartment, Ben Heffernan, Rachel Barber and Greg Smith. Learn more about the program HERE. Photo credit: Mike Bourgeault. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Root Radio Episode 349 - Jabbour & New Releases

Nov 17 2017

Fun bilingual Quebec roots trio Jabbour join us at the Folk Music Ontario conference on Episode 349 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about their music and play three songs live. We also check out more of the latest new releases including new music from Ashley Condon, Dennis Johnson, The Lifers and Harrow Fair with a fabulous version of The Rankin Family classic song “Fare Thee Well”. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Root Radio Episode 348 - Piper Hayes & New Releases

Nov 10 2017

We’re back at the Folk Music Ontario conference on Episode 348 of Folk Roots Radio for an interview with Hamilton Ontario singer-songwriter Piper Hayes & her partner Carson Ritcey-Thorpe. Piper is getting ready to release her first full-length album “Piper & Carson”. Piper and Carson join us in the studio for a fun chat about their music, and a couple of live songs from the new album. As always, we also check out more of the latest new releases. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 363: Jeremie Albino & More New Releases

Folk Roots Radio Episode 362: Chris Ronald & More New Releases

Folk Roots Radio Episode 361: Ryan Cook & More New Releases

Jeremie Albino – Folk Roots Radio at FMO

The Rough & Tumble – We Made Ourselves A Home When We Didn’t Know

Andrew Collins – Folk Roots Radio at FMO

Folk Roots Radio Episode 360: Shari Ulrich & More New Releases

Ryan Cook – Folk Roots Radio at FMO

Folk Roots Radio Episode 359: Ashley Condon & More New Releases

Shari Ulrich – Folk Roots Radio at FMO

Chris Ronald – Folk Roots Radio at FMO

Folk Roots Radio Episode 358: Rob Lutes & More New Releases

Ashley Condon – Can You Hear Me – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Folk Roots Radio Episode 357: Best of 2017 – The Next 15

Folk Roots Radio Episode 356: Best of 2017 – The Top 10

Episode 355: Sultans Of String’s Chris McKhool & More Folk Roots Radio At Christmas

Folk Roots Radio Episode 354: Folk Roots Radio At Christmas

Folk Roots Radio Episode 353: Raine Hamilton & More New Releases

Folk Roots Radio Episode 352: Erin Costelo & More New Releases

Sultans of String “Christmas Caravan” – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Folk Roots Radio Episode 351: Ken Yates and The Canadian Folk Music Awards

Folk Roots Radio Episode 350: Folk Music Ontario 2017 Developing Artist Program

Folk Roots Radio Episode 349: Jabbour & More New Releases

Folk Roots Radio Episode 348: Piper Hayes & New Releases