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The Island Unplugged Music Festival – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Jul 12 2017

The 4th annual Island Unplugged Music Festival takes place the weekend of Saturday & Sunday August 5-6 in the heart of beautiful Pelee Island on the Canadian side of Lake Erie. A family friendly event, the festival features performers from the local, regional and national scene, alongside the opportunity to enjoy some great local food, craft beer and wine while exploring everything else the island has to offer. To learn more about the festival, we caught up with artistic director Rod Strickland. This year’s line-up features headliners Elliott BROOD and Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar alongside The Ron Leary Sextet, Brock Zeman, Old Man Grant, The Lofi Mind, The Layrite Boys, The Coffee House Combo, The Brandy Alexanders, Mike Galbraith, Twas Now (Mike & Diana Erb), Allison Brown, Deirdre Roberts and the Windsor Youth Fiddlers. For more information about The Island Unplugged and to pick up tickets, visit theislandunplugged.org. Music: Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar “Addicted” from “Send The Nightingale” (2015, Self), Elliot Brood “Little Ones” from “Work and Love” (2014, Paper Bag Records).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 334: Joe Jencks Interview & More New Releases

Jul 06 2017

Chicago based singer-songwriter Joe Jencks joins us on Episode 334 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his great new album “Poets, Philosophers, Workers & Wanderers”. Our wide-ranging conversation covers the making of the new album, songwriting and live performances, including those with his compadres Pat Wictor and Greg Greenway in harmony folk supergroup Brother Sun, who will be going on indefinite hiatus at the end of 2017 to allow all three members to focus on new projects and collaborations. It’s a really great interview, and definitely worth checking out. And, as always, we take a look at more of the latest new releases on the folk and roots scene. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 333: We're All About The Music!

Jul 06 2017

We’re all about the music again on Episode 333 of Folk Roots Radio as we hold back the interviews to bring you another hour of the latest new releases. This time around, we check out the latest releases from political folkies Emma’s Revolution, sibling harmony duo Chris & Meredith Thompson and “All My Heroes Sang The Blues”, the final album from California based singer-songwriter Sandy Ross, who sadly passed away recently. We also check out Danish singer-songwriter Morten Remar‘s first international release ‘Beautiful Day” and another new demo from prolific folk posters Big Little Lions, “Better Than This”. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 332 - Hey Canada!

Jun 27 2017

We continue to celebrate Canada Day on Episode 332 of Folk Roots Radio. This special edition of the show is a bit of a travelogue as we start out in the east of the country and head west, but really it’s just another chance for me to share more of my favourite songs about the country I now call home. This episode features music from Great Lake Swimmers, Peter Katz And The Curious, Lennie Gallant, Bob Ardern, Ian Foster, Ashley Condon, Bill Colgate, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Connie Kaldor, Dave Gunning, Kevin Roy, Justin Rutledge and Glenn McFarlane. I hope you enjoy the mix. Happy Canada Day everyone! Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 331 - O Canada!

Jun 26 2017

We’re celebrating Canada’s 150th Birthday on Episode 331 of Folk Roots Radio. As Canada celebrates this important milestone, we’ve put together a very special edition of the show that celebrates the history and diversity of the country we’re proud to call our home, while recognizing the fact that Canada’s first nations inhabited this land long before the settlers came. Joining us on this episode are Asani, Tudjaat, Andrea Menard, Same Latitude As Rome, Cotillion, Bruce Cockburn, Maria Dunn, Mike Ford, James Gordon, Stompin’ Tom Connors, Jason Collett, Marc Jordan & Ian Thomas and Toronto Children’s Chorus with Jean Ashworth Bartle & Ruth Watson Henderson. We hope you enjoy the mix we’ve put together. Happy Canada Day everyone! Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 329 - Home County 2017

Jun 22 2017

We’re all about the 2017 Home County Music & Art Festival on Episode 330 of Folk Roots Radio. The 44th edition of the festival takes place July 14 – 16, 2017 in Victoria Park, London ON. Admission is by donation, and because the festival is held in a downtown London park, it is, also, totally accessible. Alongside a fabulous musical line-up, the festival also features some great art and craft vendors. To learn more about the festival and its 2017 line-up we talk to artistic director Darin Addison. We also check out music from artists heading to London this time around. Check out the full playlist below.

Summerfolk 2017 - Folk Roots Radio Interview

Jun 21 2017

The 2017 version of one of our favourite festivals, Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival takes place the weekend of August 18-20 in Kelso Park, on the shores of Georgian Bay, in Owen Sound. One of the things that Summerfolk does very well is to bring a great variety of wonderful music together. This year’s festival features more than 40 musical acts from across Canada and across the world representing genres from folk, country and bluegrass, to blues, to hip-hop and funk. Like any great folk festival they also have lots of children’s activities, community workshops, artisan booths, dozens of food vendors… and two licensed areas. To learn more about this summer’s festival we caught up with artistic director James Keelaghan. Check out the full line-up HERE. GET TICKETS. For more information about Summerfolk, visit summerfolk.org. Music: Ken Yates “Madeline’s Table”, recorded live in L.A. (2015, Youtube).

Home County Music & Art Festival 2017 – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Home County 2017 - Folk Roots Radio Interview

Jun 21 2017

This year’s Home County Music & Art Festival takes place from July 14 – 16, 2017 in Victoria Park, London ON. Now in its 44th year, the festival is an important part of the Southern Ontario folk calendar. Admission is by donation, which makes it very appealing when compared to other festivals that charge a fee. Because the festival is held in a downtown London park, it is, also, totally accessible. Alongside a great musical line-up, the festival also features some great art and craft vendors. And something new this year is an emerging artist stage within the craft beer area of the site. To learn more about this year’s festival we caught up with artistic director Darin Addison. For more information, visit homecounty.ca. Music: Royal Wood “Long Way Out” from “Ghost Light” (2016, Cadence Music/Universal).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 329: Hillside Festival 2017

Jun 16 2017

Episode 329 of Folk Roots Radio is all about the 2017 Hillside Festival taking place the weekend of July 14-16 at beautiful Guelph Lake, just outside Guelph, in Southern Ontario. Each year, Hillside – a true community festival, brings together a line-up that promises something for every taste, and constantly surprises. To learn more about this year’s festival, we caught up with festival artistic director Sam Baijal. We also feature a chat and a couple of live songs from Irish Mythen – an absolutely fabulous live performer, who’ll be making her Hillside debut this year – alongside music from other artists heading to the festival this time around. Listen to the episode and check out the playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 328: We're All About The Music

Jun 15 2017

We’re all about the music on Episode 328 of Folk Roots Radio as we hold back the artist interviews to check out a great mix of the latest new releases. This time round we include first plays for new albums by Stewart Legere, Robbie Bankes, Moonfruits, Harpdog Brown, Alanna Gurr, Montgomery Delaney, Kim Doolittle and Peter Calo alongside more tracks from recent albums we’ve really been enjoying. Listen to the episode and check out the playlist below.

Jun 14 2017

Chicago based singer-songwriter Joe Jencks has built his music career around a fabulous baritone voice and a reputation for well-crafted songs that speak to a human experience fraught with challenge, and injustice, yet, also offering hope for a brighter future. His latest solo album, “Poets, Philosophers, Workers & Wanderers” includes 11 original songs about such topics as prison ships, veterans and PTSD, solstice renewal and the testimony of Pete Seeger before the Un-American Activities Committee in 1955, alongside some well-chosen covers that include a lesser known Phil Ochs song and a Jon Brooks classic, “Mercy”. We caught up with Joe Jencks on tour to chat about the new album. To learn more about Joe Jencks, visit joejencks.com. Joe Jencks is also a member of harmony trio Brother Sun, (with fellow singer-songwriters Pat Wictor and Greg Greenway). Brother Sun will be going on hiatus at the end of 2017. If you want to catch the group performance one last time, you can check out their dates at brothersun.com. Music: Joe Jencks “Let Me Sing You A Song”, “One Piece At A Time”, “Everybody Sings The Blues” and “Going Home” from “Poets, Philosophers, Workers & Wanderers” (2017, Turtle Bear Music).

Hillside Festival 2017 – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Hillside Festival - Folk Roots Radio Interview

Jun 13 2017

The 34th Hillside Festival takes place the weekend of July 14-16 2017, at beautiful Guelph Lake just outside Guelph in Southern Ontario. With more than 60 different acts in this year’s lineup, Hillside brings together a list of performers that promises something for every taste and this year an acknowledgement of how the artistic and activist communities intersect. “In keeping with the strong spirit Hillside has cultivated, we have programmed a line up of artists who are gifted and ambitious. Our 2017 line-up is packed with enablers and disrupters, enabling new ideas to come into consciousness and culture and disrupting the worn channels of thought and feeling upon which we rely. In one-way or another, so many of these artists challenge the status quo, whether through their musical or literary experimentation or their activism, be it political, environmental, race- or gender-based.” To learn more about this year’s festival and the musical line-up, we caught up with artistic director Sam Baijal. Check out the full line-up HERE. Learn more about Hillside and buy tickets HERE. For more information visit hillsidefestival.ca. Music: Billy Bragg & Joe Henry, “Gentle On My Mind” from “Shine A Light: Field Recordings From The Great American Railroad” (2016, Cooking Vinyl).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 327: Mariposa Folk Festival 2017

Jun 08 2017

We’re all about the 2017 Mariposa Folk Festival on Episode 327 of Folk Roots Radio. The Grande Dame of Canadian Folk Festivals 57th edition takes place the weekend of July 7, 8 and 9 in beautiful Tudhope Park in Orillia, on the shores of scenic Lake Couchiching. Mariposa artistic director, Mike Hill, joins us on this episode to chat about this year’s lineup and his new book “The Mariposa Folk Festival – A History”, out now on Dundurn Press. We also feature an excerpt from a great interview & live studio appearance by Coco Love Alcorn, recorded at the Folk Music Ontario conference, alongside music from other artists who’ll be heading to Mariposa this year. Listen to the episode and check out the playlist below.

Mariposa Folk Festival - Folk Roots Radio Interview

Jun 05 2017

Summer festival season is just about with us, and the Mariposa Folk Festival, the Grande Dame of Canadian Folk Festivals, is getting ready for its 57th edition which takes place the weekend of July 7, 8 and 9, in beautiful Tudhope Park in Orillia, on the shores of Lake Couchiching. As always, they’ve put together a very strong line-up that is designed to appeal to all tastes, and all ages and includes headliners The Barenaked Ladies (Friday night), Ruth B (Friday), Whitehorse (Saturday), Matt Andersen (Saturday), The New Pornographers (Saturday) and Bruce Cockburn (Sunday) and The Last Waltz – A Musical Celebration of The Band LIVE (Sunday) alongside many others. You can check out the full line-up, learn about all of the performers and buy tickets HERE. We caught up with Mike Hill, artistic director at the Mariposa Folk Festival to chat about the festival and his new book “The Mariposa Folk Festival – A History”, out now on Dundurn Press. Music: Ruth B “Lost Boy” from “Safe Haven” (2017, Columbia).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 326: Montreal Folk Fest sur le Canal 2017

Jun 02 2017

We’re all about the Montreal Folk Fest sur le Canal on Episode 326 of Folk Roots Radio. The 10th edition of the festival takes place on the banks of the Lachine Canal in Montreal from June 14-18 2017. Starting out as a day long festival attracting just 500 festival goers, it’s since evolved into a five-day event of free outdoor programming and ticketed indoor concerts that brings some of the best folk, roots and bluegrass music into the heart of Montreal. Festival co-founder Matt Large joins us to chat about the history of the event and this year’s lineup. We also hear from Guillaume Jabbour, leader of Quebec band Jabbour. We’re also including something very special… an excerpt from a great live studio appearance by the wonderful Birds of Chicago featuring JT Nero and Allison Russell. We round out the hour with music from some of the other performers heading to Montreal this time around. This episode is a great introduction to a festival that continues to grow – and still manages to make all its outdoor programming free to enjoy. You may not be able to get to the festival this summer, but hopefully our review may encourage you to try and make it there another year. For more information about the Montreal Folk Festival sur le Canal, visit montrealfolkfest.com. Listen to the episode and check out the playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 325: We're All About The Music

Jun 02 2017

We’re all about the music on Episode 325 of Folk Roots Radio as we check out more of the latest new releases. And this time around we’re a bit more bluesy than on recent episodes and we also include more music from albums we’ve really been enjoying lately plus new music on our radar from Terry Gillespie and a political single from England’s Oysterband. Listen to the episode and check out the playlist below.

Montreal Folk Fest sur le Canal - Folk Roots Radio Interview

May 30 2017

The 10th Annual Montreal Folk Fest sur le Canal takes place June 14-18 2017 on the banks of the Lachine canal in Montreal. Starting out as a day long festival attracting just 500 festival goers, it’s since evolved into a five-day event of free outdoor programming and ticketed indoor concerts that brings some of the best folk, roots and bluegrass music into the heart of Montreal. We caught up with festival co-founder Matt Large, to chat about the festival and this year’s lineup. Check out the line-up HERE. For more information, visit montrealfolkfest.com. Photo: Stephen Wilson. Music: William Prince, “Breathless” from “Earthly Days” (2015, Self).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 324: Kevin Roy Interview & More New Releases

May 25 2017

Winnipeg singer-songwriter Kevin Roy, joins Jan Hall on Episode 324 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his great 2016 album “Heartworn Highways” and his upcoming Canadian tour dates. And, as usual, we also take a look at some of the latest new releases. Listen to the episode and check out the playlist below.

May 19 2017

Winnipeg troubadour singer-songwriter Kevin Roy released a great country roots album “Heartworn Highways” in 2016, the follow-up to his well-received 2014 debut “Taller Than The Trees”. With a lovely twanged up, and a live off the floor feel, the album was co-produced with Lloyd Peterson at Winnipeg’s Paintbox Recording. Joining Kevin on the album are William J. Western (co-producer of Del Barber‘s JUNO-nominated Prairieography) on pedal steel, Crooked Brothers honorary percussionist Daniel Bertnick, and Red Moon Road‘s Daniel Peloquin-Hopfner on banjo, with harmony vocals from Madeleine Roger (Roger Roger), Amelia Peterson and Logan McKillop. Kevin Roy is out on the road this Spring including some dates in Ontario. We caught up with Kevin at home in Winnipeg to chat about his music. For more information visit kevinroymusic.com. Music: Kevin Roy “Heartworn Highways”, The Mighty River” and “Same Old Sky” from “Heartworn Highways” (2016, Self)

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

May 18 2017

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.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 322: We're All About The Music

May 18 2017

We’re all about this music on Folk Roots Radio Episode 322 as we check out a great selection of new releases on the folk and roots scene, including new music from Alice Howe, Joe Jencks and Rachel Baiman and the Tunes from David Holt’s State of Music Volume 2 compilation. Listen to the episode and check out the playlist below.

May 16 2017

St John’s NL singer-songwriter Ian Foster has just released his latest album “Sleeper Years”, the follow-up to his very well-received album from 2014, “The Great Wave”. 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 a 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. For more information about Ian Foster and upcoming tour dates, visit ianfoster.ca. Photo: Chris LeDrew. Music: Ian Foster “Our Love Was”, “The Stinging Nettle” and “You Left A Song (for Ron Hynes)” from “Sleeper Years” (2017, Self).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 321: Emily Millard Interview & More New Releases

May 09 2017

We’re back at the Folk Music Ontario conference on Episode 321 of Folk Roots Radio for another in our interview series Folk Roots Radio at FMO. This time around, we talk to art folk songstress Emily Millard about her new album “By Heron & By Season”. Emily also plays two songs live for us. And, as always we check out more of the latest new releases. Listen to the episode and check out the playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 320: We're All About The Music

May 09 2017

We’re all about the music on Episode 320 of Folk Roots Radio as we catch up on some of the great new music we’ve received recently. Among the new and upcoming releases we check out is the third album from highly rated roots singer-songwriter Sarah Jane Scouten, and Rescue Me!, a great new compilation that’s all about cats and dogs, and the people that love them. (Disclaimer: we’re cat people so we play cat songs on this episode, though the dog songs are pretty good too!). Listen to the episode and check out the playlist below.

May 08 2017

Montreal based art folk songstress Emily Millard is renowned for a beautiful and ethereal voice, that somehow feels like it comes from another place. Over the past ten years, Emily has released four albums under the name Miss Emily Brown. Her new album, the dreamy “By Heron & By Season” (2016), produced in Toronto with Sandro Perri, is the first to be released under her birth name, as Emily Millard. Emily joined Folk Roots Radio at the Folk Music Ontario conference to chat about her music and play a couple of songs, from the new album, live for us. For more information about Emily’s music, visit emilymillard.ca. Music: Emily Millard “Toxic Town” from “By Heron & By Season” (2016, Self), “Origami Valentine” (Live), “Where Is God” (Live) and “Hunter” from “By Heron & By Season” (2016, Self).

The Island Unplugged Music Festival – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Folk Roots Radio Episode 334: Joe Jencks Interview & More New Releases

Folk Roots Radio Episode 333: We’re All About The Music!

Folk Roots Radio Episode 332: Hey Canada!

Folk Roots Radio Episode 331: O Canada!

Folk Roots Radio Episode 330: Home County 2017

Summerfolk 2017 – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Home County Music & Art Festival 2017 – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Folk Roots Radio Episode 329: Hillside Festival 2017

Folk Roots Radio Episode 328: We’re All About The Music!

Joe Jencks – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Hillside Festival 2017 – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Folk Roots Radio Episode 327: Mariposa Folk Festival 2017

Mariposa Folk Festival 2017 – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Folk Roots Radio Episode 326: Montreal Folk Fest sur le Canal 2017

Folk Roots Radio Episode 325: We’re All About The Music!

Montreal Folk Fest sur le Canal 2017 – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Folk Roots Radio Episode 324: Kevin Roy Interview & More New Releases

Kevin Roy – Folk Roots Radio Interview

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

Folk Roots Radio Episode 322: We’re All About The Music!

Ian Foster – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Folk Roots Radio Episode 321: Emily Millard Interview & More New Releases

Folk Roots Radio Episode 320: We’re All About The Music!

Emily Millard – Folk Roots Radio at FMO