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The Road to Summerfolk 2016

Jan 28 2016

If you’re a budding musician between the ages of 14-22 you definitely need to pay attention to this announcement… How would you like to play Summerfolk this year? Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival are inviting up and coming young performers to register to participate in the Road To Summerfolk 2016. Showcases will be held on Sundays in April ( April 3, 10, 17, 24) in Owen Sound, Paisley and Kitchener to select artists who will advance to the grand final in Owen Sound, where five acts will be selected to play the Friday night Discoveries concert and also participate in workshop sessions during the weekend. We caught up with Tara MacKenzie from the MacKenzie Blues Band, coordinator of the program in Owen Sound. Learn more about the Youth Discoveries program HERE. To learn more about Summerfolk visit summerfolk.org. Music: Ben Turcotte, “Orange Elephant” from In These Notes” (2013, Self), Jojo Worthington “Amadeus” from “7” (2015, Self).

Anne Walker – The Interview

Jan 26 2016

“Down the Horseshoe Valley Road” is the latest release from Toronto-based singer-songwriter Anne Walker. The album, produced by Paul Mills, takes Anne back to her roots in the rural community of Coulson, a small hamlet located in the gentle rolling hills of central Ontario – the fourteen songs telling stories of the beauty of the area, her family roots, rural life and some of the characters she met along the way. The CD release show for the album takes place at the Acoustic Harvest Folk Club, Robinson Hall, St. Nicholas Anglican Church 1512 Kingston Rd., Toronto (one block east of Warden Ave.) on Saturday, March 5 at 8:00 p.m. (doors 7:30 p.m.). Tickets: $22 Advance/$25 Door. For more information about the CD release show, call 416-264-2235 or visit acousticharvest.ca. For more information about Anne Walker, visit annewalker.ca. Music: Anne Walker “Horseshoe Valley Road”, “Grandma Harris In Her Own Words” and “Cullybackey” from “Down the Horseshoe Valley Road” (2015, Self).

Songs Of The Future – The Interview

Jan 26 2016

Songs of the Future is the latest collection of music curated for Guelph’s Bar Code Free Music by folk and roots musician Lewis Melville. Released under the name of the Tomorrow Collective, the album features 33 songs by 31 different artists and groups (there are two songs each from Tannis Slimmon and Lewis Melville), who were asked to reflect on Canada’s place in the world and their hopes for the future in the wake of the 42nd Canadian General Election that took place on October 19 2015. We caught up with Lewis Melville at home in Guelph to chat about the project. Music: Tannis Slimmon, “In The Future” and Lewis Melville “Give It A Whirl” from “Songs of the Future” (2015, Bar Code Free Music).

Winterfolk 2016 – The Interview

Jan 26 2016

The 14th Annnual Winterfolk Blues and Roots Festival takes place on the Danforth in Toronto from February 12-14 2016. Featuring some of the best blues and roots artists on the Canadian music scene, playing on five stages in four venues, it promises to be a fabulous weekend of live music. This year’s featured performers include Old Man Luedecke, Nashville’s Mean Mary, David Storey (of Corner Gas fame), Sudbury bloodgrass band Murder Murder, Toronto soul rockers Julian Taylor and blues great Jack De Keyzer, among many others. We caught up with Festival Director Brian Gladstone in Toronto to chat about this year’s festival. Buy tickets online HERE. For more information about Winterfolk, visit winterfolk.com. Music: Old Man Luedecke “The Early Days” from “Domestic Eccentric” (2015, High Romance/True North) and Jack de Keyzer “Electric Love” from “Electric Love” (2012, Self).

Richard Garvey – The Interview

Jan 26 2016

Guelph-based roots musician Richard Garvey is another in a long line of folkies using their music to try and inspire social change. His latest E.P. of upbeat acoustic folk, “I Found A Box of Beer In The Snow”, was recorded live off the floor with the Ever-Lovin’ Jug Band. He’s heading out on tour in Ontario to showcase the new E.P., and has a CD release show at The Bookshelf e-bar on Quebec St in Guelph on February 4. We caught up with Richard at home to chat about the new album. Music: Richard Garvey, “Singing Don’t Pay The Bills No More” and “I Found a Box Of Beer In The Show” from “I Found a Box Of Beer In The Show” E.P. (2016, Self).

Episode 237: Hillside Inside 2016

Jan 23 2016

This edition of Folk Roots Radio features music from performers at this year’s Hillside Inside, the winter version of the Hillside Festival. Hillside Inside takes place from January 29 – 31 at a variety of venues in downtown Guelph, and includes some great community activities alongside some fabulous musical performances.

Jan 22 2016

The winter version of the Hillside Festival, Hillside Inside is just about here. It runs from January 29 – 31 at a variety of venues in downtown Guelph. As usual the festival features some great community activities alongside some fabulous musical performances. Artists performing at this year’s festival include Basia Bulat, Casey Mecjia (from indie faves Ohbijou), Dakhabrakha, The Strumbellas, The Elwins, Geoff Berner and the Grand River Ramblers. Anna and Jane McGarrigle, sisters to Kate McGarrigle and aunts of Rufus and Martha Wainwright, will also be reading from their family memoir Mountain City Girls in the afternoon of Saturday, January 30 in the gorgeous sanctuary of St. George’s Church. A Q & A will follow. There’s also a Sunday Gospel Session, youth showcase and the winter festival favourite, Girls and Guitars – taking place in six downtown storefronts (cafes, stores, and a gallery), showcasing six female singer-songwriters for half-hour shows that you can take in on the street or in the store. Individual show tickets and weekend passes are available online or at The Bookshelf, 41 Quebec Street, downtown Guelph. Buy tickets online HERE. Check out hillsidefestival.ca for all performance and community event details.

10 String Symphony – January 31

Jan 22 2016

Nashville duo 10 String Symphony is a collaboration between Rachel Baiman and Christian Sedelmyer, two 5-string fiddle players and veteran side players on the Nashville music scene. Rachel is a former Illinois state fiddle champion in the old time tradition. Clasically trained Christian is a touring member of the Jerry Douglas Band and previously played in rock bands. 10 String Symphony are already building a great reputation for their live shows and their 2015 album “Weight Of The World” has garnered excellent reviews and wide audience support. They’re in Guelph for Home Routes Guelph house concert on Sunday January 31 at 8 p.m. (Doors 7:15 p.m.).

Tickets: $20 per person, $10 for students, free for kids under 12, bring some friends and get 6 tickets for $100. As house concerts take place in people’s homes, for privacy reasons, we are unable to share information about the venue and presenter. To contact the presenter visit homeroutes.ca/concerts/guelph or contact us directly and we’ll share their e-mail. For information on other Home Routes venues and regional touring artists, visit homeroutes.ca.

Lotus Wight – Ode To The Banjo – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Jan 19 2016

Lotus Wight, banjo player with rag-timers Sheesham, Lotus and ‘Son released a solo album of banjo-driven tunes, the rather appropriately-titled “Ode to the Banjo” late in 2015. “Ode to the Banjo” itself is not a musical track, but a 23-stanza poem about the history of the banjo written by Lotus Wight. A musical version of the poem may appear on a future recording. Lotus Wight plays all the instruments on the 13 tracks (12 traditional, one self-composition) on the album, and alongside a variety of banjos, also plays the kalimba and his own invention, the Contrabass Harmoniphoneum. Lotus stopped by our mobile studio at the Folk Music Ontario conference to chat about the new album. For more information about Lotus Wight, visit lotuswight.com. Music: Lotus Wight “Skillet” and “Roustabout” from “Ode to the Banjo” (2015, Self).

Episode 236: David Woodhead & Brad Woods

Jan 15 2016

Coming up as we go Live & Local on Folk Roots Radio, we’re featuring an interview with acclaimed bassist and multi-instrumentalist David Woodhead, who joins us to chat about his upcoming Ontario tour dates with his genre-defying side project Confabulation. Guelph-based storyteller Brad Woods also joins us to chat about his new live storytelling album “The Woods” and upcoming appearance at the Guelph Civic Museum for Fourth Friday on January 22nd.

Jan 14 2016

On this episode of Folk Roots Radio we dip back into our favourite albums of the year. We’ve already announced our ten favourite albums of the year – you can check those albums out HERE. This time around, we’re focusing on albums that made it on to our twenty-five album long list, but didn’t quite make it into the Top 10 – we still love them all though, which is why we’re more than happy to play a selection of songs from them on this week’s show.

Jan 13 2016

Bassist and multi-instrumentalist David Woodhead is taking his side project Confabulation out on tour in Ontario during January. A world-renowned bass player, David has played on over 200 different albums, and toured with Stan Rogers, Loreena McKennitt, Valdy and James Keelaghan among others. Confabulation is an ever-evolving genre-defying showcase for some of Toronto’s most accomplished performers. Over the years its featured more than 20 different top drawer performers including Jaron Freeman-Fox, Rich Brown, Anne Lindsay and the Shuffle Demons’ Richard Underhill. The current line-up features keyboardist Doug Wilde, drummer Rich Greenspoon, reeds player Colleen Allen and guitarist Bob Cohen. Confabulation visits The Moonshine Café, Oakville (8:30 p.m.; $10) on Thursday, January 21, The Pearl Company, Hamilton on Friday January 22 ($20, advance/student/senior – $15), Silence, Guelph on Sunday January 24 – (8 p.m. ; $10) and the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery Club, Kingston Sunday, January 31 (2 p.m.; $15). Prepare to be enchanted by a sonic musical experience unlike any other. We caught up with David Woodhead in Toronto to learn more about the tour. For more information, visit davidwoodhead.com. Music: David Woodhead’s Confabulation “Bozeny Parasy” from “Confabulation” (2010, Self) and “Windy Apples” (Demo) (2015, Self).

Brad Woods – The Interview

Jan 12 2016

Guelph-based storyteller Brad Woods is the featured performer for Fourth Friday at the Guelph Civic Museum on Friday January 22. As on every Fourth Friday, general admission to the museum is free after 5 p.m. and the free show runs from 7-9 p.m. Brad has just released his latest storytelling album “The Woods”, dedicated to his parents and featuring his brother Greg on percussion. The album was recorded live at a house concert in Guelph by Phil Cottrell and Tim Alberts. We caught up with Brad at home in Guelph to chat about the new album. Photo credit: Ken Meats RBP. Story: Brad Woods, “His City” from “The Woods” (2015, Self).

James Keelaghan in Guelph – January 15

Jan 10 2016

James Keelaghan is widely-regarded as being one of Canada’s finest songwriters. With a career spanning nearly a quarter century, he’s been called the poet laureate of the folk and roots world – a song craftsman who brings passion, intensity and curiosity to his work alongside an insatiable desire to find the next unique story to inspire another big song. He’s also the Artistic Director of the Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival. James Keelaghan will be in Guelph on Friday January 15 for a Borealis Music Series show in the Co-operators Hall at the River Run Centre at 8 p.m. Tickets are $28.00 Adult, $26.00 Senior and available online HERE. We have THREE pairs of tickets to give away for this show. If you’d like to get in the draw, send an e-mail to jan[at]folkrootsradio.com. Music: James Keelaghan “Glory Bound” and “Kiri’s Piano” from “History: The First 25 Years” (2013, Borealis Records).

Episode 234: James Keelaghan

Jan 05 2016

On this episode we talk to one of Canada’s finest singer-songwriters James Keelaghan. James will be in Guelph on January 15 for a show at the River Run Centre. James is also the Artistic Director of Summerfolk and during this week’s interview he announces the first artists who will be performing at the summer 2016 festival. We also have THREE pairs of tickets to give away for the James Keelaghan show. If you’d like to get in the draw, send an e-mail to jan[at]folkrootsradio.com.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 233: Sue Massek Interview & More Best of 2015

Dec 29 2015

One of the best loved Folk Roots Radio episodes from the past year or so, we devote most of the hour to an interview with Kentucky musician, folklorist and social activist Sue Massek about “Precious Memories”, a companion cast album to a Si Kahn original play about the life and work of songwriter and coal camp activist Sarah Ogan Gunning, and one of our favourite albums of 2015. We also include music from some other albums we loved this year: “Sweet Memories… Never Leave” from Erynn Marshall & Carl Jones, “Joe Hill’s Last Will” by John McCutcheon, and the wonderful compilation Dear Jean: Artists Celebrate Jean Ritchie – a 37 track compilation featuring an impressive list of Jean Ritchie fans and admirers.

Dec 23 2015

This episode features an interview with Chris Coole from bluegrass – old time band, The Foggy Hogtown Boys who will be bringing their show based on the music of The Carter Family and Johnny Cash to Toronto, Peterborough and Guelph. And as the holiday season is just about upon us, we’re including songs to welcome in the Winter Solstice, and some seasonal music that’s a little bit different from the usual fare.

Dec 19 2015

Sue Massek is a musician, folklorist and social activist from Kentucky who’s been making music for nearly forty years, both solo and as the banjo player in the Reel World String Band. Sue released one of our favourite albums of 2015 – “Precious Memories”, a companion cast album to a Si Kahn original play about the life and work of songwriter and Kentucky coal camp activist Sarah Ogan Gunning – and brought to life, in a one woman show, by Sue Massek. We caught up with Sue at home in Kentucky to chat about the project. Music: Sue Massek “Precious Memories”, “Come All You Coal Miners”, “I’m Going To Organize”, “The Lonesome Death of Harry Simms” (feat. Si Kahn), “Dreadful Memories”, “Down On The Picket Line” and “Girl Of Constant Sorrow” from “Precious Memories” (2015, Strictly Country Records).

The Foggy Hogtown Boys – Carters & Cash

Dec 17 2015

Barnstorming bluegrass and old time band, the legendary Foggy Hogtown Boys are heading out on tour in January as they celebrate the music of The Carter Family and Johnny Cash. They’ll be making stops in Toronto and Peterborough before arriving in Guelph for a show at the ANAF Club 344, 32 Gordon St on January 9 at 8 p.m. Advance tickets for the Guelph show are $20 and available online HERE. The Foggy Hogtown Boys are a Canadian bluegrass and roots music institution that’s been together for over 17 years – since the start of their famed “Lonesome Wednesdays” residency at the Silver Dollar Room in Toronto, with a membership that reads like a who’s who of Canadian roots music. Chris Coole (banjo/acoustic guitar), John Showman (fiddle), Andrew Collins (mandolin/fiddle), Chris Quinn (banjo, rhythm guitar) have all been with the band from the start while Max Heineman (bass) joined the band eight years ago. Discovered in 1927 at the legendary “Bristol Sessions” in Bristol TN, the music of The Carter Family has been a huge influence on the development of American music, in particular, in the bluegrass, country, folk and Gospel genres. Johnny Cash, of course, needs no introduction – and when he tied the knot with June Carter in 1968, he married into this “First Family of Country Music”. The rest, as they say is history. To learn more about the Foggys mini-tour we caught up with Chris Coole at home in Toronto. Photo: Mark Somerfeld. Music: The Foggy Hogtown Boys “Kitten & The Cat” and “John Henry” from “Animals Insects & People” (2014, Self).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 231: Our Favourite Albums of 2015

Folk Roots Radio Favourite Albums of 2015

Dec 14 2015

Well, It’s that time of year… Time to pick our favourite albums of 2015. And you know what, it doesn’t get any easier. There’s just so much great music out there, and it’s been our great privilege to bring lots of it to you each week on Folk Roots Radio. Like last year, most of the albums on this list aren’t a surprise as I raved about them during the year. This time around though I selected a twenty-five album long list, then narrowed it down to the Top 10 you can read about below.

Dec 13 2015

On Sunday January 9 2016, the Mill Race Folk Society celebrates the end of the Christmas season with Twelfth Night, an evening of traditional music and dance. Refreshments will be provided and there will be a cash bar. Advance tickets are $15.00 online HERE, $20.00 at the door. As this event regularly sells out so it is better to purchase your tickets early.

Dec 04 2015

This week’s Live & Local reflects the fact that the Christmas season, or the holidays or whatever you like to call this time of year, is rapidly approaching. This week, Brad McEwen, Artistic Director at the Mill Race Folk Society joins us to chat about a couple of fun seasonal events in their calendar. We also include some other musical ways to celebrate this time of year.

Dec 02 2015

Vocal group The Ondine Chorus are gearing up for the winter solstice with concerts at the Wellington County Museum in Elora on December 13, the newly-renovated Art Gallery of Guelph (formerly MacDonald Stewart Art Centre) (December 17) and at the beautifully-situated Paul Morin Gallery in Alton on December 18. If you’ve not yet seen Ondine Chorus in concert, you’re in for a treat – their performances are fantastic, with a repertoire that features some stunning original work alongside gorgeous reinterpretations of traditional songs. Check out the event and ticket information below. Check out all the details below.

Dec 01 2015

The Mill Race Folk Society has a couple of great events that take place each year during the holiday season. Pub Carolling with the Orange Peel Carollers and Village Band takes place on Sunday, December 13 from 3-6 pm at the Brownestone Gastropub, 39 Queen St. E. in Cambridge ON. It’s a free event, though donations for the musicians are gratefully accepted – and lots of fun! And Twelfth Night: An Ancient Midwinter Celebration takes place on Saturday, January 9 at The United Kingdom Club of Cambridge, 35 International Village Dr., Cambridge ON. Advance tickets $15 ($20 at the door). Artistic Director Brad McEwen joined us to chat about the upcoming festivities. For more information visit millracefolksociety.com. Music: Coope, Boyes & Simpson & Fraser, Freya, Boyes “Bodmin Wassail” and “While Shepherds Were Watching” from “Voices At The Door – Midwinter Songs & Carols” (2006, No Masters).

Pub Carolling – December 13

Dec 01 2015

The Mill Race folk Society presents Pub Carolling with the Orange Peel Carollers and Village Band on Sunday, December 13 from 3-6 pm at the Brownestone Gastropub, 39 Queen St. E. in Cambridge ON. These carols are not the standard Christmas stock you hear piped into every shopping mall; they are often more boisterous and secular in nature, and have been preserved in the pub environment in several Yorkshire villages for at least the past 200 years. Most of the carols will be unfamiliar to modern ears, but with their folky sound and rousing choruses, many are very easy to learn, and lots of fun to sing. Admission if free, but donations for the carollers are very welcome.

Don’t miss Twelfth Night: An Ancient Midwinter Celebration on Saturday, Jan 9, 2016. The United Kingdom Club of Cambridge, 35 International Village Dr. Advance tickets $15 ($20 at the door). For more information visit millracefolksociety.com.

The Road to Summerfolk 2016

Anne Walker – The Interview

Songs Of The Future – The Interview

Winterfolk 2016 – The Interview

Richard Garvey – The Interview

Episode 237: Hillside Inside 2016

Hillside Inside 2015

10 String Symphony – January 31

Lotus Wight – Ode To The Banjo – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Episode 236: David Woodhead & Brad Woods

Folk Roots Radio Episode 235: More Best of 2015

David Woodhead’s Confabulation

Brad Woods – The Interview

James Keelaghan in Guelph – January 15

Episode 234: James Keelaghan

Folk Roots Radio Episode 233: Sue Massek Interview & More Best of 2015

Episode 232: Chris Coole

Sue Massek – The Interview

The Foggy Hogtown Boys – Carters & Cash

Folk Roots Radio Episode 231: Our Favourite Albums of 2015

Twelfth Night – January 9

Episode 230: Mill Race Folk Society

Ondine Chorus – Solstice Tour

The Mill Race Folk Society at Christmas

Pub Carolling – December 13