Episode 144: Jack Cooper

Folk Roots Radio on April 5 2014 (Episode 144) featured an in-studio interview with Jack Cooper as well as a live performance from singer-songwriter Gayle Ackroyd.

Jack Cooper joined us in the studio to talk about a special fundraiser for singer-songwriter Mary Anne Epp. I’ve interviewed a lot of independent musicians over the years and recognize how hard it is for them to focus on their art while keeping their head above water. I was really touched by Mary-Anne’s story. It’s great to see friends like Jack stepping up to help her out. You may want to, check out the audio of my conversation with Jack  – it’s well worth a listen.

The fundraiser takes place at the ANAF in Guelph on April 12 at 8:00 p.m. A minimum donation of $10 is suggested and you can register online here. Mary-Anne’s song, “Rhoda” was written about an encounter with a homeless woman. Little did Mary-Anne know that she herself would end up homeless one day. To learn more about Mary-Anne’s story, read this article in Chateleine.

Later in the show, Gayle Ackroyd joined us to play live in the studio, giving us a first taste of some of her new songs. Gayle has a day-job teaching vocals, piano, guitar and ukelele both privately and through Long & McQuade. As Gayle say, “This helps keep the wolf away from the door”.

Gayle plays the Three Rivers Coffee House, 40 Margaret St, Guelph (River of Life Church) on April 12 2014 at 7:00 p.m. If you’d like to buy some of Gayle’s music, check out her page on CD Baby.

We took a different direction this week for our mystery theme with “Covers of Bruce Springsteen songs”. The set had quite a different feel from those we’ve done recently that focused on a concept or thing. Did it work as well? I’m not sure, but it was a fun change.

No guilty pleasure was played this week, however that feature will resume next week and we will be playing one especially for Guelph’s Sue Smith. Tune in, it’s a fun one!

We’d love to hear from you if you have a Guilty Pleasure to share. Remember, a Guilty Pleasure is that song you still love even though you think others may find it unfashionable. You’ll be surprised how many people love it too!

If you have a guilty pleasure you’d like to share – that song you still love though you think other people would find it unfashionable (believe me, they won’t), get in touch. We’d love to play it for you! And, if you have a good story about why you love that song, so much the better.

We hope you enjoyed the show. Thanks for listening. We’ll see you next week!

Mystery Theme: “Covers of Bruce Springsteen songs”

Erik Balkey
Born In The USA
Everything Is Great (2013, Hudson Harding Music)

Ruth Moody
Dancing In The Dark
These Wilder Things (2013, True North) CDN

Cowboy Junkies
Thunder Road
Neath Your Covers Part 1 (E.P.) (2004, Zoe Records) CDN

Joe Ely
Working On The Highway
Light Of Day: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen (2003, Sony)

The Good Lovelies
State Trooper
Live At Revolution (2012, Warner Music) CDN

Belle Starr
Tougher Than The Rest
Belle Starr (2013, Sony Music Canada) CDN

Mary Anne Epp
Rhoda
Par Lament Hill Demos (Youtube)

Interview: Jack Cooper joined us in the studio to chat about a fundraiser for singer-songwriter Mary Anne Epp taking place in Guelph on April 12.

Mary Anne Epp
Heaven
Par Lament Hill Demos (Youtube)

David Francey
Ordinary Man
So Say We All (2013, Red House) CDN

Scott Wolfson and Other Heroes
Nothing To It
Life On Fire (2014, Hudson-Harding Music)

Jonathan Byrd
I’m Going To Change The World
(Single) (2014, Self)

Live in the Studio: Singer-Songwriter Gayle Ackroyd

Gayle Ackroyd
The Rains Came Down
(Single) (2014, Demo) CDN

Gayle Ackroyd
Yes I Love You (Live in the Studio)

Gayle Ackroyd
You Got To Keep Faith (Live in the Studio)

Gayle Ackroyd
Do You Miss Me
Give It All You Got (2011, Self) CDN

Gayle Ackroyd
Just Be The Girl You Are Meant To Be Right Now (Live in the Studio)

Gayle Ackroyd
Walk The Streets Of London (Live in the Studio)

Gayle Ackroyd
Summer Rain
Give It All You Got (2011, Self) CDN

Theme/Background Music:
Mary Margaret O’Hara
Anew Day
Miss America (Virgin, 1988) CDN

Phil Cook And His Feat
Ballad Of A Hungry Mother
Hungry Mother Blues (Trekky Records, 2011)

George Harrison
Marwa Blues
Brainwashed (2002, EMI Music Canada)

Lawrence Blatt
Into The Abyss/Infra Red
The Colour of Sunshine (2005, LB Music)