Episode 221: Andy White

This week’s Live & Local includes a feature-length interview with singer-songwriter Andy White – originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland but now living in Melbourne, Australia. We also take our usual look at the local music scene including upcoming shows by Nicole Ensing Band, Kevin Breit and Gregory Hoskins and a special fundraiser for local bluesman Mo’ Kauffey who is battling cancer.

Andy White has earned a global reputation for his blend of folk and pop with a poet’s sensibility. He’s back in Canada this November for a CD release tour to promote his latest recording “How Things Are”, his most intimate album to date, and written after the end of his 15 year marriage, to answer the question “How are things?” Whilst detailing his heartbreak in his writing, Andy’s optimistic and appreciative attitude to life has produced an empowering and uplifting album, with lots of hope for the future. Andy is a fabulous live performer who continues to produce great music, with a back catalogue you’ll definitely want to get to know, alongside that new album. We caught up with Andy at home in Australia.

Andy will be playing Erin Roots at The Busholme Inn on November 14 at 7:30 p.m. with Peter Boyer and Same Latitude as Rome in support of their very well-received 2015 album “Early Days”. You might remember history class as boring but Same Latitude As Rome manage to make it come back to life. Admission for all the Erin Roots shows is just $15 (for advance tickets call 519-362-3383 or e-mail jan[at]folkrootsradio.com).

Talking of Erin Roots, in December Tia McGraff and partner Tommy Parham join us. Tia’s latest release “Crazy Beautiful” is under consideration for a Grammy nomination this time around. Joining Tia on the bill on December 12 will be Lotus Wight from Sheesham & Lotus & Son who has just released a solo album “Ode to the Banjo” – it’s pretty nice too!

Kevin Breit and Gregory Hoskins are teaming up for a show together at Dublin St United Church in Guelph on Friday December 4. Joining Kevin and Gregory will be bassist Russ Boswell. Advance tickets are $22.50 and available online HERE.

The Nicole Ensing Band will be playing the Thursday at Noon show in MacKinnon 107, the Goldschmidt Room in the School of Fine Arts at the University of Guelph on November 12. Admission is free although donations are gratefully appreciated. This week we played “The Rolling English Road”, a song inspired by the GK Chesterton poem, that features on Nicole’s wonderful Chesterton inspired album “Riddles and Creeds” (2014, Chanter Records), that came out last year. Nicole and Chanter Records head honcho Ross McKittrick joined us in the studio a year ago to chat about the new album. It’s definitely worth a listen though please remember that the CD launch took place a year ago. You can find it online HERE.

Montreal-based Sin And Swoon will be at Home Routes Guelph on Saturday November 14. Sin And Swoon are a wonderful duo featuring the Ottawa Valley’s Michael James O’Brien and Antigonish and Nova Scotia’s Michelle Tompkins. They claim to love the music of George and Tammy, old time country music, and the harmony singing of the Louvin Brothers and the Delmore Brothers... which judging by their own harmonies, and simpatico live performance, is pretty accurate. This week we played “Just Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide” from their wonderfully titled 2013 album “Did I Turn The Oven Off?” which was rather appropriate as I announced them last week but DID NOT PLAY THEM. D’Oh! I guess we call that the flaw in pre-taping a show in a hurry and then having to make a cut because of time restraints. I’ve left a note for my brain to make sure that doesn’t happen again. I should mention that all evidence of that faux-pas has been eliminated from the online version of last week’s show but you know what they say about conscience…

And an upcoming show we didn’t have time to mention this week, Saskatoon’s Geoff Smith from Gunner & Smith will be playing a solo show at “Saskatchewan Night at the ANAF“, 32 Gordon St, Guelph on Thursday November 13 at 8 p.m. which will also feature poetry readings from Saskatchewan born Guelph Journalist Rob O’Flanagan. The evening will be hosted by Ian Reid who will also tell a few stories and play a song or two. $10 cover.

And finally, there is another very special show we need to mention. Local bluesman, Mo’ Kauffey has unfortunately been diagnosed with cancer. His friends, of which there are a great many, are getting together to raise money so that Mo’ can get access to the best treatments available, in Canada – and beyond. They’re calling themselves the Mo’ Town team and they have a very special fundraiser on Tuesday November 17 at the Royal Electric Bar & Public Eatery, 52 MacDonell Street in Guelph. The fun starts at 7 p.m. and it includes pretty much a who’s who of the local music scene including Mo’ Kauffey himself, Chesterfield and the Sofa Kings, Jeff Bird, Harri Palm, Ian Reid, Ambre McLean, Sam Turton, Joni Nehrita and many more. It should be a great night… and what a great cause… Mo’ Kauffey is the epitome of live music in Guelph. It would be great to see as many people come out to support him as he sets out on the road to recovery. Tickets are $20 online and available HERE. They’ll also be available at the door, if there is still room. Even if you can’t attend the fundraiser you can make a contribution HERE.

Well, that’s all we have time for. Check out the full playlist with artist links below and share your love for all the great folk and roots music out there. Thanks to all the artists who share their music with us, and thank you for listening. We have a lot of great music to bring you on future shows. I hope you’ll join us! You can listen to this show again on Mixcloud by following the link below.

Folk Roots Radio – Episode 221 Live & Local by Folk Roots Radio on Mixcloud

Nicolas & The Iceni (Theme)
Lucy She Rises (Demo)
Roll Right (expected 2015)

Tia McGraff
What A Heart Must Do
Crazy Beautiful (2015, Bandana Records) CDN

Sin And Swoon
Just Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide
Did I Turn The Oven Off? (2013, Self) CDN

Mo’ Kauffey
Who’da Thunk It
Dig It (2010, Brown Box Music) CDN

Lotus Wight
Black-Eyed Suzie
Ode to The Banjo (2015, Self) CDN

Kevin Breit & The Upper York Mandolin Orchestra
There Was A Girl
Field Recording (2012, Self) CDN

Gregory Hoskins and Gary Craig
I Will Find A Way To Let You Down
The Map of Above, The Map of Below (2013, Self) CDN

Andy White
All It Does Is Rain
How Things Are (2015, Thin Man Records)

Interview: Andy White chats about his upcoming Canadian solo tour. Listen to the interview again HERE.

Andy White
Closest Thing To Heaven
How Things Are (2015, Thin Man Records)

Andy White
Dignity
Demo (2015, Self)

Nicole Ensing Band
The Rolling English Road
Riddles and Creeds (2014, Chanter Records) CDN