Episode 224: The East Pointers

This week’s new release hour features lots of new music and a feature interview with The East Pointers – Koady Chaisson (banjo), Tim Chaisson (fiddle), and Jake Charron (acoustic guitar), who sat down with us at the Folk Music Ontario conference to chat about their debut album “Secret Victory”.

We started off the hour with the winner of the 2015 Toronto Blues Society Talent Search Michael Schatte who has just released his fourth album “Turn Back The Vikings”. Although Michael is clearly well versed in the blues, he wouldn’t call himself a bluesman, preferring the more generic musically descriptive term guitarist/singer-songwriter… as he proclaims a strong interest in many genres… roots-rock, blues, rockabilly and celtic to name just a few… and as his playing has been compared to the likes of Peter Green, Danny Gatton, Albert Lee and Richard Thompson, and Canada’s Colin James… well, I think you get the picture.

One of New Orleans favourite sons, songwriter/composer, performer and record producer Allen Toussaint passed away suddenly this week. We thought it only right that we squeeze a couple of his songs into this week’s show. We decided to play his biggest hit, “Southern Nights” recorded by Glen Campbell in 1977, though we chose to play the version that Allen Toussaint recorded with Chet Atkins for the Rhythm Country & Blues duet compilation album. And we followed that “Yes We Can Can” from the wonderful Hurricane Katrina benefit album Our New Orleans. We also found time to play Allen Toussaint’s marvellous instrumental version of the standard “St. James Infirmary” from his 2009 album, “The Bright Mississippi”. A great loss for music, but lots of great memories of a fine performer and, by all accounts, a very nice man.

The East Pointers – Koady Chaisson (banjo), Tim Chaisson (fiddle), and Jake Charron (acoustic guitar), all have strong musical careers in the own right yet they’ve come together as a trio to bring a contemporary spin to traditional maritime folk, with an exhilarating live sound that can’t help but get the audience clapping, stomping and bouncing along. They’ve just released their debut album “Secret Victory” (2015, Self) which features ten original tunes and songs, and are about to head out on their CD release tour. We caught up with Koady, Tim and Jake at the Folk Music Ontario conference. For more information visit eastpointers.ca.

Among the new music on offer, we found time to play Moirai from the UK and another track from Newfoundland harmony duo Gary & Whit. Moirai are a trio featuring Jo Freya (Blowzabella, Token Women, Fraser Sisters), Sarah Matthews (Cupola, Cupola:Ward) and Melanie Biggs (Boxtet). Apparently Moirai means “spinners of destiny”. They’re fine musicians, and judging by the first track we played from them, the title track from their debut album “Sideways” (2015, Self) which recounts an unfortunate experience with an undergarment, quite playful. We’ll be playing more from them on a future show.

Gary & Whit’s new album “Matches” is a new favourite. As mentioned last week, Gary & Whit are Gary and Whitney French from Goose Bay, NL and now based on the west coast of the island. This week we played a live version of their song “Hide My Soul”. They write really strong songs and harmonize really well. I’m hoping we’ll catch them on the festival scene this coming summer.

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 224 New & Noted by Folk Roots Radio on Mixcloud

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

Michael Schatte
Turn Back The Vikings
Turn Back The Vikings (2015, Self) CDN

Duane Rutter
Number One
Crazy Things (2015, Self) CDN

Les Copeland
Winin’ Boy Blues
To Be In Your Company (2015, Self) CDN

Allen Toussaint
St. James Infirmary
The Bright Mississippi (2009, Nonesuch)

Chet Atkins & Allen Toussaint
Southern Nights
Rhythm Country & Blues (1994, MCA)

Allen Toussaint
Yes We Can Can
Our New Orleans: A Benefit Album (2005, Nonesuch)

The East Pointers
Secret Victory
Secret Victory (2015, Self) CDN

Interview: The East Pointers joined us Folk Music Ontario to chat about their debut album “Secret Victory”. Listen to the interview again HERE.

The East Pointers
Cold
Secret Victory (2015, Self) CDN

The East Pointers
Woodfordia
Secret Victory
Secret Victory (2015, Self) CDN

Kev Corbett
Sorrow On My Mind
On The River Of The Lake (2015, Self) CDN

Moirai
Sideways
Sideways (2015, Self)

Gary & Whit
Hide My Soul (Live)
Matches (2015, Self) CDN