Episode 148: Drev McIvor

Folk Roots Radio on May 3 2014 (Episode 148) featured our mystery theme, lots of new music and a fabulous studio appearance by Drew McIvor.

This week’s mystery theme focused on both the subject of “May” and “Mornings” hence “May Mornings”.

I love this time of year; the early mornings can be bright even on cloudy or rainy days. And, with new life springing up everywhere (if a little slower than normal because of the harshness of last winter) it is a pleasure to be out and about as the day gets started.

One of my favourite things to do is to catch the sunrise then head out with my farm dog friends, Abby and Sugar,  to walk the property. There’s nothing better than listening to birds singing as they set about trying to find a mate or if they’ve passed that point – get started on building nests or furnishing their nest box to welcome this year’s brood.

We are very lucky to have an abundance of birds of all types of the farm were we live  – so much so that I’m turning into a bit of a budding bird watcher who never goes anywhere without binoculars and camera.

From my point of view, “May Mornings” was a perfect subject for a mystery theme. We went from Brenda McMorrow to Runrig and Blue Rodeo, a few in between; I hope you enjoyed the songs we put together.

In our second hour, Owen Sound based musician Drew McIvor joined us in the studio. Drew will be well-known to local Guelph listeners as a member of reggae-acid-funk combo House of Velvet, who got back together to celebrate Hillside’s 30th Birthday in 2013. These days however, Drew front’s his own band ElectroNova and also spends time with Mambo Nation, Nicehaus, and the Mackenzie Blues Band.

I have to say it was one of the best hours of live radio I’ve ever produced. Drew is such a natural and open guy, it was a real pleasure to interview him. It was also interesting to hear how an independent musician goes about taking songs from the idea stage to the final album. His new album, “Porchlight” should be finished fairly soon, and once we get the green light and the details then we will give you all the information on how to get a copy for yourself. I know you won’t be disappointed. Drew will also be coming into Guelph for a CD release type show at Magnolia Café in the not too distant future.

There was no Guilty Pleasure featured on this week’s show, as we’ve been blessed by an abundance of new music to showcase, and we had a live musical guest on the show.

However, 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.

I’ve been particularly impressed by the recent collaboration between Canadian musician Jason Wilson, who has a penchant for reggae and jazz as well as folk, with legendary folkie and fiddler Dave Swarbrick. It’s a wonderful album, with great songs, that, as expected disappear off in directions outside the traditional folk canon.

Another album that really excited me is Connecticut singer-songwriter Kerri Powers‘ self-titled release. Kerri has an amazing voice and sings with a great roots-blues style. I particularly love the production of the album, as it has an intimate feel to it, and I feel like I’m sitting in the room with her while listening. You’ll definitely hear more from both those albums on our future shows.

Well that’s just about everything I need to mention this week. You’ll find the full playlist for the show below. Thanks to all the artists who are sharing their music with us, and thank you for listening. We’ll see you next week!

Mystery theme: “May Morning”

Brenda McMorrow
May I Awaken/Govinda Bolo
Igniting The Beauty (2013, Self) CDN

Guelph Youth Singers
May Day Carol
Wind In Our Sails (2002, Self) CDN

The Sweet Lowdown
May
May (2012, Self) CDN

Alison Brown
One Morning In May
Stolen Moments (2005, Compass Records)

Runrig
Maymorning
In Search Of Angels (1999, Sony/Columbia)

Blue Rodeo
5 Days In May (Live at Massey Hall)
Blue Road (2008, Warner Music) CDN

The Sea The Sea
Guess It Was
Love We Are We Love (2014, Hudson Harding Music)

Wilson & Swarbrick
Sail On (feat. Jerry Donahue)
Lion Rampart (2014, Shirty Records) CDN

Rodney Crowell
The Flyboy and the Kid
Tarpaper Sky (2014, New West)

Kerri Powers
A Little Light
Kerri Powers (2014, Self)

Katey Gatta
The Devil
Songs From The Basement E.P. (2014, Self) CDN

Sarah Jane Scouten
La Vie Nostalgique
The Cape (2014, Self) CDN

Ben Harper and Ellen Harper
City Of Dreams
Childhood Home (2014, Concord Music)

Live in the Studio: Singer-songwriter Drew McIvor
www.drewmcivor.com

Drew McIvor
45s and 33s
(Single) (2013, Self) CDN

Drew McIvor
Follow
Live in the Studio

Drew McIvor
Sweat Potato
Live in the Studio

Drew McIvor
It’s Alright
Live in the Studio

Drew McIvor
A Little Respect (Erasure cover)
(Demo) (2014, Self) CDN

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

Background Music:
Bob MacLean
Rose of Allendale
Six Strings North of the Border Volume 2 (2005, Borealis) CDN

Lou DeAdder
Tyler Reads A Book
Acoustic Pathways (2014, Self) CDN

Lawrence Blatt
Into the Abyss/Infra Red
The Colour of Sunshine (2009, LMB Music)