Bruce Cockburn Archives | Folk Roots Radio

Folk Roots Radio Episode 666: feat. Big Little Lions – AMPM & More New Releases

Jul 10 2023

Helen Austin and Paul Otten, who make music as the transcontinental songwriting partnership Big Little Lions, join us on Episode 666 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about “AMPM” – their first concept recording, and an album of songs based around a day in the life. As always with Helen and Paul, it’s a great conversation – and lots of fun! We wrap up the episode with more of the latest new releases, and this time around we check out new music from Sousou & Maher Cissoko, Aspen Jacobsen, Terra Spencer with Ben Caplan, Bruce Cockburn, Reg Meuross and Mary Gauthier. Remember, If you like the artists you hear on this show and want to support them, don’t just stream their music – BUY their music, and then you’ll really make a difference to their income at a time when it is becoming much more difficult to make a living as a musician. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 662: We're All About The Music! (Into The Now Edition)

May 24 2023

Join us on Episode 662 of Folk Roots Radio for another selection of the latest new releases. This time around, all the tracks come from Canadian artists, and, we are pleased to include our first play from “O Sun O Moon”, the critically acclaimed new album from Bruce Cockburn. We also check out music from Alexis Normand, April Verch & Cody Walters, Bryan Butler, James Gray, Meredith Moon, Duke & Goldie, Del Barber, Lennie Gallant, Glencoe Station (featuring Glen MacNeil), Pete Eastmure, Jason Lang, Desiree Dorion, Propter Hawk and Ken Whiteley. Remember, If you like the artists you hear on this show and want to support them, don’t just stream their music – BUY their music, and then you’ll really make a difference to their income at a time when it is becoming more and more difficult to make a living as a musician. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 611: Bruce Cockburn in Conversation - Greatest Hits 1970-2020

Dec 11 2021

Bruce Cockburn joins us on Episode 611 of Folk Roots Radio for a wonderful in-depth conversation about his new career spanning retrospective, “Greatest Hits 1970-2020”, a double CD set featuring 30 songs he has released as singles. After 34 albums, 13 Junos, thousands of shows across the world and numerous other awards, it’s been quite the career. The good news is that Bruce Cockburn is still going strong, still working on new songs, and still playing shows. In fact, this month he sets out on his 50th Anniversary tour. It’s actually Take 2 – because COVID put paid to the first version last year. There was a lot to talk about which is why we’ve given over the whole of this episode to the interview. So settle down and enjoy Bruce Cockburn… in Conversation on Folk Roots Radio.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 470: feat. Coco Love Alcorn & More New Releases

Oct 27 2019

We have a very special interview on Episode 470 of Folk Roots Radio. Coco Love Alcorn joins us to chat about her new album “Rebirth”, the follow-up to the very well-received 2016 album “Wonderland”. Like Wonderland, the new album is spiritual, but with a distinctly non-denominational message, it’s not at all preachy. Twelve new tracks that blend together Coco’s pop, jazz and gospel influences, while some of the tracks also have a lovely R&B feel to them. It’s a great album – and we know we’re biased, but it’s a fabulous interview. As usual, we wrap the episode with more of the new music we’ve received and this time around we hear from Katie Dahl, Tim Grimm, Dayna Manning, Bruce Cockburn and Robbie Smith, from Naming the Twins – who sadly passed away earlier this year. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 461: feat. Jon Brooks & More New Releases

Sep 06 2019

Toronto singer-songwriter Jon Brooks joins us on Episode 461 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his seventh album “Moth Not Rust II” – a reimagining of his 2009 solo album of the same name, but this time around, with his band ‘The Outskirts of Approval’. Jon Brooks is one of those performers that is a must see – and an artist who pushes you to reflect on what you’re listening to, and in the case of Moth Nor Rust – to ask what it means to be human. I know we’re biased, but it’s a fabulous interview with an artist who really brings out the fan in me. Rounding out the episode this time around, we also check our new music from The New Customs, Nelson Sobral, Lloyd Spiegel, Bruce Cockburn, Sharon Goldman and Emily Mure. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 331 - O Canada!

Jun 26 2017

We’re celebrating Canada’s 150th Birthday on Episode 331 of Folk Roots Radio. As Canada celebrates this important milestone, we’ve put together a very special edition of the show that celebrates the history and diversity of the country we’re proud to call our home, while recognizing the fact that Canada’s first nations inhabited this land long before the settlers came. Joining us on this episode are Asani, Tudjaat, Andrea Menard, Same Latitude As Rome, Cotillion, Bruce Cockburn, Maria Dunn, Mike Ford, James Gordon, Stompin’ Tom Connors, Jason Collett, Marc Jordan & Ian Thomas and Toronto Children’s Chorus with Jean Ashworth Bartle & Ruth Watson Henderson. We hope you enjoy the mix we’ve put together. Happy Canada Day everyone! Check out the full playlist below.

Mariposa Folk Festival - Folk Roots Radio Interview

Jun 05 2017

Summer festival season is just about with us, and the Mariposa Folk Festival, the Grande Dame of Canadian Folk Festivals, is getting ready for its 57th edition which takes place the weekend of July 7, 8 and 9, in beautiful Tudhope Park in Orillia, on the shores of Lake Couchiching. As always, they’ve put together a very strong line-up that is designed to appeal to all tastes, and all ages and includes headliners The Barenaked Ladies (Friday night), Ruth B (Friday), Whitehorse (Saturday), Matt Andersen (Saturday), The New Pornographers (Saturday) and Bruce Cockburn (Sunday) and The Last Waltz – A Musical Celebration of The Band LIVE (Sunday) alongside many others. You can check out the full line-up, learn about all of the performers and buy tickets HERE. We caught up with Mike Hill, artistic director at the Mariposa Folk Festival to chat about the festival and his new book “The Mariposa Folk Festival – A History”, out now on Dundurn Press. Music: Ruth B “Lost Boy” from “Safe Haven” (2017, Columbia).

Summerfolk 2016 – The Line-Up

Jul 26 2016

The 41st annual Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival takes place August 19-21, in Kelso Park, on the shores of Georgian Bay, in Owen Sound. The festival features more than 40 musical acts from across Canada and across the world representing genres from folk, country and bluegrass, to blues, to hip-hop and funk. Like any great folk festival they also have lots of children’s activities, community workshops, artisan booths, dozens of food vendors… and two licensed areas. This year’s line-up features Anne Beverly Foster * Ben Spencer * Ben Turcotte and Carter Rolland * Beppe Gambetta/Tony McManus * Big Little Lions * Blackburn * Bobby Dean Blackburn * Bruce Cockburn * Cassie and Maggie MacDonald * Coco Love Alcorn * David Newland * Durham County Poets * Frank Francalanza * Good for Grapes * Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra * Ian Tamblyn * Irish Mythen * Ken Whiteley & The Beulah Band * Leonard Sumner * Les Poules a Colin * Lindi Ortega * The Lifers * LookUp Theatre * Magoo * Maneli Jamal * Matt Gordon and Leonard Podolak * Mel Parsons * Michael Jerome Browne * My Son the Hurricane * Natalie MacMaster * Notre Dame de Grass * Old Man Luedecke * Olivia and The Creepy Crawlies * Richard Garvey and Celidh Barker * Roger Roger * Sarah Beatty * Scarlett Jane * Scatter The Cats * The Small Glories * The East Pointers * The Krueger Band * The Mae Trio * The O’Pears * Todd Crowley’s Musical Petting Zoo * Treasa Levasseur …alongside Youth Discoveries Jimmy Pearson * Cassie DaSilva * Jake Feeney * Brontae Hunter * Marshall Veroni. We caught up with James Keelaghan, Artistic Director at Summerfolk to chat about this year’s line-up. For more information and to buy tickets visit summerfolk.org. Music: The Small Glories with “Had I Paid” from “Wondrous Traveller” (2016, Self) and Big Little Lions “Fill Me Up” from “Just Keep Moving” (2016, Riptide Music Group).

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.

May 10 2015

This week’s Folk Roots Radio featured interviews with both Gordie Tentrees and Sarah Jane Scouten. Yukon-based Gordie took time out from touring in Alberta for an in-depth conversation about his new album “Less Is More”. And, Sarah Jane Scouten is bringing her unique blend of roots music back to Guelph on Saturday May 23 for a show at Silence, Guelph’s premier listening venue with support from bluegrass band The Chesterfield Trio. You can purchase advance tickets here. As usual we also found time to include a lot of new music alongside our mystery theme and guilty pleasure.

Mar 30 2015

This week’s Folk Roots Radio featured an excerpt from our recent in-depth interview with Toronto-based singer-songwriter Jory Nash. Jory has just released a smashing new album, ‘The Many Hats Of Jory Nash’, an album that pays homage to his extensive hat collection. It’s a beautifully textured album of folk and folk-pop and well worth checking out. As usual there’s lots of new music on this week’s show – plus, as always, our mystery theme and guilty pleasure.

Mar 01 2015

This week’s Folk Roots Radio features an excerpt of an interview with singer-songwriter and poet Miss Emily Brown recorded at the Folk Music Ontario conference this past October. Emily lives on the beautiful Quadra Island off the eastern coast of Vancouver Island in B.C. Emily chats with us about her home and her music and sings a couple of new songs live accompanying herself on tenor guitar. You can listen to the full interview here. Like last week, the show also contains a lot of new music and, as usual, a new mystery theme and guilty pleasure.

Dec 27 2014

This week’s show (December 20 2014) featured interviews and impromptu sessions recorded with Prince Edward Island based singer-songwriters Irish Mythen and Dennis Ellsworth recorded at the recent Folk Music Ontario conference. We also included some thought-provoking holiday songs alongside a new mystery theme and a guilty pleasure set celebrating Bill Withers election to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.

Nov 03 2014

Folk Roots Radio on November 1 2014 (Episode 173) featured interviews with Ted Ferris from Cambridge Live Music (Cambridge Ontario) discussing their live local music awareness program and Taylor Ashton from Fish & Bird discussing their latest release “Something In The Ether”. As always, we wrapped it all up with a new mystery theme, guilty pleasure and, of course, lots of great music.

Sep 22 2014

DJ MacDee was again keeping my chair warm on September 20 (Episode 168) while I was in Florida for a short vacation. You enjoyed DJ MacDee on Folk Roots Radio. Now enjoy his playlist!

Aug 13 2014

I’m just back from Kingsville and thought it might be fun to talk about the first ever Kingsville Folk Music Festival. It was a blast. If you want to know why, you’d better read on!

Aug 12 2014

I was away at the first ever Kingsville Folk Music Festival on August 9 (Episode 162). DJ MacDee once again stepped up to keep Folk Roots Radio rolling along. I hope you enjoyed the show. Now enjoy his playlist!

Aug 02 2014

Folk Roots Radio on August 2 2014 (Episode 161) focused on the inaugural Kingsville Folk Music Festival (August 8-10) and featured interviews with Peter Boyer (from Same Latitude As Rome) and Fred Penner as well as an in-studio appearance by Tia McGraff.

Jul 28 2014

The inaugural Kingsville Folk Music Festival takes place from August 8-10 2014 in Lakeside Park, Kingsville. The festival will feature four day-time stages, a dedicated children’s area and an evening main stage. With a broad mandate to feature acoustic roots music of all types and 50% Canadian content, it promises to be a great weekend for anyone who loves folk music. And, with a line-up that features Bruce Cockburn, Valdy, Jane Siberry and David Francey among others, it’s clear that they intend to hit the ground running. To learn more about this wonderful new festival, we reached artistic director Michele Law earlier this week. For more information visit kingsvillefolkfest.org. Music: Bruce Cockburn, “Call Me Rose” from “Small Source Of Comfort” (True North, 2011); David Francey, “Pandora’s Box” from “So Say We All” (Red House, 2013)

Kingsville Folk Music Festival 2014

Jul 27 2014

There’s a new kid on the folk festival circuit – Kingsville. The first Kingsville Folk Music Festival takes place from August 8-10 2014 in Lakeside Park, Kingsville. The festival will feature four day-time stages, a dedicated children’s area “The Family Stomping Ground” and an evening main stage. With a broad mandate to feature acoustic roots music of all types and 50% Canadian content, it promises to be a great weekend for anyone who loves folk music. Check out the accompanying video to see the stellar line-up they’ve pulled together for their inaugural year. For more information visit kingsvillefolkfest.org.