Christmas Archives | Folk Roots Radio

Folk Roots Radio Episode 610: A Good Lovelies Christmas & A Happy Hanukkah!

Dec 04 2021

It’s getting close to ‘that time of year’. We know that because wonderful vocal trio Good Lovelies, that’s Caroline Brooks, Kerry Ough and Sue Passmore are about to hit the road on their 16th Christmas tour. After appearing virtually last year because of the COVID pandemic, this time around they’ll be taking their songs, harmonies and a kick ass band around Ontario for some in person shows. They join us on Episode 610 of Folk Roots Radio to talk about the tour, and some interesting future plans – and spoiler alert, it sounds like they are already hard at work on a new album. Although it feels a little too early to go into full holiday mode, we also include some wintery songs and Hanukkah songs to ease you into the holiday season, and feature music from Joni Mitchell, Bruce Cockburn, Garth Hudson with Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle, The McDades, Haley K Turner, Rachael Sage, Deborah Holland and Catherine MacLellan. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 559: Folk Roots Radio For The Holidays (Covid Christmas Edition)

Dec 17 2020

The holidays are here! Join us on Episode 559 as we celebrate the season with another special blend of Folk Roots Radio for the Holidays, with mostly new, independent songs that are definitely not your typical holiday fare. This year we’ve even thrown some Covid Christmas tunes into the mix! So, throw another log on the fire, settle down in your favourite chair and enjoy music from Good Lovelies, Fresh Breath, Abbie Gardner & Matt Nakoa, Colleen Brown, RUNA, Hal Cannon, Lisa Jeanette, Dion, Brett Perkins & Tamra Rosanes, Skinner & T’witch, Fortunate Ones, Skye Zentz, Screaming Orphans, Eoin Glackin, Céleste Lévis, Philip Scott Poli, Ed Sweeney and Connie Kaldor. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 558: Folk Roots Radio For The Holidays (More Sleigh Bells Edition)

Dec 17 2020

December is here, and winter is upon us – so it’s time to bring out the Christmas music. We know a lot of people are not fans of holiday tunes which is why on this show we like to focus on new songs about the season rather than just the same old songs and tunes given a quick makeover. And if we play something that’s not a new song, well that’s because the artist has taken it somewhere rather special indeed. So, join us for Episode 558 of Folk Roots Radio – the first of two episodes of Folk Roots Radio for the Holidays, which features solstice songs, winter songs, Hanukkah songs and Christmas songs from RUNA, Sara Thomsen & Paula Pedersen, Connie Kaldor, Ed Sweeney, The Honey Larks, Jackie Washington, MacMaster Leahy Family, Finest Kind, SONiA disappear fear, Aaron Nathans & Michael G Ronstadt, Kelly’s Lot, Tony Turner, Céleste Lévis, Ken Tizzard & Music For Goats, Josh Kimbrough and Jeffery Straker. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Root Radio Episode 485: feat. Francine Honey & More Folk Roots Radio For The Holidays

Dec 19 2019

Well, it’s that time of year. Time for another very special seasonal edition of Folk Roots Radio. So here it is – another attempt at some thoughtful and insightful holiday music programming, that steps off the beaten track and features mostly new and original songs. This time around we hear from Good Lovelies, Silent Winters, Karen Morand, The Roys, Còig, Matt Andersen, Kristine St-Pierre & Justin Lacroix, Matt Andersen, Sofia Talvik, Howlin’ Bill and Skinner & T’witch. We also squeeze in a fun interview with South Western Ontario singer-songwriter Francine Honey who released her own holiday album “Take Me To The North Pole” earlier this year. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 484: Folk Roots Radio For The Holidays

Dec 19 2019

The holidays are here! Join us on Episode 484 of Folk Roots Radio as we celebrate the season with a selection of music that’s mostly new, independent and definitely not your typical holiday fare. We’re including some solstice music, and some wintery music, alongside some fine songs to celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. So, throw another log on the fire, settle down in your favourite chair and enjoy… another special blend of Folk Roots Radio for the Holidays. This time around, we’re featuring music by Gathering Sparks, Katie Dahl, Eli Lev & Megan Leigh, Dale Boyle, Frank Birtwistle, David Roche & Oona Roche, Emily Kurn, Tom Prasada-Rao, B Knox, The O’Pears, Kristine St-Pierre & Justin Lacroix, Dear Reader, Silent Winters, Good Lovelies, Mare Wakefield & Nomad, Còig and Skinner & T’witch. Check out the full playlist below.

Francine Honey - Take Me To The North Pole - Folk Roots Radio Interview

Dec 01 2019

Every artist needs a holiday album – South West Ontario singer-songwriter Francine Honey has just released hers. Eight songs, including some well chosen Christmas classics, and two originals, the title track “Take Me To The North Pole” and “Christmas Round My Tree”. As a child, the idea of being taken to the North Pole to visit Santa, seemed to young Francine, like the best thing ever; which makes the playful title track the perfect way to share that sentiment. “Christmas Round My Tree”, was written for those who will be alone at Christmas. “When I was in my teens, I would go to nursing homes and sing Christmas carols for the elderly. My heart always sank when I would see some of them had no family. As I got older and saw my own family members deal with a first Christmas after a loved one passed away. I witnessed their determination to still find a sense of Christmas tradition and the knowledge of what truly matters is being together and not the gifts you buy”. The album wraps with Francine’s version of Verlon Thompson’s “My Heart Is There With You”, a song she wanted to record from the first time she heard Verlon sing it at a workshop. “When he played it, I immediately felt tears running down my cheeks, because of its honesty, and how I feel about my family and friends who I don’t get to see over the holidays and at other times.” The new album was recorded in Nashville with Neilson Hubbard who also produced Francine’s 2018 album “To Be Continued”. Joining them in the studio were a great group of support players, including guitarist Will Kimbrough, pianist Dan Mitchell, and bassist Dean Marold – and Verlon Thompson himself. Francine Honey and her band The Stingers will be releasing the new album at a special release party at The Bank Theatre in Leamington ON on Saturday, December 7 (Doors 6:30 pm, Show 7:30 pm). Tickets are $25 per person and are available online HERE. For more information about the music of Francine Honey, visit francinehoney.com. Music: Francine Honey “Christmas Round My Tree”, “Take Me To The North Pole” and “My Heart Is There With You” from “Take Me To The North Pole” (2019, Self).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 416: Folk Roots Radio At The End Of The Year

Dec 18 2018

Episode 416 is the third of three special episodes of Folk Roots Radio to celebrate the season. An all music episode, we move towards the end of the year with a selection of music that covers the bases… we have some seasonal music, we have some wintery music and we also have some music that sounds wintery but actually it’s a bit political. It’s all good stuff, because on this show we only play good music and if we’re going to play it, it has to feel good next to everything else. So sit back, grab another glass of egg nog and enjoy more Folk Roots Radio at the end of the year with music from Laura Mulcahy, Georgian Bay, The O’Pears, Bill Keith, Richard Ruane & Beth Duquette, Randall Kromm, Katherine Rondeau, Iain Thomson And Marc Duff, Arnie Naiman, Carla Gover & Zoey Barrett (from Zoe Speaks), Naming The Twins, Laura Zucker, Susan J. Berman, Sofia Talvik and Ian Foster & Nancy Hynes. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Root Radio Episode 355 - More Folk Roots Radio At Christmas

Dec 15 2017

Welcome to another hour of festive music for the holidays. Folk Roots Radio at Christmas features a selection of mostly new and original holiday music by independent artists, who hope to bring something new to a genre that’s often criticized as being a vapid and uninspiring marketing tool for a consumer culture, that, let’s be honest, goes mad during the holiday season. With that in mind, we’re also including an interview with Chris McKhool, the leader of world music combo, Sultans Of String, who talks enthusiastically and engagingly about their new spin on seasonal music, “Christmas Caravan”, which really attempts to bring something new to holiday standards many people see as tired, boring and, dare I say it, rather predictable. So here it is. Stoke up the fire, pour yourself some egg nog, settle down in your favourite chair and enjoy! Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Root Radio Episode 354 - Folk Roots Radio At Christmas

Dec 15 2017

Well, it’s that time of year… time for a very special holiday season edition of Folk Roots Radio. Now, I don’t know about you, but I love Christmas music, I just hate the uninspiring way it gets used in the run up to the holiday… especially if you’re in the mall, or the grocery store or dare I say it, listening to the radio. So here it is, my attempt at some thoughtful and insightful holiday music programming – featuring mostly new self-written songs, and if they’re not original compositions, well let’s just say the artists concerned definitely take them a little off the beaten track. Enjoy! Check out the full playlist below.

Dec 21 2016

Well. It’s just about time to wish goodbye to 2016… a challenging year in so many respects. At least we had lots of great music to enjoy!

We’re taking a break for the holiday season, but we’ll be back with a lot more music and interviews in 2017.

You can check out our Best of the Year HERE. There are also loads of interviews and full episodes to enjoy via the website.

Thanks to all the artists who share their music with us during the year, and thank you for listening.

Have a safe, and enjoyable holiday season. We’ll see you next time!

You can also listen to episodes of Folk Roots Radio, on demand, via iTunes, Mixcloud, Soundcloud, Stitcher and Tune-in Radio. (Click on the highlighted link to reach your chosen platform.)

Episode 232: Chris Coole

Dec 23 2015

This episode features an interview with Chris Coole from bluegrass – old time band, The Foggy Hogtown Boys who will be bringing their show based on the music of The Carter Family and Johnny Cash to Toronto, Peterborough and Guelph. And as the holiday season is just about upon us, we’re including songs to welcome in the Winter Solstice, and some seasonal music that’s a little bit different from the usual fare.

Dec 13 2015

On Sunday January 9 2016, the Mill Race Folk Society celebrates the end of the Christmas season with Twelfth Night, an evening of traditional music and dance. Refreshments will be provided and there will be a cash bar. Advance tickets are $15.00 online HERE, $20.00 at the door. As this event regularly sells out so it is better to purchase your tickets early.

Dec 04 2015

This week’s Live & Local reflects the fact that the Christmas season, or the holidays or whatever you like to call this time of year, is rapidly approaching. This week, Brad McEwen, Artistic Director at the Mill Race Folk Society joins us to chat about a couple of fun seasonal events in their calendar. We also include some other musical ways to celebrate this time of year.

Dec 01 2015

The Mill Race folk Society presents Pub Carolling with the Orange Peel Carollers and Village Band on Sunday, December 13 from 3-6 pm at the Brownestone Gastropub, 39 Queen St. E. in Cambridge ON. These carols are not the standard Christmas stock you hear piped into every shopping mall; they are often more boisterous and secular in nature, and have been preserved in the pub environment in several Yorkshire villages for at least the past 200 years. Most of the carols will be unfamiliar to modern ears, but with their folky sound and rousing choruses, many are very easy to learn, and lots of fun to sing. Admission if free, but donations for the carollers are very welcome.

Don’t miss Twelfth Night: An Ancient Midwinter Celebration on Saturday, Jan 9, 2016. The United Kingdom Club of Cambridge, 35 International Village Dr. Advance tickets $15 ($20 at the door). For more information visit millracefolksociety.com.