In Conversation Archives | Folk Roots Radio

Folk Roots Radio Episode 620: Annie Sumi in Conversation – Solastalgia

Feb 06 2022

We’ve given over the whole of Episode 620 of Folk Roots Radio to another in-depth interview as Ontario based singer-songwriter Annie Sumi joins us for an incredibly thought-provoking and inspiring conversation about her third studio album, “Solastalgia”. Solastalgia is a beautiful recording with a deep and powerful connection to the earth – that celebrates the marvels of the living world, while also sounding the alarm that we are starting to lose that connection as the natural environment comes under more and more pressure from human development activity and the impact of climate change. Heady stuff, for sure, but these are conversations we need to have. Solastalgia is an album that asks important questions, Where do we go now? and What can I do, as an individual, to make a difference? Lots of food for thought – our interview with Annie Sumi is definitely well-worth checking out. So, settle down and enjoy Annie Sumi… In Conversation… on Folk Roots Radio.

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 607: feat. James Gordon In Conversation - When I Stayed Home

Nov 15 2021

Guelph ON singer-songwriter James Gordon joins us on Episode 607 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his pandemic release “When I Stayed Home”. Unable to bring anyone into the studio, James pretty much recorded the whole thing himself. However, making a new album was not the only thing that James Gordon has been up to during Covid lockdown. He also finished his novel “The Ark Of The Oven Mitt” (which includes a 36 song recording) and performed a virtual tour of his one-man show “James Gordon’s Emergency Climate Musical”. He also found time to kick cancer’s butt (Yeah, James!) and all while still working at his other job as a member of Guelph City Council. As you can imagine, we had lots to talk about, which is why we’ve decided to give the whole of this episode over to the interview. So, settle down and enjoy James Gordon… in Conversation on Folk Roots Radio. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 566: The Rough & Tumble In Conversation - We're Only Family If You Say So

Feb 17 2021

We have another great interview to share with you on Episode 566 of Folk Roots Radio. We’re big fans of multi-instrumentalists Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler, and their self-styled ‘teeny tiny travelling folk band’, The Rough & Tumble. Their fabulous live show features loads of instruments, great songs and more fun than anyone is supposed to have during a house concert. Mallory and Scott join us on this episode to chat about their powerful new album “We’re Only Family If You Say So” which reflects on what it takes to be family… and what it means to lose it. It’s a fabulous recording and an excellent interview, which is why we’ve decided to dedicate the whole of this hour to it. So, settle down and enjoy… The Rough & Tumble in Conversation… on Folk Roots Radio. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 562: Scott Cook In Conversation - Tangle Of Souls

Jan 13 2021

Edmonton Alberta’s globetrotting troubadour singer-songwriter Scott Cook joins us on Episode 562 of Folk Roots Radio for an in-depth discussion about his music and wonderful seventh album “Tangle Of Souls” – one of our favourite albums of 2020. A fabulous recording, it comes with a 240-page, cloth-bound, hardcover book of stories from the road written around the album’s songs while also reflecting on Scott’s own life-changing health crisis which he uses to draw parallels to some of the challenges we face as a society. So, settle down and enjoy… Scott Cook in Conversation – Tangle Of Souls… on Folk Roots Radio. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 546: feat. Gordie Tentrees in Conversation - A Tribute to Aylie Sparkes

Oct 26 2020

Yukon based folk-roots singer-songwriter Gordie Tentrees joins us on Episode 546 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about the life, music and legacy of Aylie Sparkes, a Manitoba born singer-songwriter who arrived in the Yukon in 2001 with a truck full of guitars and barely a penny to his name. Finding his community, Aylie Sparkes built such a fabulous reputation for his live performances and slide guitar play that he had people queuing around the block to get into his shows. Passing away from cancer in 2005 and close to his 39th birthday, Aylie Sparkes recorded only one full length album, the recently re-released “Beautiful & Deranged” from 2003 which was nominated for Blues Album of the Year at the 2004 Western Canadian Music Awards. Beautiful & Deranged is a truly awesome album, and this is a great interview. So, settle down and enjoy Gordie Tentrees in Conversation – a tribute to Aylie Sparkes, on Folk Roots Radio. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 528: Guillaume Jabbour - A Sound Experience Programme at Sainte Agathe Academy

Jul 21 2020

Episode 528 of Folk Roots Radio features an in-depth conversation with Quebec folk musician, Guillaume Jabbour who was artist in residence for the ELAN ACE Sound Experience Programme at Sainte Agathe Academy in Sainte Agathe QC, this past winter. The programme took place at the school from December thru March, and then virtually from April to June, after the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. Students in the programme were able to produce a variety of different audio pieces, including video soundscapes, soundscape poems, original songs and interviews. It’s a wonderful conversation – so much so, that we’ve decided to dedicate the whole episode to it. So, settle down and enjoy Guillaume Jabbour and the Sainte Agathe Academy Sound Experience programme on Folk Roots Radio. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 512: feat. Jerry Leger... In Conversation - Time Out For Tomorrow

May 15 2020

Acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Jerry Leger was supposed to be on tour in Europe this spring in support of his ninth studio album “Time Out For Tomorrow”, but unfortunately, like the rest of us, he is sheltering at home as we wait out the first wave of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. Jerry’s been keeping busy playing some livestream shows, and he’s just released a surprise 10 track lo-fi collection “Songs From The Apartment”, recorded solo at home. These are songs that Jerry had written, quickly demoed but never released. They are out in the world now, and some of them, like a lot of Jerry’s music, are really, really good. Join us on Episode 512 of Folk Roots Radio… as we go In Conversation with Jerry Leger to chat about his music, and both new albums. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 510: feat. Miranda Mulholland... In Conversation - By Appointment Or Chance

May 04 2020

Miranda Mulholland joins us on Episode 510 of Folk Roots Radio for a wonderful in-depth conversation about her second solo album, the JUNO-nominated “By Appointment or Chance”. Classically trained on violin and in voice, Miranda is also a member of the roots duo Harrow Fair with Andrew Penner from the Sun Parlour Players. Harrow Fair released their own second album “Sins We Made” a few weeks ago. Outside of her own musical creativity, Miranda Mulholland runs the record label Roaring Girl Records and the Muskoka Music Festival, and continues to travel the world advocating for fair remuneration for creators. Needless to say, there was a lot to talk about, which is why we’ve devoted the whole of this episode to an hour plus of Miranda Mulholland… In Conversation, on Folk Roots Radio. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 509: feat. Connie Kaldor... In Conversation - Everyday Moments

Apr 30 2020

One of Canada’s finest songwriters, Connie Kaldor joins us on Episode 509 of Folk Roots Radio for an in-depth interview about her career in music. A three time Juno award winner, and a member of the Order of Canada, Connie Kaldor has forged a great career that, alongside some great albums, has also included CD books for children, musicals and music for both film and web-series – and all achieved while remaining proudly independent. Her latest album, her sixteenth, “Everyday Moments” was released in the fall of 2019, however the Covid-19 pandemic has severely limited her ability to tour in support of the new recording. Connie Kaldor joined us from her home in Montreal where she is staying safe with the rest of her family, in what she likes to call the isolation station. A fabulous performer with a very engaging live show, we’re pleased to be able to bring you Connie Kaldor… In Conversation on Folk Roots Radio. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 505: feat. The Fontaines... In Conversation

Apr 14 2020

Sara & Ryan Fontaine, who make music together as The Fontaines, join us on Episode 505 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about their music and self-titled debut album. Sara and Ryan met while pursuing separate musical careers; Sara in theatre and vocal performance, and Ryan as an upright bass player. With a sound that they describe as ‘folk with a modern twist’, they affectionately call every gig ‘date night’. We’re in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic emergency and so we caught up with Sara & Ryan over Zoom, rather than live in the studio. Stay safe and well everyone – and settle down and enjoy The Fontaines… In Conversation, on Folk Roots Radio. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 490: feat. Bill Garrett in Conversation

Jan 24 2020

We’re giving over the whole of Episode 490 of Folk Roots Radio to a fabulous in-depth conversation with Bill Garrett who sat down us at the 2019 Folk Music Ontario conference to talk about his long career in music and the development of the wonderful boutique folk music record label Borealis Records. We wrap up the conversation with music from Bill Garrett, Bill Garrett & Sue Lothrop, Naming The Twins, Durham County Poets and Shelley Posen. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 427: In Conversation with Suzanne Jarvie

Feb 06 2019

We really are all about the music and the people that make it on Folk Roots Radio. We’re giving over the whole of Episode 427 to an interview with Toronto based singer-songwriter Suzanne Jarvie who released her second album “In The Clear” earlier this year. In The Clear is a fabulous recording, and, as far as I’m concerned, the best album of 2019 so far. It’s great interview – so good that I decided it would be a perfect way to kick off a new feature on the radio version of Folk Roots Radio, we’re calling… In Conversation. Check out the full playlist below.

Tag - In Conversation

Folk Roots Radio Episode 620: Annie Sumi in Conversation – Solastalgia

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

Folk Roots Radio Episode 607: feat. James Gordon In Conversation – When I Stayed Home

Folk Roots Radio Episode 566: The Rough & Tumble In Conversation – We’re Only Family If You Say So

Folk Roots Radio Episode 562: Scott Cook In Conversation – Tangle Of Souls

Folk Roots Radio Episode 546: feat. Gordie Tentrees in Conversation – A Tribute to Aylie Sparkes

Folk Roots Radio Episode 528: Guillaume Jabbour… In Conversation – A Sound Experience Programme

Folk Roots Radio Episode 512: feat. Jerry Leger… In Conversation – Time Out For Tomorrow

Folk Roots Radio Episode 510: feat. Miranda Mulholland… In Conversation – By Appointment Or Chance

Folk Roots Radio Episode 509: feat. Connie Kaldor… In Conversation – Everyday Moments

Folk Roots Radio Episode 505: feat. The Fontaines… In Conversation

Folk Roots Radio Episode 490: In Conversation with… Bill Garrett

Folk Roots Radio Episode 427: In Conversation with… Suzanne Jarvie