Jonathan Byrd Archives | Folk Roots Radio

Folk Roots Radio Episode 612: We’re All About The Music! (Find Your Place Edition)

Dec 20 2021

We have another hour of great new music to share with you on Episode 612 of Folk Roots Radio. 2021 has been a banner year for music. There is loads of wonderful new music out there and much of it from independent artists, who rarely get the exposure they deserve. It’s our absolute privilege to be able to share more of it with you on this episode. Join us on this episode as we hear from Over The Moon, Jessica Pearson & The East Wind, Jonathan Byrd , Moria Smiley & Tonality, Dave Clarke, Amanda Rheaume, Mick Flannery and Susan O’Neill, Geordie Gordon, Andrea Ramoloo, Michael Logen and Jennifer Hanson, Ane Brun, Brandi Carlile, Rose Cousins with Tim Baker, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Bruce T Carroll and The Ebbs. Remember, if you like what you hear on Folk Roots Radio… and want to support the artists… don’t just stream their music, BUY their music and then you’ll really make a difference to their income during this difficult time, when it’s really hard to find live show opportunities. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 486: Our Favourite Albums of 2019

Dec 31 2019

It’s that time of year… we’re holding back the interviews on Episode 486 of Folk Roots Radio as we check out our ten favourite albums of 2019. One of the best things about doing a radio show is getting loads of great music to listen to each week. One of the hardest things to do is to take all that fabulous music and narrow it down to your ten favourite recordings of the year. You can check out The Top 10 on this episode. We’ll be playing more of our favourite albums on upcoming episodes of Folk Roots Radio. If you don’t see an album you really loved, maybe it didn’t make it up on to our radar, or perhaps we never received a copy. Please consider sharing your favourite albums in the comments – we might even spin them on a future episode of the show. Listen to The Top 10 and check out the full playlist below. Enjoy!

Folk Roots Radio Episode 422: feat. Jonathan Byrd & More New Releases

Jan 11 2019

North Carolina singer-songwriter Jonathan Byrd joins us on Episode 422 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his latest album “Pickup Cowboy”, the wonderful follow up to his great 2014 album “You Can’t Outrun The Radio”. Pickup Cowboy features ten songs, eight Byrd originals (one a co-write with Charles Humphrey III, formerly with the Steep Canyon Rangers) and two songs by fellow singer-songwriter Matt Fockler, the inspiration for the title track. We also check out more of the new music we’ve received including releases by Belle Of The Fall, Sammy Duke, Reece Sullivan, Bob MacLean, A New Ground, Marty Kolls and Dennis Roger Reed. Check out the full playlist below.

Jonathan Byrd Pickup Cowboy - Folk Roots Radio Interview

Dec 09 2018

North Carolina singer-songwriter Jonathan Byrd has just released his latest album “Pickup Cowboy”, the follow up to his great 2014 album “You Can’t Outrun The Radio”. The new album was actually delayed for a couple of years, after the sad death of cellist Paul Ford – long time member of Jonathan’s backing band ‘The Pickup Cowboys’. Paul was diagnosed with a brain tumour on the last day of recording the new album, and passed away a year later. The album was finally completed in Winnipeg with the help of Joanna Miller on drums, and Alexa Dirks and Andrina Turenne on backing vocals alongside Byrd and long time multi-instrumentalist and guitarist Johnny Waken. Pickup Cowboy features ten songs, eight Byrd originals (one a co-write with Charles Humphrey III, formerly with the Steep Canyon Rangers) and two songs by fellow singer-songwriter Matt Fockler, the inspiration for the title track. To learn more about the new album, we caught up with Jonathan Byrd at home in North Carolina. Visit Jonathan Byrd online at jonathanbyrd.com. Music: Jonathan Byrd and the Pickup Cowboys “Pickup Cowboy”, “When The Well Runs Dry” and “Do You Dream” from “Pickup Cowboy” (2018, Waterbug Records).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 403: feat. Moonfruits & More New Releases

Oct 30 2018

Bilingual folk duo Moonfruits join us on Episode 403 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about their music and latest album “Ste-Quequepart”. Kaitlin Milroy and Alex Millaire are a tremendous live act, captivating audiences with their beautiful harmonies while using their ideals and imagination to tell stories in song, often accompanied by just a banjo or parlour guitar. It’s a great interview, and well worth checking out. We also take a look at more of the new releases we’ve received, including new music from Mike T. Kerr, Jonathan Byrd, Twas Now, Ivan Rosenberg, Shauit, Carolyn Fe and the Red Dirt Skinners. Check out the playlist below.

Episode 300 of Folk Roots Radio featuring Corin Raymond

Feb 08 2017

On this edition of Folk Roots Radio, we talk to singer/songwriter Corin Raymond who has just received a Juno Award nomination for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year for his wonderful album “Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams”, which just happened to be our favourite recording of 2016. Corin joined us in the mobile studio at the Folk Music Ontario conference this past October for a wide-ranging conversation that covered his songwriting, the joys of collaboration, his 100 Book Blog, and, of course, the making of “Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams”. We also get to play some tracks from the album we haven’t yet played on the show. And, as always, we fill up the rest of the hour with a look at more of the latest new releases.

Jan 31 2017

Corin Raymond is having a great start to 2017, with a Juno Award nomination for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year for “Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams”. The album was also named our favourite recording of 2016. Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams is quintessential Corin Raymond, featuring some fabulous word craft on ten songs, eight co-written with other top drawer songwriters Jonathan Byrd, Sean Cotton, Rob Vaarmeyer, Rakhu Lokanathan and Jaxon Haldane alongside one Corin Raymond original, the glorious “Morning Glories” and a cover of Doug Norquay‘s “Best Demented Cowgirl Face” (one of the best and most intriguing song titles out there). The album also earned two nominations at the 2016 Canadian Folk Music Awards, with David Gillis taking home the gong for Producer of the Year. Corin joined us in the mobile studio at the Folk Music Ontario conference this past October to chat about the making of “Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams”. For more information about Corin’s music, visit corinraymond.com. Music: Corin Raymond “Rain Bed”, “Two Miles Of Train”, “Best Demented Cowgirl Face” and “Under The Belly Of The Night” from “Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams” (2016, Local Rascal Records).

Episode 245: Corin Raymond & Record Store Day

Apr 12 2016

This episode of Folk Roots Radio features a great interview with singer-songwriter Corin Raymond who joins us to chat about his latest album, the fabulous “Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams”. Corin’s on tour with Jonathan Byrd in Western Canada this April. We also talk to Paul Fortune from Forch’s Record Store in Cambridge ON about Record Store Day – that day, each year, when we celebrate the independent record store! And, as always we throw some new music into the mix.

Apr 04 2016

Corin Raymond is a singer-songwriter who loves a good lyric as much as a good melody. He’s just released a great new album “Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams”, which features ten songs, eight co-written with top drawer songwriters Jonathan Byrd, Sean Cotton and Rob Vaarmeyer, Rakhu Lokanathan and Jaxon Haldane alongside one Corin Raymond original, “Morning Glories” and the other, a cover of Doug Norquay‘s “Best Demented Cowgirl Face” (one of the best and most intriguing song titles out there). Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams is quintessential Corin Raymond, featuring some fabulous word craft, especially on the glorious “Morning Glories”, a standout track on an album full of standout tracks. Corin’s on tour this April in Western Canada with Jonathan Byrd, for an evening of music that should not be missed. Corin joined us from Toronto to chat about the new album. Check out all his upcoming tour dates at corinraymond.com. Photo: Justin Rutledge. Music: Corin Raymond “Morning Glories”, “The Law and the Lonesome”, “I Drink A Little” and “Two Miles Of Train” from “Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams” (2016, Local Rascal Records).

Episode 201: Shawn William Clarke & The Young Novelists

Jun 24 2015

This week’s Folk Roots Radio featured interviews with both Shawn William Clarke and The Young Novelists who will be sharing the bill in Guelph for a double CD release at the wonderful listening venue Silence on June 26. We also included a fair selection of new music we’ve received alongside our mystery theme and guilty pleasure.

Apr 19 2015

This week’s Folk Roots Radio featured another interview recorded at the Folk Music Ontario conference this past October. This time we talked to Emm Gryner, Laura C. Bates and Dayna Manning who collectively form Trent Severn, a wonderful folk super-group who share fabulous stories of Canadiana in gorgeous harmony and music. You can find the interview on the website here. As always, we found time for some new music plus our mystery theme and guilty pleasure.

Mar 22 2015

Jonathan Byrd and The Pickup Cowboys (feat. Johnny Waken and Paul Ford) and Eliot Bronson were in Guelph on March 20 2015 for a wonderful show at Silence. They joined us in the studio at CFRU 93.3fm the next day as we went “Overtime” on Folk Roots Radio. Music: Jonathan Byrd “38 Baby” from “You Can’t Outrun The Radio” (2014, Waterbug Records); Jonathan Byrd and the Pickup Cowboys – “I Was An Oak Tree” (Live), “Working Offshore” (Live) and “Love Is The Law” (Live); Eliot Bronson – “Comin’ For Ya North Georgia Blues” (Live), “River Runs Dry” (Live) and “One Mississippi” (Live); Jonathan Byrd and the Pickup Cowboys – “A Big Truck Brought It” (Live) and “Sun On The Water” (Live).

Episode 187: Eliot Bronson

Mar 14 2015

This week’s Folk Roots Radio features an interview with Atlanta singer-songwriter Eliot Bronson, who joins us to chat about his new self-titled album and his tour of Ontario with Jonathan Byrd. Jonathan Byrd and Eliot Bronson will be in Guelph on Friday March 20 for a Folk Roots Radio hosted show at the great listening venue, Silence. Check out all the event details here. As always, the show also contains a lot of new music and our mystery theme and guilty pleasure.

Mar 09 2015

This week’s Folk Roots Radio features an excerpt of an interview with North Carolina singer-songwriter Jonathan Byrd discussing his forthcoming album “Mother Tongue” (recorded recently in Denmark) and upcoming Ontario tour with The Pickup Cowboys. You can listen to the full interview here. Jonathan Byrd will be in Guelph on Friday March 20 for a show at the great listening venue Silence with another fabulous songwriter, Atlanta’s Eliot Bronson. Check out the event details here. As always, the show also contains a lot of new music and our mystery theme and guilty pleasure.

Mar 04 2015

North Carolina singer-songwriter Jonathan Byrd is back on tour in Ontario. He makes a Guelph stop with Eliot Bronson for a Folk Roots Radio hosted show at Silence on March 20. A son of a preacher man and Gulf War veteran, Jonathan Byrd has received many accolades for the quality of his songwriting including being named a New Folk award winner at the famed Kerrville Folk Festival in 2003. A gregarious and affable road warrior, his shows resemble something between a revival meeting and musical theatre, bringing together great songs, fine musicianship and some wonderful southern storytelling. We caught up with Jonathan at home in North Carolina. Music: Jonathan Byrd and The Sentimentals, “If I Was An Oak Tree” (Live); Jonathan Byrd and The Pickup Cowboys, “Do You Dream” (Live); Jonathan Byrd and The Pickup Cowboys, “Pick-up Cowboy” (Live); Jonathan Byrd and The Sentimentals, “You Can’t Outrun The Radio” (Live).

Playlist: Episode 184

Feb 22 2015

There are no interviews on this week’s show just lots of great music. We’ve received some great new albums in the early part of this year and it only seemed right to make the music the focus of the show. As usual we found time for a new mystery theme and guilty pleasure.

Feb 18 2015

Jonathan Byrd returns to Guelph on Friday March 20 for what is expected to be a sold out show at Silence. Joining Jonathan and his band “The Pickup Cowboys” this time around will be Atlanta-based singer-songwriter Eliot Bronson, one of the hottest new acts on the folk-roots scene. It promises to be a great night so get your tickets early!

Dec 03 2014

This week’s Folk Roots Radio featured an interview about keeping music live and local with Al Robitaille from Georgetown Musictown and Mike Willis from Uncorked on Main, a new tapas & wine bar and music venue in Georgetown Ontario. Later in the show, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Shawn William Clarke joined us to chat about his latest album “William”. As usual we included lots of new music, as well as our mystery theme and guilty pleasure.

Nov 13 2014

Folk Roots Radio on November 8 2014 was all about the music… lots of it, and, much of it new. As usual we also featured a new mystery theme and guilty pleasure.

Apr 07 2014

Folk Roots Radio on April 5 2014 (Episode 144) featured an in-studio interview with Jack Cooper as well as a live performance from singer-songwriter Gayle Ackroyd.

Apr 02 2014

Jonathan Byrd returns to Guelph on Friday April 11 2014 for a Folkway Music sponsored show with his Pick Up Cowboys at Magnolia Café. The North Carolina native has been gaining quite the reputation for his live performances, as well as strong songwriting comparisons to John Prine, Guy Clark and Lyle Lovett. Tickets are $20 and available online here or by calling 519-766-4663 for reservations. Seating is limited. This show is sure to sell out so don’t delay. For your enjoyment, here is Jonathan Byrd with “I Was An Oak Tree” from his 2010 album Cackalack. For more information, visit jonathanbyrd.com.