River Run Centre Archives | Folk Roots Radio

Sue Smith – Tonight We Sail – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Mar 15 2021

Guelph singer-songwriter Sue Smith has just released a wonderful new album with the Potion Kings, “Tonight We Sail”, a gorgeous blend of rock, jazz, blues and roots. The new recording features nine Sue Smith original songs plus a song each by Tom Petty (“Swingin'”) and Robbie Robertson (“Ophelia”). Recorded live off the floor at Scott Merritt’s studio, The Cottage in Guelph ON, it features Sue Smith (vocals, organ on several tracks) with the Potion Kings – Jeff Bird on bass, Kevin Breit on guitar, Randall Coryell on drums and Howie Southwood on percussion. Vocalists Nick Craine and Gwen Swick also guest on the recording, which was produced by Sue Smith with partner Jeff Bird. To say we love this album is a bit of an understatement… great songs, amazing musicians and a fantastic groove. It’s sure to figure in our favourite albums of 2021! Sue Smith & the Potion Kings will be playing a FREE live-streamed performance direct from the River Run Centre in Guelph ON on Friday March 26 at 8 p.m…. with special guest Gwen Swick. If you’d like to register for the livestream (all you need to do is sign up for the River Run Centre Spotlight newsletter) you can do that HERE. They’ll send you you the link on the day of the show. For more information about the music of Sue Smith, visit suesmith.ca. Photo credit: Dean Palmer. Music: Sue Smith and the Potion Kings “Night Skies”, “1 Step, 2 Step”, “If I am Sleeping” and “Met Him On A Train” from “Tonight We Sail” (2021, Self) CDN.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 555: feat. Boreal & More Songs For The Snowy Season

Dec 03 2020

Folk trio Boreal, who feature singer-songwriters Katherine Wheatley, Tannis Slimmon, and Angie Nussey, join us on Episode 555 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about their holiday show, Songs For The Snowy Season. In early December, each year, Boreal heads out on the road for a series of shows that celebrate winter and the upcoming Christmas season. Things are going to be a bit different this year because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Instead of a whole series of shows, there will be just one performance – a FREE live-streamed performance direct from the River Run Centre in Guelph ON on December 11 at 8 p.m. It’s a fun interview, and it’s always great to be able to chat with Katherine, Tannis, and Angie about their Christmas show, especially as this year everyone, wherever they are, can enjoy one of the highlights of our holiday season. We continue the snow song theme through the rest of the episode and also feature music by Ellis Delaney, The Hello Darlins, Dayna Manning, RUNA, Ted Yoder, Tara MacLean & Adam Brazier, and Melissa Ferrick. Check out the full playlist below.

Boreal - Songs For The Snowy Season: Virtual Edition - Folk Roots Radio Interview

Dec 02 2020

Boreal are a fabulous folk trio featuring three great singer-songwriters: Guelph ON’s Katherine Wheatley and Tannis Slimmon and Orillia ON’s Angie Nussey . They get together in early December each year for a series of shows that celebrate ‘the snowy season’ with some wonderful original songs and holiday classics. This year however is going to be a bit different because we’re in the midst of the Covid pandemic – so instead of a whole series of shows, there will be just one performance. But guess what… this time around they’ll be live-streaming a FREE ‘virtual performance’ from the River Run Centre in Guelph on Friday December 11 at 8 p.m. Everyone, no matter where they are, can enjoy a show that has become a highlight of our holiday season. Alongside the upcoming live-streamed show, Boreal have also released a great new single, a Katherine Wheatley song, “Snow Falls Down”. Folk Roots Radio caught up with Katherine, Tannis, and Angie for a fun chat about the upcoming livestream and the new single. If you’d like to register for the livestream – remember it’s FREE, you can do so by signing up for the River Run Centre newsletter HERE. For more information about Boreal, visit borealsongs.ca. Music: Boreal “Snow Falls Down” (single), “Warm Hands” (single) and “Carol Of The Bells” & “Gotta Go” from “Winter’s Welcome” (2014, Self).

Lisa Brokop – Legendary Ladies Of Country – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Mar 23 2019

Canadian country singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop is celebrating nearly 30 years in the music business as she brings her ‘Legendary Ladies of Country’ show to Ontario this spring. Fresh from the success of “The Patsy Cline Project”, the new performance will also feature songs from some of the other great female country singers, including Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Tanya Tucker and Emmylou Harris. The performance will be accompanied by stories about the songs and the impact that these first ladies of country have had on Lisa’s own career. Lisa Brokop will also be adding some of her own songs into the mix. Canadian country artists Patricia Conroy and Amanda Wilkinson will be joining Lisa on stage for some of the performances. The Legendary Ladies of Country show will be stopping in Kirkland Lake (Northern College Auditorium) March 31, Peterborough (Showplace Performance Centre) April 1, Nepean (Centrepointe Theatre) April 2, St. Catherine’s (First Ontario Performing Arts Centre) April 3, Guelph (River Run Centre) April 4, Kingston (Grand Theatre) April 5, Highgate (Mary Webb Centre) April 6. Get Tickets for the Highgate show at the Mary Webb Centre HERE. We caught up with Lisa Brokop in Nashville to chat about the new show. For more information about the music of Lisa Brokop, visit lisabrokop.com. Music: Lisa Brokop “Walkin’ after Midnight” from “The Patsy Cline Project” (2015, Brokop Entertainment), “Delta Dawn” and “I Will Always Love you” from “Legendary Ladies of Country” – Limited Release (2018, Brokop Entertainment).

The Slocan Ramblers – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Jan 23 2017

Toronto bluegrass band The Slocan Ramblers have a reputation for producing some of the best live acoustic music out there – a refreshingly youthful and fiddle-free take on bluegrass featuring Adrian Gross on mandolin, Darryl Poulsen on guitar, Alastair Whitehead on bass and Frank Evans on three-finger and clawhammer banjo. They released their second album “Coffee Creek”, the follow up to their very well received 2012 debut “Shaking Down The Acorns”, in 2015. An album that explores the outer reaches of bluegrass while respecting its traditions, Coffee Creek was recorded live off the floor with Chris Coole (from the Foggy Hogtown Boys) at the controls and features a healthy dose of their own original material. The Slocan Ramblers will be appearing at the River Run Centre in Guelph on January 27, The Old Town Hall in Newmarket on March 25, The Registry Theatre in Kitchener on April 7, the Aurora Cultural Centre on May 12 and the Regent Theatre in Picton on May 20 alongside dates in Western Canada, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. We caught up with banjo player Frank Evans in Toronto, to chat about their music. For more information visit slocanramblers.com. Music: The Slocan Ramblers “Pastures of Plenty / Honey Babe”, “Elk River”, “Coffee Creek” and “Call Me Long Gone” from “Coffee Creek” (2015, Self).

James Keelaghan in Guelph – January 15

Jan 10 2016

James Keelaghan is widely-regarded as being one of Canada’s finest songwriters. With a career spanning nearly a quarter century, he’s been called the poet laureate of the folk and roots world – a song craftsman who brings passion, intensity and curiosity to his work alongside an insatiable desire to find the next unique story to inspire another big song. He’s also the Artistic Director of the Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival. James Keelaghan will be in Guelph on Friday January 15 for a Borealis Music Series show in the Co-operators Hall at the River Run Centre at 8 p.m. Tickets are $28.00 Adult, $26.00 Senior and available online HERE. We have THREE pairs of tickets to give away for this show. If you’d like to get in the draw, send an e-mail to jan[at]folkrootsradio.com. Music: James Keelaghan “Glory Bound” and “Kiri’s Piano” from “History: The First 25 Years” (2013, Borealis Records).

Tannis Slimmon at the River Run Centre

Mar 27 2015

Guelph-based Singer-songwriter Tannis Slimmon returns to the Cooperator’s Hall stage at the River Run Centre on April 10 accompanied by her musical partner, Lewis Melville.

May 29 2014

The Guelph Dance Festival runs May 29 – June 2 2014. Featuring stunning and edgy works from the sublime to the unexpected, the festival will transform parks, streets, and stages of Guelph. Ticketed events, $15- $30; Pay-what-you-can events, suggested donation $15. Buy tickets through the River Run Centre Box Office or by phone at 519-763-3000 | 877-520-2408, or in person. Full schedule and performance details on the Guelph Dance Festival website at guelphdance.ca.

Jan 15 2014

Hillside Inside, a smaller more intimate version of the summer Hillside Festival runs from February 5-7 2014 in a variety of downtown Guelph spaces. Featuring contemporary Aboriginal music, dance, indie rock, folk and Afro-Columbian music, all wrapped up in a full weekend of free activities, from street side musical performances to Hillside hockey and hip-hop lessons, and all in downtown Guelph, there is something for everyone. Check out the full Hillside Inside schedule HERE Read More

Carlos del Junco

Nov 07 2013

Carlos del Junco is one of those players whose music is so advanced that when it comes to awards, it’s either retire the category or rephrase the question to “Best Harmonica Player Not Named Carlos”. This includes two Gold Medals from the Hohner World Harmonica Championship in Trossingen, Germany, as well as multiple national awards in Canada which includes Carlos’ eight time Harmonica Player of The Year wins out fifteen years of the Maple Leaf Blues Awards.To say he plays the harmonica is like saying “Jimi Hendrix plays guitar”. He blows the blues harp through a prism — suddenly it seems he’s holding every colour in the musical rainbow right there in his hands.Simultaneously sophisticated and raw, his playing blurs the boundaries between blues and jazz (hence the name for his band “The Blues Mongrels”). The emphasis is on blues, but they are not afraid to merrily traipse off in other directions delivering a seamless fusion of New Orleans second line grooves, swing, Latin, hip-hop or ska melodies, to swampy roots rock.The Blues Mongrels are: bassist Henry Heillig (founded the nine piece Latin band Manteca), guitarist Eric St. Laurent and Mark Mariash on drums. Get ready to trash all you thought you knew about the harmonica. The Blues Mongrels deliver a no-holds-barred display of fun and melodic virtuosity.

For more info about Carlos visit carlosdeljunco.com.

Carlos del Junco
Saturday November 9, 2013 at 8:00 pm
Cooperators Hall, River Run Centre
35 Woolwich Street Guelph

Tickets: $33 (incl. HST) available online or at the River Run Centre box office, 519-763-3000.

Sam Turton and Friends

Nov 03 2012

Guelph singer-songwriter and community activist Sam Turton will be taking over the Cooperators Hall for a special show on Friday November 16 2012 at 8.00 p.m. Featuring Sam’s trade-mark swampy blues/gospel style songs, special guests and an opportunity to sing along; it promises to be a great night.

Mar 23 2012

After 30 years of writing, composing and teaching Jude Vadala is ready to step into the limelight. Jude will be headlining her own solo show at the Co-operators Hall in the River Run Centre on Friday March 30 2012 at 8.00 p.m.

A mainstay on the Guelph music scene singer-songwriter Jude Vadala has produced five studio albums including her most recent album, “Do You Ever” (2011). Jude was a member of the critically acclaimed trio The Bird Sisters with Tannis Slimmon and Sue Smith. She has also worked on 50 local musical projects including works by Tannis Slimmon, James Gordon, Harri Palm, Jah Youssouf and Lewis Melville, Katherine Wheatley and Scott Merritt. Jude is currently a member of the Wintersong trio with Tannis Slimmon and Katherine Wheatley.

Jude’s band for the solo show will feature Tannis Slimmon (harmony vocals), Adam Bowman (percussion), Jesse Turton (bass) and Tom Randall (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo).

Tickets are on sale at the River Run Centre, box-office 519-763-3000.

Ticket Prices
Adult: $26.00
Student/Senior: $24.00
uGO: $20.00 (College/University student – valid ID required)
eyeGO: $5.00 (High School Student – valid ID required)