Rob Lutes Archives | Folk Roots Radio

Folk Roots Radio Episode 615: Our Favourite Albums of 2021

Jan 09 2022

They are finally here – Our Favourite Albums of 2021! 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 though is to take all that fabulous music and narrow it down to your ten favourite albums of the year. ‘Best of the year’ lists are very subjective and can only reflect the albums that you’ve actually received, but they are a fun way to reflect on a year gone by, and hopefully get people to check out music they may not have realized they actually like. Join us on this episode as we countdown The Top 10, and check out the rest of our long list in the playlist below. We’ll be dipping into The Next 40 on future episodes of Folk Roots Radio. 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.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 597: feat. Rob Lutes - Come Around & More New Releases

Sep 20 2021

We’re off to Pointe-Claire QC on Episode 597 of Folk Roots Radio to chat with singer-songwriter Rob Lutes about his wonderful eighth solo album “Come Around”. No stranger to this show, Rob Lutes’ last album – the critically acclaimed “Walk In The Dark” was our favourite album of 2017. Come Around is another beautiful blend of folk, blues and Americana, and in some ways it’s a reflection on the challenges we all face in life but particularly during these strange pandemic times. As always, we wrap up the episode with more great new releases, and this time around they are all by Canadian artists. Join us for new music from Lynne Hanson , Alicia Toner, The Fretless, Marc Audet, Barney Bentall & Geoffrey Kelly, Isaac Murdoch (Bomgiizhik) & Matt Epp, Gordie Tentrees, Ken Tizzard & Music For Goats and The McDades. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 585: We're All About The Music! (Get Happy Together Edition)

Jul 05 2021

We’re pleased to bring you another hour of great new music on Episode 585 of Folk Roots Radio. Join us for new releases from Rob Lutes, String Bone, Geoff Samuels, Maria Muldaur with Tuba Skinny, Duane Andrews & Donald MacLennan, Black Umfolosi, Chris Pierce, Adrian Sutherland & Midnight Shine, Del Barber, Georgia Lee Johnson, Rachelle van Zanten and Kelly’s Lot. We wrap up the hour with a musical tribute to the fabulous blues singer-songwriter and awesome slide player Ellen McIlwaine who sadly left us recently. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 579: feat. Jeffrey Straker - Just Before Sunrise & More New Releases

Apr 30 2021

Jeffery Straker joins us on Episode 579 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his great new album “Just Before Sunrise”. Jeffery landed on our radar last year, and since then we’ve played pretty much everything we’ve been sent. We’re definitely big fans of his piano driven songwriting. As always we wrap up the episode with more new releases, and this time around we’ve decided to stay in Canada as we bring you new music from Kristen Martell, Tania Joy, the august arrival, Last Birds, Grosse Isle, Rob Lutes, Kat Danser and William Kuklis. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 493: feat. Noah Derksen & More New Releases

Jan 31 2020

Noah Derksen is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter with a wonderfully soulful folk-roots Americana sound. He joins us in the studio on Episode 493 of Folk Roots Radio for an in-depth conversation about his latest album “America, Dreaming”, and a few live songs. It’s a great session – we hope you’ll check it out. We also find time to include more of the new music we’ve received, and this time around we hear from Sussex, Ma Polaine’s Great Decline, Hansan, Burnstick, The East Pointers, Ayla Brook & The Sound Men, Lynn Harrison and The John Byrne Band. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 462: feat. David Francey & More New Releases

Sep 13 2019

Three-time Juno award winning singer-songwriter David Francey‘s musical world fell apart when he was told by his doctors that he must rest his voice. At the time, he was all set to head out on an extensive tour to promote his 2018 album “The Broken Heart Of Everything”, which had also been nominated for a Juno. David Francey joins us on Episode 462 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about having to take a break from singing, and how with a bit of help from his other creative outlet – his visual art, he was able to get through it. The good news is that David Francey will be back on the road this fall, though taking it a little easier as far as his touring schedule is concerned. It’s a great interview – we hope you’ll stay with us to check it out. We also take a look at more of the new music we’ve received, and this time around we hear from Dale Boyle, Ariana Gillis, Den Of Ashes, Jon Brooks, Sussex, Emily Mure and Jessica Rhaye and the Ramshackle Parade. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 399: feat. Jack Pine & More 2018 Canadian Folk Music Award Nominees

Oct 04 2018

Ottawa based musician Jack Pine joins us on Episode 399 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his music and 2017 album ”Left To My Own Devices”, nominated for a 2018 Canadian Folk Music Award in the New/Emerging Artist Category. We also check out music from some of the other nominees at this year’s awards taking place in Calgary the weekend of November 30 – December 1, 2018. For more information about the Canadian Folk Music Awards, visit folkawards.ca. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Root Radio Episode 358 - Rob Lutes & New Releases

Jan 11 2018

Montreal singer-songwriter Rob Lutes joins us on Episode 358 of Folk Roots Radio for a wonderful conversation about his latest album, “Walk In The Dark”, a blues roots delight and our favourite album of 2017. As always, we also check out more of the great new folk and roots releases we’ve received. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Best of 2017 - The Next 15

Jan 04 2018

We’ve already released our Top Ten albums of 2017 – you can find those on Episode 356 of Folk Roots Radio. This time around we tackle ‘The Next Fifteen’ with an episode featuring some of our favourite tracks from those albums. It’s a great privilege to bring lots of great music and interviews to you each week on Folk Roots Radio, something we’re looking forward to continuing to do throughout 2018. As always, this list only includes those albums that were received from October 1st, 2016 – September 30th, 2017. Listen to tracks from the Next 15 and check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Best of 2017 - The Top 10

Dec 28 2017

Well, it’s that time of year – time to run down our favourite albums of 2017. One of the best things about doing a radio show is that you get loads of great music to audition each week. One of the hardest things to do, though, is to take all that great music and narrow it down to your ten favourite recordings of the year. As someone who loves to make best of lists, it’s a fun thing to do, and, if, by doing that, I can expose people to new music they may not have heard, so much the better. As always, this Best of 2017 list only includes those albums that were received from October 1st, 2016 – September 30th, 2017. Listen to tracks from the Top 10 and check out the full playlist below.

Nov 04 2017

Montreal based blues roots performer Rob Lutes released a fabulous new album, “Walk In The Dark”, early this year. Featuring twelve strong originals, a couple of co-writes with award-winning Americana songwriter Dale Boyle and a cover of John Prine‘s “Rocky Mountain Time”, the album finds Lutes, a Kerrville New Folk winner, Maple Blues and Canadian Folk Music Awards nominee exploring a wide range of subjects and paying homage to some heroes: James Cotton (on “There’s No Way to Tell You That Tonight”) and guitarist Joseph Spence (on the instrumental “Spence”). Rob Lutes soulful voice, some great fingerstyle playing and support from some of the finest blues and roots players in the business, including regular side player guitarist Rob MacDonald, keyboardist Bob Stagg, Guy Bélanger on harmonica and Joe Grass on mandolin – the album is, truly, a tour de force. I’m sure it will up there for consideration at awards time. We caught with Rob on the road to chat about the new album. Check out Rob Lutes online at roblutes.com. Music: Rob Lutes “A Little Room”, “Believe In Something”, “Rabbit” and “Walk In the Dark” from “Walk In The Dark” (2017, Self).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 345: We’re All About The Music!

Oct 13 2017

We’re holding back the interviews on Episode 345 of Folk Roots Radio to check out more of the best new releases we’ve received over the last few months. Join us for some great tracks from Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers, Lynn Jackson, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, Shawn William Clarke and more. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 342: Brendan Scott Friel Interview & More New Releases

Sep 29 2017

Brendan Scott Friel started his music career as the lead guitarist in well-received Windsor harmony rock combo The Brilliancy, before deciding to pursue a career as a singer-songwriter. Earlier this year, Brendan joined us in the Quantum Sound Productions studio in Kingsville ON to record an edition of the video series, the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions. Episode 342 of Folk Roots Radio features our interview with Brendan alongside live versions of three songs from his debut album “Quiet Cars”. As always, we also check out more of the latest new releases including new music from David Myles, Ian Sherwood and the Skydiggers. It’s a good one! I hope you’ll join us. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 340: Summerfolk Youth Discoveries & More New Releases

Sep 01 2017

We’re up in Owen Sound ON on Episode 340 of Folk Roots Radio as we check out the fabulous Youth Discoveries showcase at Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival. We’re bringing you interviews with two young duos – Moscow Apartment and Bare Sierra alongside music from the other performers who made it through the audition process to perform on the big stage at the festival. And, as always, we take a look at more of the latest new releases. Photo: Paige Ballagh and Clarissa Fortin (Jan Hall). Check out the full playlist below.

Aug 24 2016

This episode features more interviews and artist music from the 2016 Kingsville Folk Music Festival. Kingsville, in South-Western Ontario, has a lovely little festival, and it’s well worth a visit if you get the chance. On this edition we talk to Rob Lutes, Jason Dennie, Luther Wright and Qristina & Quinn Bachand, and Jaxon Haldane joins us to chat about the Willie P Bennett Legacy Project. I’d again like to thank Gary Glass from Quantum Sound Productions for his help in recording these interviews. For more information about the Kingsville Folk Music Festival, visit kingsvillefolkfest.org. Photo: Michael Dick.

Jul 28 2016

Leamington-based singer-songwriter Francine Leclair will be appearing at this summer’s Kingsville Folk Music Festival, taking place in beautiful Lakeside Park, in Kingsville, on the shore of Lake Erie from August 12-14. Francine joined us in the studio to chat about her music and also plays a couple of new songs live for us. We also include music from some of the other artists heading to Kingsville this summer. For more information about the Kingsville Folk Music Festival, visit kingsvillefolkfest.org.

May 09 2016

The grande dame of Canadian Folk Festivals, the Mariposa Folk Festival is getting set for it’s 56th edition which takes place the weekend of July 8-10 2016, in beautiful Tudhope Park in Orillia, on the shores of Lake Couchiching. Performers announced so far include Ahmed Knowmadic Ali, Benjamin Dakota Rogers, Beth McKean, Big Little Lions, Brother Sun, Campfire Crew, Cat Clyde, Catherine MacLellan, Colin Linden, Dave Gunning, David Amram, Dirty Dishes, Fortunate Ones, Gathering Sparks, Georgian Bay, Hunter’s Corners, Ivan Coyote, James Hill, Jeffrey Foucault, Jen Schaffer and the Shiners, Jon Brooks, Josh White Jr., Keith Kendrick and Sylvia Needham, Ken Whiteley and the Beulah Band, Leonard Sumner, Lori Yates, Lorraine Sutton, Meredith Moon and the Oldest Man I Know, Melanie Brûlée and Anique Grianger, Moulettes, Murder Murder, Next Generation Leahy, Notre Dame de Grass, Quique Escamilla, Rita Coolidge, Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar, Sheesham and Lotus & ‘Son, Shred Kelly, Slow Leaves, Sussex featuring Rob Lutes, Ten Strings & a Goat Skin , Terry Savage and the Wonky Honkees, The Fitzgerald Family Band, The Good Family, The Imbayakunas, The Laws, The Milk Carton Kids, Rita Cox, Three Women and the Truth (Eliza Gilkyson, Gretchen Peters and Mary Gauthier) and Vance Gilbert. To learn more about this year’s festival, we caught up with artistic director, Mike Hill at work in Orillia. Mariposa Folk Festival 2016 Passes are now on sale. Children 12 & under are admitted FREE if accompanied by a ticket-bearing adult. You can buy your tickets online HERE. Music: Brother Sun “So Far To Come” from “Weights & Wings” (2016, Self) and Milk Carton Kids “Wish You Were Here” (2016, Anti).

Episode 250: Kingsville Folk Music Festival

May 06 2016

This episode features an interview with John & Michele Law who joined us to chat about the line up for the 3rd Annual Kingsville Folk Music Festival, which takes place from August 12-14, in the beautiful confines of Lakeside Park in Kingsville on the shores of Lake Erie It’s a great festival and already gaining a great reputation for bringing fabulous folk, roots, blues and world music down into South-western Ontario. There’s also a lot of new music on this episode. I hope you’ll check it out.

May 04 2016

The performers for the 3rd Annual Kingsville Folk Music Festival, which takes place from August 12-14, have just been announced. This year, the festival, which takes place in the beautiful confines of Lakeside Park in Kingsville on the shore of Lake Erie, features Buffy Sainte-Marie, fresh from success at the Juno Awards with her Polaris Music Prize winning album “Power in the Blood”. Joining Buffy at this year’s festival are Alex Cuba, Quique Escamilla, Irish Mythen, Garnet Rogers, Alysha Brilla, Qristina & Quinn Bachand, Bill Bourne, The Boxcar Boys, Jason Dennie & Rochelle Clark, Tony Gouveia, Maneli Jamal, Connie Kaldor, Kaia Kater, The Laws, Rob Lutes, Danielle Miraglia, The O’Pears, Amanda Rheaume, Gordie Tentrees & Jaxon Haldane, Union Duke, Luther Wright, Dale Butler, Francine Leclair, Whoa Nellie! Vera & Johnny, Tribute to Willie P. Bennett and children’s performers: Jangles The Magical Clown, Butterfingers and Magoo alongside Todd Crowley’s Musical Petting Zoo. Artistic Directors John & Michele Law joined us to chat about this year’s festival. Weekend passes at Kingsville are still under $100 which sounds like a great deal and Children 16 and under are admitted FREE! Regular priced weekend – senior – student and single day passes are now available online HERE. For more information visit kingsvillefolkfest.org. Music: Buffy Sainte-Marie “Power In The Blood” from “Power In The Blood” (2015, True North 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.