Shawn William Clarke Archives

Folk Roots Radio Episode 549: feat. Countermeasure – Guest Sessions & More New Releases

Nov 08 2020

We have a very special interview to bring you on Episode 549 of Folk Roots Radio. Aaron Jensen, the composer and arranger for Toronto based a cappella group Countermeasure joins us to chat about their new concept album “Guest Sessions” which features collaborations with world class instrumentalists like Kevin Fox, Christian Roberge, Randy Brecker, Evelyn Glennie and Natalie McMaster; each piece on the new recording being specifically tailored to compliment the sound and aesthetic of the guest artist. It’s a great album and an excellent interview – we hope you’ll check it out. We wrap up the episode with new songs inspired by Canadian icon Leonard Cohen (who left us four years ago) from Lynn Jackson, Imogen Joy and Shawn William Clarke; alongside two of the tracks that the great man was working on prior to his death, that are included on his posthumous album “Thanks For The Dance” – the sublime “The Goal” and the beautiful title track. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 511: We're All About The Music! (Lockdown Edition)

May 04 2020

We’re bringing you another hour of great new music on Episode 511 of Folk Roots Radio. This time around we’re including more new Covid-19 tunes, some songs recorded during the coronavirus lockdown, alongside some fine new releases. Join us for new music from Martyn Joseph, Chip Taylor, Crys Matthews & Heather Mae, Gillian Nicola, Shawn Clarke, Bill Bourne, Katie Dahl, Doris Folkens, Pharis & Jason Romero, Claudia Nygaard, Leeroy Stagger, Maggie Duffy, Nelson Sobral, Donovan Woods, Carolyn Anele and Shelley Posen. Stay safe and well everyone! We will get through this… together and apart. Check out the full playlist below.

Shawn William Clarke Topaz - Folk Roots Radio at FMO

Jan 03 2019

Shawn William Clarke is a wonderfully quirky and engaging singer-songwriter who really deserves a wider audience. His last two solo albums “William” (2014) and “Topaz” (2017) were very well-received, and both made our long list for favourite albums of the year. A second trip to Europe on tour, another visit to Iceland for some off-venue gigs at the Iceland Airwaves festival, alongside picking up Folk Music Ontario‘s 2018 Songs from the Heart award for best instrumental for “Bellwoods Park” (from the William album) and a very well-received official showcase at the FMO conference, made 2018 a year to remember. It’s always fun to chat to Shawn about his music. We sat down with him at FMO for a great conversation and a couple of live songs, including another new song. Visit Shawn William Clarke online at shawnwilliamclarke.com. Music: Shawn William Clarke “Young In Love (At The End Of The World)” (Live), “Everybody Gets Sad Sometimes” (Live) and “The Tourists” from “Topaz” (2017, Self) CDN.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 357: Best of 2017 – The Next 15

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.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 342: Shawna Caspi Interview & More New Releases

Oct 05 2017

Classically trained Toronto singer-songwriter and fingerstyle guitarist Shawna Caspi has just released her fourth album “Forest Fire” – which is more of a band project than her previous releases. Shawna joined us in the studio recently to chat about the album and record a solo set for the video series, the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions. We’re pleased to bring the interview from the session to Episode 343 of Folk Roots Radio alongside a look at more of the great new music we’ve been receiving. It’s a great hour of music and conversation. I hope you’ll check it out. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 336: Manitoba Hal Interview & More New Releases

Jul 28 2017

Ukulele bluesman Manitoba Hal released a great double live album “Live in Ghent” earlier this year – the perfect introduction to his music. Hal joined us in the Quantum Sound Productions studio in Kingsville Ontario to record an edition of the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions during which he chatted about the new project and played a few songs live. We’re pleased to bring that interview and a couple of songs from the session to Episode 336 of Folk Roots Radio. We also take a look at more of the latest new releases. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 316: Shawn William Clarke & More New Releases

Apr 20 2017

Episode 316 of Folk Roots Radio features an interview with Toronto singer-songwriter Shawn William Clarke recorded at the Folk Music Ontario conference. Shawn also plays three songs live for us, including two songs that are yet to be recorded. As always, we take a look at some of the latest new releases. Check out the full playlist below.

Shawn William Clarke - Folk Roots Radio at FMO

Apr 16 2017

Shawn William Clarke released his most recent album “William” in 2015. A lovely recording, it features some great songs with engaging lyrics and quirky titles, with Shawn’s gentle voice and harmonies resting over an understated musical accompaniment, including some fine finger picked guitar, pedal steel, accordion and some very nice use of brass. A sonic delight, it became one of our favourite albums of 2015. Since then, Shawn has been working on an ambient project Will Moor with fellow Toronto singer-songwriter David F Gluck (2016), and is now working on the follow-up to William at the Currie Brothers studio, Currie Music & Antiques, in Gravenhurst. Shawn stopped by the Folk Roots Radio mobile studio at the Folk Music Ontario conference this past October for a fun and engaging conversation, and to play three songs live – including two that have yet to make it on to disc. Music: Shawn William Clarke “I Blame The Loyalist Ghost” (Live), “Untitled” (new song about stage anxiety) (Live) and “Autumn in New Brunswick” (Live).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 235: More Best of 2015

Jan 14 2016

On this episode of Folk Roots Radio we dip back into our favourite albums of the year. We’ve already announced our ten favourite albums of the year – you can check those albums out HERE. This time around, we’re focusing on albums that made it on to our twenty-five album long list, but didn’t quite make it into the Top 10 – we still love them all though, which is why we’re more than happy to play a selection of songs from them on this week’s show.

Jul 31 2015

John & Michelle Law, artistic directors at the Kingsville Folk Music Festival join us on this week’s show to talk about this year’s festival (year two) taking place from August 7-9 in beautiful Lakeside Park in Kingsville on the shores of Lake Erie. Later in the show, Southern Ontario roots songstress Allison Brown joins us to chat about her fabulous new album “Stitches and Incisions”. As usual, we also find time for our mystery theme and guilty pleasure alongside some great new releases.

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.

Jun 19 2015

After spending time as a sideman for artists such as Olenka and the Autumn Lovers and Timber Timbre, Shawn William Clarke stepped into the limelight as a solo artist a few years ago. His sophomore album, “William” released in late 2014 has been praised by many, including Folk Roots Radio, for its playfulness, fine storytelling and understated warmth. Shawn will be in Guelph for a double CD release show with The Young Novelists at Silence on June 26. We reached Shawn at home in Toronto. Buy tickets for the Guelph show HERE. Music: Shawn William Clarke, “Tranzac Club” and “Ballad Of A Boorish Man” from “William” (2014, Self).

The Young Novelists – The Interview

Jun 18 2015

Toronto-based The Young Novelists have just released their sophomore album “Made Us Strangers”, a fine slice of mostly mellow roots rock featuring catchy tunes, thoughtful lyrics and gorgeous harmonies. Whether Graydon James & Laura Spink are performing as a duo or with a full band they put on a show that is definitely worth checking out. And guess what, they’re in Guelph for a double CD release show with Shawn William Clarke at Silence on June 26. We caught up with Graydon and Laura at home in Toronto. For more information, visit theyoungnovelists.com. Buy tickets for the Guelph show HERE. Music: The Young Novelists “Hear Your Voice”, “Always Make The Mistake” and “Brothers In The Garage” from “Made Us Strangers”.

Episode 199: Pete Davies

Jun 08 2015

This week’s Folk Roots Radio featured an interview with North-East of England based singer-songwriter Pete Davies. Pete’s latest album “Long Way Home” is one of our favourite albums of the year so far. The fact that the album came to us out of the blue made receiving it all that more special. This week we included a special tribute to the sadly departed “Mother of Modern Folk Music” Jean Ritchie, alongside our mystery theme and some new music.

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 27 2014

Shawn William Clarke may be one of Toronto’s best kept secrets. After spending time as a sideman for Timber Timbre and Olenka & The Autumn Lovers, he is now forging his own solo career. As much a storyteller as a singer-songwriter, Shawn strives to make the subject matter for his songs as important as the beautiful melodies that accompany his well-crafted lyrics. His first solo album, 2010’s “Like Birds Too Tired To Fly” was very well-received. He is just about to release his latest album “William”, produced by James Bunton. We reached him at home in Toronto this week. For more information visit shawnclarkemusic.com. Music: Shawn William Clarke “Ten Years Ago”, “In Conversation” & “I Blame The Loyalist Ghost” from “William” (2014, Self).

Playlist: Episode 176

Nov 26 2014

This week’s episode of Folk Roots Radio featured an in-studio appearance by singer-songwriters Tannis Slimmon, Jude Vadala and Katherine Wheatley who come together each holiday season for a fabulous series of holiday concerts, “Songs For The Snowy Season”. This year, they are also releasing their first album under their new group name Boreal, “Winter’s Welcome”. As usual, we featured lots of new music, plus a new mystery theme and guilty pleasure.

Nov 16 2014

Episode 175 of Folk Roots Radio (the weekend of November 15 2014) featured interviews with folky funksters Shore Thing, London Ontario singer-songwriter Carly Thomas and Brechyn Chace and Larissa Chace-Smith who together form The Hello Strangers. As usual, there was lots of new music as well as the obligatory mystery theme and guilty pleasure.