Sheesham and Lotus and Son Archives

Sheesham & Lotus & ‘Son – The Interview

Jul 05 2016

Sheesham and Lotus & ‘Son are the fabulous old-time vehicle for the musical talents of Teilhard Frost (Sheesham Crow), Sam Allison (Lotus Wight) and Son Sanderson. Featuring fiddle, banjo and sousaphone alongside some musical contraptions of their own creation – the Sepia-phonic Monophone, and the Contrabass HarmoniPhoneum, their live show is a mix of old-time fiddle, depression era trad blues and some originals that takes you back to the 1920s heyday of the music they love, and it’s an experience that is not to be missed. Sheesham, Lotus and Son joined us at the Folk Music Ontario conference to chat about their roots, history, live show and upcoming album “78 rpm” which is based on material recorded using vintage 1938 record cutting equipment, courtesy of Lathe Revival. For more information visit sheeshamandlotus.com. Music: Sheesham and Lotus & ‘Son “Chinquapin”, “The Blackberry Blossom Into Wink The Other Eye” and “Swimming Blues” from “The High Stepping Music of Sheesham and Lotus & ‘Son” (2014, Sepiaphone Records).

Mike Hill – Mariposa Folk Festival 2016

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).

Lotus Wight – Ode To The Banjo – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Jan 19 2016

Lotus Wight, banjo player with rag-timers Sheesham, Lotus and ‘Son released a solo album of banjo-driven tunes, the rather appropriately-titled “Ode to the Banjo” late in 2015. “Ode to the Banjo” itself is not a musical track, but a 23-stanza poem about the history of the banjo written by Lotus Wight. A musical version of the poem may appear on a future recording. Lotus Wight plays all the instruments on the 13 tracks (12 traditional, one self-composition) on the album, and alongside a variety of banjos, also plays the kalimba and his own invention, the Contrabass Harmoniphoneum. Lotus stopped by our mobile studio at the Folk Music Ontario conference to chat about the new album. For more information about Lotus Wight, visit lotuswight.com. Music: Lotus Wight “Skillet” and “Roustabout” from “Ode to the Banjo” (2015, Self).

Episode 228: Gregory Hoskins & Kevin Breit

Nov 27 2015

Gregory Hoskins and Kevin Breit will be sharing the stage for a series of concerts across Southern Ontario this December. They join us in the studio for a fun conversation about their collaboration and discuss what people can expect when they come out to one of their joint shows. And it’s that time of year – Tannis Slimmon, Jude Vadala and Katherine Wheatley come together each Christmas as Boreal to put on a series of concerts, “Songs For The Snowy Season”. Jude Vadala joins us to chat about their annual ritural, and their 9th annual show in Guelph on December 5.

Nov 07 2015

This week’s Live & Local includes a feature-length interview with singer-songwriter Andy White – originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland but now living in Melbourne, Australia. We also take our usual look at the local music scene including upcoming shows by Nicole Ensing Band, Kevin Breit and Gregory Hoskins and a special fundraiser for local bluesman Mo’ Kauffey who is battling cancer.

Oct 29 2015

On this week’s local edition of Folk Roots Radio we talk to Toronto-based singer-songwriter Jory Nash about his show in Guelph on November 6. We also take our final look at the nominees for this year’s Canadian Folk Music Awards. The awards will be handed out in Edmonton this coming weekend, November 6-8 . For more information on the awards visit folkawards.ca.

Jul 18 2015

Brad McEwen, Artistic Director with the Mill Race Folk Society joined us in the studio as we went Overtime on Folk Roots Radio on CFRU 93.3fm on July 18 to talk about the upcoming Mill Race Festival of Traditional Folk Music taking place from July 31 – August 2 in the historic downtown core of Galt in Cambridge, Ontario. The festival is patterned after European festivals whereby the day’s events are held on numerous outdoor stages in the town core. Traditional forms of folk music and dance are the festival’s theme, with emphasis placed upon the various cultures present in Cambridge and surrounding area. The festival runs Friday 7 – 11 p.m., Saturday 1 – 11 p.m., and Sunday 1 – 10 p.m. Admission is free. For more information visit millracefolksociety.com. Music: Mary Humphreys & Anahata “John Barleycorn” from “Baker’s Dozen” (2012, Treewind Music), The Ever Lovin’ Jug Band “The Booglie-ooglie-oo” from “Tri-City Stomp” (2013, Self), Trio Dhoore “The Offbeat Jig/Keep Dreaming” and “Parachute” from “Parachute” (2015, Appel Rekords), Silk Road Duo (Autumn Cloud), “Rumba Calabria” from “Journey With Her Pipa” (2006, Silk Road Music), Sheesham & Lotus & ‘Son “Frankie & Johnny” from “1929” (2012, Sepiaphone Records), Frog & Henry “Sitting On The Chimney Jamb” from “Frog & Henry” (2014, Self) and The Young’Uns “John Ball” from “Never Forget” (2014, Navigator).