The Lifers Archives | Folk Roots Radio

Folk Roots Radio Episode 464: feat. Lloyd Spiegel & More New Releases

Oct 04 2019

Australian acoustic blues great Lloyd Spiegel joins us on Episode 464 of Folk Roots Radio for a chat about his music and three live songs. A fantastic live performer, Lloyd Spiegel has been performing his hard-hitting, cutting edge brand of blues for more than 30 years. Lloyd Spiegel released his tenth album, “Cut & Run”, earlier this year. It’s a great interview – we hope you’ll check it out. And as always we wrap up the hour with more new releases, and this time we hear from I’m With Her, Annie & Rod Capps, Zachary Lucky, Dale Boyle, The Lifers, Jennis, Durham County Poets and Kae Shelby. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 458: feat. Tragedy Ann & More New Releases

Aug 16 2019

Liv Cazzola and Braden Phelan join us on Episode 458 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about the sweet music they make together as duo Tragedy Ann. If you recognize the name Cazzola, that’s because Liv and sister Anita, are leaders of Guelph art.folk collective The Lifers – and Braden Phelan is a guitarist in that band. As Tragedy Ann, Liv and Braden have great chemistry and a wonderful gentle humour. They’re now charming listening rooms across Canada with their folky mix of beautiful harmonies, ukulele, accordion and guitar. We hooked up with Tragedy Ann just before they set out on a tour of Northern Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It was a great conversation, and definitely well worth checking out. We also take a look at more of the latest new releases and this time around we hear from Rising Appalachia, James Gordon, Paper Beat Scissors, Our Native Daughters (Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Leyla McCalla, Allison Russell), James Hill & Anne Janelle, The Rails, Den Of Ashes and Michael McDermott. Check out the full playlist below.

Tragedy Ann On Tour - Folk Roots Radio Interview

Aug 05 2019

Liv Cazzola and Braden Phelan make sweet music together as duo Tragedy Ann. If you recognize the name Cazzola, that’s because Liv and sister Anita, are leaders of Guelph art.folk collective The Lifers – and Braden Phelan is a guitarist in that band. As Tragedy Ann, Liv and Braden have great chemistry and a wonderful gentle humour. They’re now charming listening rooms across Canada with their folky mix of beautiful harmonies, ukulele, accordion and guitar. Tragedy Ann picked up two Songs from the Heart awards at the 2018 Folk Music Ontario conference – Blues: “Neon & Velour” (Liv Cazzola & Braden Phelan) and Humorous: “Snooze” (Braden Phelan) from their first full length album “Matches”, produced by James Paul, in 2018. Liv Cazzola and Braden Phelan joined us on Folk Roots Radio prior to leaving on a tour of Northern Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. For more information, and details about all their upcoming tour dates, visit tragedyannmusic.com. Photo: Alex Lam. Music: Tragedy Ann “One In Two”, “Odysseus” and “The Light We Have” from “Matches” (2018, Self).

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 Roots Radio Episode 380: The Lifers & New Releases

May 10 2018

We’re taking a distinctly female musical perspective on Episode 380 of Folk Roots Radio as we chat to Liv and Anita Cazzola from Guelph’s The Lifers about their sophomore release “Honey Suite”. Liv and Anita have been delighting listening audiences across Canada since there release of their first E.P. “Set the Sails” (2014) and their first long player “Out & In” (2016), although our relationship with them goes back to their first band as a duo, Detour. It’s a great interview – well worth sticking around for. We also check out more new music from female performers including new releases from Doris Folkens, Alicia Toner and Ali McCormick and Carly Thomas. Check out the full playlist below.

The Lifers Honey Suite - Folk Roots Radio Interview

May 06 2018

The Lifers, led by sisters Liv and Anita Cazzola, are an art-folk/rock collective from Guelph, Ontario. Liv and Anita have been delighting listening audiences across Canada since there release of their first E.P. “Set the Sails” (2014) and long player “Out & In” (2016). Their intertwined voices dynamically convey vulnerability and strength. Softly plucked strings, accordion swells, and lush cello and upright bass arrangements give way to rip-roaring drums and soaring melodies. Their stories juxtapose tenderness and explosive energy, sometimes within a single breath while exploring notions of home, family and community, and highlighting the beauty, vulnerability and power of nature. Their sophomore album “Honey Suite” is more personal than ever, reflecting on the fragility of life and our world, and touching on themes of place, sisterhood, mental health, and the environment. We caught up with Liv and Anita Cazzola at home in Guelph to chat about the new album. The sisters will be touring the new album across Canada, the US and Europe this year – in Ontario with their thunderous six-piece band, and abroad with their collaborative project, alongside their Sisterhood of Sound tour with Guelph based singer-songwriter Annie Sumi. For more information, visit thelifersmusic.com. Music: The Lifers “Sister”, “The Nature Of Things”, “New Eyes” and “Front Door” from “Honey Suite” (2018, Self).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 376: Kerri Powers & New Releases

Apr 18 2018

Connecticut blues roots singer-songwriter Kerri Powers joins us on Episode 376 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about her fabulous new album “Starseeds”. Kerri Powers produced one of our favourite recordings of 2014, her stunning self-titled album. It’s a great interview, and well worth checking out. And, as always, we check out more of the new music we’ve received, including new releases from The Lonesome Ace Stringband, The Lifers and Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar. Check out the full playlist below.

Episode 360 - Shari Ulrich & New Releases

Feb 08 2018

Multi-instrumentalist (fiddle, mandolin, guitar and piano) singer-songwriter; two time Juno Award winner; and inductee in the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, Shari Ulrich joins us on Episode 360 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about her long and storied music career – both as a singer-songwriter and as part of such great bands as Pied Pumkin, The Hometown Band, Ulrich Henderson Forbes (UHF), Bentall Taylor Ulrich (BTU), and the bluegrass band, The High Bar Gang. It’s a great interview and very inspiring. We hope you’ll check it out. And, as always, we check out more of the great new music we’ve received including new albums from The Rough & Tumble, Lynn Miles and Lynne Hanson as The LYNNeS and Ange Hardy from Somerset, England.

Folk Root Radio Episode 349 - Jabbour & New Releases

Nov 17 2017

Fun bilingual Quebec roots trio Jabbour join us at the Folk Music Ontario conference on Episode 349 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about their music and play three songs live. We also check out more of the latest new releases including new music from Ashley Condon, Dennis Johnson, The Lifers and Harrow Fair with a fabulous version of The Rankin Family classic song “Fare Thee Well”. Check out the full playlist below.

Nov 01 2017

Hamilton folk singer-songwriter Piper Hayes is getting ready to release her first full-length album, “Piper & Carson”, which also features her partner Carson Ritcey-Thorpe. Produced by Chris Bartos, the album was recorded live off the floor at Thorpe’s Organic Produce farm in Millgrove, ON (near Hamilton) in the summer of 2017. Joining Piper Hayes (lead vocal, rhythm guitar) on the album are Carson Ritcey-Thorpe (vocal, lead guitar), Kevin Neal (pedal steel), Leah Ritcey-Thorpe (back-up vocals) and Chris Bartos (upright bass, piano, electric and acoustic violin, electric guitar, Moog, vocals). Album release shows take place in Hamilton, at This Ain’t Hollywood, on Thursday, December 7, 2017, doors at 8:00 p.m. (show at 9:00 p.m.) and in Toronto, at The Dakota Tavern on Friday, December 8, 2017, doors at 6:00 p.m. (show at 7:00 p.m.). The support for the Hamilton show will be the great Guelph-based folk group The Lifers, while Owen Sound folk duo Our Shotgun Wedding join Piper for the Toronto release. Piper and Carson joined Jan Hall from Folk Roots Radio at the 2017 Folk Music Ontario conference for a fun chat about their music and a couple of live songs. For more information about Piper Hayes, visit pipersings.com. Music: Piper Hayes “In My Bones” from “Piper & Carson” (2017, Self), “Careless” (Live), “Big Red” (Live) and “Honey” from “Goodbye Mister Nice Guy” (2016, Self).

Summerfolk 2016 – The Line-Up

Jul 26 2016

The 41st annual Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival takes place August 19-21, in Kelso Park, on the shores of Georgian Bay, in Owen Sound. The festival features more than 40 musical acts from across Canada and across the world representing genres from folk, country and bluegrass, to blues, to hip-hop and funk. Like any great folk festival they also have lots of children’s activities, community workshops, artisan booths, dozens of food vendors… and two licensed areas. This year’s line-up features Anne Beverly Foster * Ben Spencer * Ben Turcotte and Carter Rolland * Beppe Gambetta/Tony McManus * Big Little Lions * Blackburn * Bobby Dean Blackburn * Bruce Cockburn * Cassie and Maggie MacDonald * Coco Love Alcorn * David Newland * Durham County Poets * Frank Francalanza * Good for Grapes * Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra * Ian Tamblyn * Irish Mythen * Ken Whiteley & The Beulah Band * Leonard Sumner * Les Poules a Colin * Lindi Ortega * The Lifers * LookUp Theatre * Magoo * Maneli Jamal * Matt Gordon and Leonard Podolak * Mel Parsons * Michael Jerome Browne * My Son the Hurricane * Natalie MacMaster * Notre Dame de Grass * Old Man Luedecke * Olivia and The Creepy Crawlies * Richard Garvey and Celidh Barker * Roger Roger * Sarah Beatty * Scarlett Jane * Scatter The Cats * The Small Glories * The East Pointers * The Krueger Band * The Mae Trio * The O’Pears * Todd Crowley’s Musical Petting Zoo * Treasa Levasseur …alongside Youth Discoveries Jimmy Pearson * Cassie DaSilva * Jake Feeney * Brontae Hunter * Marshall Veroni. We caught up with James Keelaghan, Artistic Director at Summerfolk to chat about this year’s line-up. For more information and to buy tickets visit summerfolk.org. Music: The Small Glories with “Had I Paid” from “Wondrous Traveller” (2016, Self) and Big Little Lions “Fill Me Up” from “Just Keep Moving” (2016, Riptide Music Group).

Episode 265 – Amanda Rheaume

Jul 21 2016

Ottawa-based Métis singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume joins us on Episode 265 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about her great new album “Holding Patterns”. As always, we also take a look at some of the latest new releases.

Nov 12 2015

On this week’s Live & Local we talk to Ted Ferris from Cambridge Live Music about their new local music compilation, and The Lifers Liv and Anita Cazzola join us to chat about their show with Lynne Hanson at Silence in Guelph on Friday November 20. We also take a look at some upcoming shows you might want to catch including holiday outings for both Boreal and The Good Lovelies.

Nov 12 2015

Ottawa-based singer-songwriter Lynne Hanson will be at Silence in Guelph on Friday November 20 at 8 p.m. with support from London – Toronto based sister act The Lifers, who were born and raised in Guelph. Lynne’s latest album, “7 Deadly Spins” – an album of murder ballads and songs of reckoning, has just been released. The album recorded in Ottawa with her band The Good Intentions and produced by Lynn Miles features seven original songs with murder and its impact as the central theme. Advance tickets for the Silence show are $15 and can be purchased online HERE (no booking fee!), $20 at the door.

Nov 09 2015

The Lifers are a London – Toronto based duo featuring sisters Liv and Anita Cazzola, who were born and raised in Guelph. Long time listeners to this radio show will probably recognize them under their former name Detour. Lifers songs feature beautifully articulated, honest and compelling lyrics wrapped in a warm musical accompaniment by acoustic guitar, ukulele, accordion, glockenspiel and more. Their debut E.P. “Set the Sails” was recorded and released in the summer of 2014. The Lifers will be joining Ottawa-based singer-songwriter Lynne Hanson for a show at Silence on Friday November 20. Advance tickets are $15 and can be purchased online HERE (no booking fee!). We caught up with Liv and Anita at their family home in Guelph. For more information visit thelifersmusic.com. Music: Lifers “Home for the Weekend” single (2014, Self) and “Lego” from “Set The Sails” E.P. (2014, Self).

Episode 218: Jory Nash

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.

Oct 25 2015

This week’s Live & Local features as interview with Ottawa-based singer-songwriter Lynne Hanson recorded at the 2015 Folk Music Ontario. Lynne releases “7 Deadly Spins”, an album of murder ballads and songs of reckoning, this Halloween! We also continue our review of artists nominated for this year’s Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA). The award winners will be announced in Edmonton the weekend of November 6-8. For more information, visit folkawards.ca

May 04 2015

Episode 194 of Folk Roots Radio featured another interview recorded at the Folk Music Ontario conference this past October. Winnipeg’s JD Edwards joined us for an impromptu session and an opportunity to chat about his music with both The JD Edwards Band and his new project with former Wailin’ Jenny Cara Luft – The Small Glories. You can listen to the full interview here. As usual, we made room for some new music, alongside our mystery theme and guilty pleasure.

Oct 06 2014

Folk Roots Radio on October 4 (Episode 169) featured interviews with Ottawa-based singer-songwriter Lynne Hanson about her new album “River Of Sand”, and California-based film & TV composer turned singer-songwriter Ernest Troost about his recent album “O Love”.