Celebrating women in music from every corner of the world - at least, the world as seen my my music library! Plus some concert previews and new releases by the likes of Eric Bibb, Iris DeMent, Karan Casey, Martin Hayes, and cellist Su-a Lee
Songs for BHM and a whole bunch of new releases - and especially Canadian artists - to pave the way for the Canadian Folk Music Awards, a huge national event which comes to Vancouver (indeed BC) for the very first time next month.
Showcase BC - a preview of the Canadian Folk Music Awards and the curtain-raiser on March 30th. New releases from across Canada, USA, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Much inspired by the recent Folk Alliance Conference in Kansas City. A big Celtic flourish towards the end, featuring Martin Hayes and Lúnasa - and a good few Canadians too.
Music from many of the performers who impressed me at last week's Folk Alliance Conference in Kansas City - where I was given a prestigious Spirit of Folk Award. Artists from across Canada, as well as the USA, Eire, England, Sweden, and Australia. It's also Black History Month, so lots of music to celebrate that, too! A tip of the hat to prolific songwriter Burt Bacharach, who passed away this week at age 94, and a mini-feature on James Keelaghan, Canadian songwriter extraordinaire, who plays in town tonight.
Some of my favourite songs and performers from the past 38 years of The Saturday Edge On Folk on this fundraiser edition as we strive to raise enough money for a new transmitter. At last!!
Music from some of the performers who will be showcasing at next week's Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City. I'll be heading down there to receive the great honour of a Spirit of Folk Award and to hear some amazing bands and meet some fellow DJs and journalists. It will be amazing! Also a whole bunch of new releases and concert previews - and a number of Kansas City references too.
Songs for Lunar New Year and Robbie Burns Night, plus R.I.P.s to Les Barker (England's "professional idiot" and poet extraordinaire), Seamus Begley (singer / melodeon player from Co. Kerry) and Thad Beckman (American guitar slinger / songwriter).
Music from two new recruits to the heavenly choir: rock guitar legend Jeff Beck, and Irish trad singer and accordionist Seamus Begley. Plus a few tunes and songs from brilliant Italian flatpicker and singer Beppe Gambetta, and a whole bunch of new and recent releases across the wide world of folk and roots music.
A bit of a tribute to Ian Tyson, and a preview of the first Rogue shows of 2023 with Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, and David Francey. Lots of new releases from all around the planet in the first hour, and then mostly new music from North Ameria and the British Isles in the second half - many of those selectios Canadian, of course! Some pretty punchy folk rock at the end,,too!
My "Top 52 Albums Of 2022" - one per week! Favourite recordings from all around the world. The only thing they have in common is that they were released in 2022. Oh, and I like them. A lot!! Finished up with some songs for the end of the old year - and the beginning of a whole new one. Let's hope it's a good one, without any tears...
Started with new music from Africa, Colombia and Hawai’i and then paid tribute to the recently departed Terry Hall (The Specials, Fun Boy Three etc) in Hour 1, then the seasonal music ran from 9 to noon: a unique blend of seasonal wintry music you wouldn't hear in a Mall. Culminating with The Pogues, Monty Python, and Steeleye Span - my own special trinity of Xmas songs; then wassails, mumming, holly, and some songs and tunes for the hare and the wren for whom Boxing Day tends to be tricky.
Songs and tunes from some of the artists who particularly impressed me during 2022. Many of them played at The Rogue, some of them played at Summer festivals in BC and Alberta, and a few played at concerts around Vancouver. I added some new releases, one or two songs for Hanuka and the Solstice, a bit of Hawaiian exotica, and a few performers coming to The Rogue over the next few weeks.
All the way from the garden island of Kauai in fact. A tribute to Jim Stewart, co-founder of Stax Records with his sister Estelle Axton. Stax was an integrated music label during the dark days of segregation and had a profound effect on me and millions of others. So some classics from Stax, and then some music from Buffy Sainte-Marie, who was the subject of an incredible documentary on PBS the other week. Also a dash of Hawaiian music, and a salute to Scots singer / fiddler Megan Henderson (Breabach), who just won Traditional Artist of the Year at The Scots Trad Awards. Heaps of new releases, too!
Some tasty new releases from Africa, Canada, Scandinavia, America, Eire, and England plus a bunch of wintry songs about snow and frost, and R.I.P.s to brilliant American old time fiddler / composer Pete Sutherland, and English blues / pop singer Christine McVie, who both passed away this week.
Music from all 32 countries taking part in this month's World Cup: Qatar (Track 2), Saudi Arabia (Track 3), Morocco (Track 4), Tunisia (Track 5), Senegal (Tr 6), Ghana (Tr 7), Cameroon (Tr 8), Switzerland (Tr 9), Brazil (Tr 12), Portugal (Tr 13), Mexico (Tr 14), Uruguay (Tr 15), Costa Rica (Tr 16), Ecuador (Tr 17), South Korea (Tr 18), Japan (Tr 19), Iran (Tr 20), Serbia (Tr 21), Croatia (Tr 22), Poland (Tr 23), Denmark (Tr 24), Belgium (Tr 25), France (Tr 26), Argentina (Tr 27), Spain (Tr 28), Germany (Tr 29), Holland (Tr 30), Australia (Tr 31), Canada (Tr 32-35, 53-58, 61), USA (Tr 36-40, England (Tr 41-45), and Wales (Tr 47). Plus features on John Prine, Christy Moore, Van Django's Cool Yule, and new releases from Gambia, Senegal/Denmark, England (including the first album from The Magpie Arc), Eire, etc.
New music from Africa, an hour-long Scandinavian Frolic, and heaps of new music from across Canada and the UK. Plus two dedications and a request!
New music with koras to the fore, then a liberal sprinkling of tracks by artists who have played at the Rogue down the years but who are no longer with us. Also concert previews, new releases, RIP Jerry Lee Lewis and Dan McCaffrey (Nazareth), a tip of the hat to Canadian songwriter Bonnie Dobson, and the customary whirlwind of Celtic mayhem at the end!
A big feature interview with Colin Linden, whose band Blackie & The Rodeo Kings make a welcome return to Vancouver next week. Plus a trip down psychedelic memory lane with songs from the newly remastered Revolver, reflections on the recent Grateful Dead tribute, and a celebration of Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets show last week. Some songs for Remembrance Day, and new music from Africa at the beginning and Celtic and English trad towards the end of the show
A few Halloween songs sprinkled around today's show, which also featured some great new releases from Mali and Senegal, some Canadian blues, some enthralling Welsh chamber-folk, atmospheric tunes and songs from Sweden, Catalonia, England, Ireland, and Scotland - and Canada. Plus concert previews and a few surprises!
New releases from some of my favourites, including Gambia's Sona Jobarteh, Algeria's Souad Massi, England's Eliza Carthy, and The Unthanks. Features on upcoming "Rogues" Talisk, Rocket Revellers, Bill & The Belles, and Eilen Jewell, and some exhilarating Celtic and African music bookending the show.
New music from Songlines Magazine, including an amazing Balkan Sampler. Previews of East Van Opry, Celtic Colours, and A Grateful Dead American Beauty Tribute. Plus local concert previews, and plenty of new music from the likes of Bonny Light Horseman, Fortunate Ones, and James Keelaghan
A concert calendar of folk and roots music in Vancouver, a bunch of new releases, R.IP.s to country music legend Loretta Lynn (90), and to Paul Sartin of UK bands Bellowhead and Faustus (51), and a look at Cape Breton's Celtic Colours Festival, which is now underway. Incredible, since it's only a few days since Fiona smashed through there.
Watery songs and stormy songs seemed topical today after Fiona and Ian wreaked their havoc. A big feature on Irish accordion diva Sharon Shannon dominated the show as she brings her trio to town for the first international gig at The Rogue since she played here just before the first lock down. New music from The East Pointers, Rory Block, Jake Blount, LJ Mounteney, Angelique Kidjo, Tradifusio from Valencia, and much more from so many different places and genres it makes my head spin!
New music from Africa, Brazil, and Eastern Europe. Some Ukrainian anthems, a bunch of wonderful indigenous women in song, and a look back at last week's memorable Songbird North show at The Roundhouse. There are FIVE folk and roots shows in town next Saturday October 1st! What to do? Which one to choose? A bit of a guide to help you out, including ticket giveaways for Los Lobos / The Mavericks, and Bear's Den. Then a mini-feature on Irish accordion diva Sharon Shannon, and some great new music from Scotland - and Canada!
A glorious celebration of women (many of them Canadian), including Angelique Kidjo, Mama's Broke, Sharon Shannon, Aine McGeeney (Goitse), Anais Mitchell (Bonny Light Horseman), Molly Donnery (The Haar), Crystal Shawanda, Devora Laye (The Burying Ground), Allison Russell, Oumou Sangare, Fatoumata Diawara, Katherine Priddy, Lydia Hol, Celeidgh Cardinal, Pharis Romero, Della Mae, Indigo Girls, Deirdre Scanlan (Solas), Megan Henderson (Breabach), Kim Carnie, and L J Mounteney. And lots more exotic, earthy, and groovy sounds, old & new, from across the musical spectrum.
Exciting new music from the likes of Angelique Kidjo, Ablaye Cissoko, Loudon Wainwright III, Richard Thompson, Breabach, Pat Chessell, James Keelaghan, LJ Mounteney and many more. Plus previews of Shcryer / Dobres / Hillhouse and Mama's Broke (great name for a band!) coming to town this month. And, of course, a few songs and tunes of Kings and Queens and a Royal Lament for the sadly-departed Elizabeth II. Fin d'un epoque, or what?
Music from the new (Sept / Oct) issue of Songlines Magazine and then a sizable chunk of Canadian music with songs from all across this nation, and a slew of great fiddle tunes at the end.
Some of the finest in folk and roots music from all around the world, including this week's R.I.P. to Pogues' bassist Darryl Hunt, and a few more Lamont Dozier cuts. Plus a couple of tunes from new CDs by Loudon Wainwright III, Shemekia Copeland, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Richard Thompson, and Vancouver's wonderful chanteuse LJ Mounteney. The main feature includes some of the performers appearing at this weekend's Tonder Festival in Denmark - always a fabulous weekend, with lots of Canadians on the bill.
This week I paid respects to 3 recently departed musicians and songwriters: Lamont Dozier, Bob Neuwirth, and Judith Durham. I also aired a whole mess of new releases from across Canada, Africa, Northern Europe, USA, Australia, and beyond; music from many genres, ranging from Old Time fiddle tunes to English trad., from Celtic songs and dance tunes to heartfelt blues, and from instrumental wizards to emotionally-charged songwriters.
Music by many of the standout performers at last weekend's Edmonton Folk Music Festival, plus a generous helping of new releases from all around the world - mostly inspired by reading the virtual pages of Songlines Magazine.