EP 164 | Jim Cuddy-Good News

July 10, 2021

hello

Jim Cuddy was standing at the door of his Toronto house waiting for the cab that would take him to Saskatchewan and the 2020 Junos when the phone rang and he discovered it was canceled because of Covid.

Instead, he headed to his small country home and started writing. Then slowly gathered his Jim Cuddy Band – one at a time – and created tracks for his next solo album. His Blue Rodeo partner Greg Keeler then called and got things rolling on a new Blue Rodeo album. Greg would send his songs to Jim and the band. They would replace or add instruments, vocals, etc and send back. Greg did the same for Jim. Normally they’re all in the same room when they record. Jim says – you can’t tell the difference. “It was remarkable”

When I asked about Canada Day and the conflicting thoughts on that day about residential schools, indigenous rights, and other cultures, Jim gave a beautiful honest response.

Jim says the new Blue Rodeo album has a “zip in it’s step”(January) Greg wrote lots of tunes. Lots of energy.

And what Jim really liked was having the time to sculpt his songs. They felt more clearly defined. “No throw-away lyrics”

And yes he admits to changing.

And having time to watch the seasons change was wonderful – “I had to stop leaning forward and relax.”

Blue Rodeo plays the Calgary Stampede on July 18

Jim Cuddy Band plays the Calgary Folk Festival – Summer Serenades – on Prince’s Island Park on July 23^rd.

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EP 163 | Steve Marriner Interview

July 3, 2021

hello

Steve Marriner is our special guest this week on Mulligan Stew.

We all know Steve from the award-winning Monkey Junk and the very popular Manx Marriner Mainline.

He’s a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and newly minted mixer. . Hope Dies Last is his second solo album. His first was in 2006.

(He’s been just a tad busy)

Hope Dies Last has 15 musicians in the credits..so it’s a true group effort. And signals great things ahead in his solo career.

If you remember our Greg Keelor solo album Episode #152 it was Greg who raved about working with guitarist Jimmy Bowskill. (Sheepdogs. Jim Cuddy)

Steve worked tirelessly with the very same Jimmy Bowskill to get these songs sounding just right.

He’s written songs of pain and heartache, hitting rock bottom and working your way UP. (check out Enough)

Through his songs and albums, production and mixing what we’re hearing here is the the future of Canadian blues/roots/Americana music. Have a listen and let the stories flow.

Thanks to David GoGo for the hang.

EP 162 | Leeroy Stagger

June 26, 2021

hello

This week’s very special interview guest is Leeroy Stagger bringing with him new music from his forthcoming album Dystopian Weekends. Leeroy lets us know that unlike the last two albums he made for wider audiences. This one he made for him. Leeroy also talks about hosting Dirty Windshields on CKUA. It got him through the lockdown. Dystopian Weekends captures the sound of early Byrds, Clapton, Laurel Canyon.

Two stand-out songs – Buffy’s song Greedy Guts and Black Teenagers.

That last song deals with the headlines this very weekend. The Floyd George Murder.

Full disclosure – I jumped the gun on the release date. It’s not coming out until October 1 but as Leeroy says “the whole model of what is an album release has changed. Given Covid, lockdown, and technical innovations it’s a whole new format. So, run with it.”

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EP 161 | Romi Mayes – Curbside Concerts

June 18, 2021

hello

This weeks guest is singer/songwriter Romi Mayes (Winnipeg)

But she’s not introducing a tour or a new album. In 2021, she’s the Senior Producer for Curbside Concerts.

A company started in 2020 by Matt Masters and Amanda Burgener. They could both see, because of Covid, that artists in Canada were going to have a hard time working, gathering together, and paying the bills. Also, music fans were going to lose their live music.

So they created Curbside Concerts. A safe way for musicians and audiences to get together during these many months.

You chose the artist, date & time. One of their producers will work with you to make it all happen.

The stage (if required), microphones, battery-powered speakers, and anything else needed will show up with your artist.

Want some names?

Paul Pigat. Joe Nolan. Petunia (solo). Jay Semko (N Pikes) JD Edwards (Small Glories) Ridley Bent.

All safety standards are met and everyone enjoys the music.

Curbside has been a success. Now in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and BC

Over 100 artists have signed up. Concerts big and small have taken place.

Audiences have gone away with memories to last a lifetime.

Curbside Concerts have been nominated for four Western Canadian Music Awards.

Impact on

-Live Music

-Artist Development

-Music Marketing

-Community Excellence

We welcome the Senior Producer for Curbside Concerts – excellent singer/songwriter Romi Mayes.

If you’re an artist or want to be a Host – Romi has all the info.

www.curbsideconcerts.ca

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EP 160 | Terry Wickham-Producer Edmonton Folk Music Festival-Taking It To The Streets

June 12, 2021

hello

This week’s guest is Terry Wickham. The hard-working and much-admired Producer of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival.

Thing is – there is no Festival this year.

However, after much discussion, they have come up with a Plan B.

To quote The Doobie Brothers they’re Taking it to the Streets.

It reminds me of Dan Mangan’s Sidedoor concept.

Hosts need artists. Artists need hosts.

So, Terry and his team have come up with Taking it to the Streets.

Music fans can offer their street, lawn, backyard, deck, pier.

Artists will all be from the Edmonton area.

Terry explains how you can apply to be a host.

Find the complete details so you can consider them wisely.

And check out the playlist below – Lots of new tunes from

Applications are open for Edmonton-area residents to host a street concert and enjoy the sounds of the folk fest with their neighbors from the comfort of their own front yards. Artist fees, programming, and production are covered by the festival – hosts just need to step forward to organize their street with neighbors. Information, guidelines, and forms can be found at www.edmontonfolkfest.org. The deadline to apply is June 30.

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EP 159 | Bruce Cockburn – Celebrating 50 Years of The Junos.

June 5, 2021

hello

Canada’s Music Awards – The Junos – take place Sunday night.

50 years ago, the first-ever Folksinger of the Year Juno Award went to Bruce Cockburn. Also nominated were Joni Mitchell and Great Speckled Bird (featuring Ian and Sylvia)

Bruce Cockburn won 12 more Juno Awards over the past 50 years. He’s nominated again this year for his brilliant instrumental album Crowing Ignites.

We have much to talk about. Those very early days when he was just starting. “I wasn’t me yet”.

How he has sustained a songwriting and performing career, the moment when he thought perhaps he wouldn’t/couldn’t write another song and what project changed that possibility.

He touches on the state of radio, folk music, how he stayed engaged as an artist, his instincts that told him – when writing a new song – that he had already said what the song was about and finding a new way to continue saying what was in his heart, why he never entertained the idea of being star and how the songs would come to him if he just “waited for the flash”

The interview includes Bruce’s personal thoughts on the tragedy unfolding at the Residential School in Kamloops, BC.

This is the complete conversation with music included.

www.brucecockburn.com

EP 158 | Daniel Lanois Revisited (and Recut)

May 29, 2021

hello

We first interviewed singer/player/producer/writer Daniel Lanois last November.

(7 Grammy Awards. Juno Winner. Order of Canada)

At that time he had recorded his next album Heavy Sun but only the first single (Under a) Heavy Sun had been released.

That was all the new music we could talk about so we headed off into his amazing influence on a wing of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

U2, Dylan, Neville Brothers, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Robertson, and many more. (Neil Young. Emmy Lou Harris, The Killers, Willie Nelson, Brian Eno,)

This coming week he’s headed for a gig on the 10th in NYC with his band to perform The Songs of Red Dead Redemption 2, the soundtrack to the popular game.

They’re playing in The Battery and it’s sold out.

Now that Heavy Sun is released we decided to go back and re-cut the full interview and include several of the new tracks from the amazing album.

Tree of Tule

Dance On

Mother’s Eyes

Along with the great single (Under a) Heavy Sun

Meet the man who has shaped a huge amount of the music many of us grew up with. And he’s Canadian.

EP 157 | Dylan Turns 80

May 22, 2021

hello

Bob Dylan turns 80 on Monday the 24th.

As part of our coverage at CKUA, I started digging into old interviews looking for comments on Bob’s music, influence, and legacy.

I’m delighted to bring you a select group of artists who bring insight into the singular artist we’re celebrating.

A man for many. Matched by few.

Bob Dylan – Thank you for those 80 years.

Guests are:

David Bowie

Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks

Robbie Robertson

Colin Linden

The Avett Brothers

Barney Bentall and Steve Dawson

Greg Keelor

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EP 156 | Holger Petersen – Doctor of Blues

May 15, 2021

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Our CKUA Radio Network Neighbour has always been Holger Petersen’s Natch’l Blues.

It’s the greatest lead-in any show could have. Two hours of blues.

Holger celebrated 50 years of Hosting Natch’l Blues in 2019

But that’s not all Holger has accomplished.

He co-founded Edmonton Folk Festival

Co-founded Stoney Plain Records. (Over 400 releases)

Founded Alberta Music

Sat on Board of Directors for Socan

Inducted into Folk DJ Hall of Fame in New Orleans

1^st non-American to win Best Public Broadcaster.

Hosts Saturday Night Blues on CBC

Now Holger has been awarded The Alberta Order of Excellence.

And he’s our guest on the Mulligan Stew Podcast. Amazing storyteller.

Here’s the complete interview with the iconic Holger Petersen. Doctor of Blues

EP 155 | Jordan Hart

May 9, 2021

hello

Jordan Hart tells the story of discovering CKUA Radio. He asked, “what album am I listening to?” Told it was a radio station. CKUA!

His reply was “There’s no radio station that cool” With this podcast Jordan has come full circle. Back to CKUA Radio.

In 2019, Alberta singer/songwriter Jordan Hart embarked on a 100-day straight busking challenge in Toronto, through thunderstorms and snowstorms he played on. Every Sunday, 100 percent of the money he raised was donated to L’Arche Canada. In L’Arche, people with and without intellectual disabilities live, work, learn, and grow together. L’Arche demonstrates that when persons with intellectual disabilities take their place at the table, they contribute to a more just, compassionate, and vibrant world for all.

The Momentum from his daily busking also culminated in a sold-out show at the Great Hall in Toronto and his career streams also increased by over a quarter of a million. As a featured artist, his work with Lucky Rose on the song ‘’Lost’’ greatly increased his profile.

Jordan has released a fine EP called Only Pieces Of The Truth and with it a confirmation in each of the 7 tracks that he’s destined to become a much bigger artist. Much Bigger.

Add to that discovery that Jordan is also a natural storyteller. He talks about life on the streets busking. Being turned down completely by the young woman he wanted to spend his life with. About shooting his video for Freedom with a small group of actors with Down Syndrome.

Have a listen. See if you agree that he’s destined to shine!!

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