Our guest this week is songwriter, storyteller and singer with a one-of-a-kind voice, Ron Sexsmith.
I think the older I get, the clearer those memories become—and the more precious,”
Friday of this week, he released his 18th album, Hangover Terrace.
It’s a wonderfully complex album born during Ron’s extended stay in the UK after his Sexsmith at Sixty tour. Recorded at London’s Eastcote Studios with longtime producer Martin Terefe, the sessions marked a turning point—ushering in a more introspective sound.
“This record speaks to the hangover I feel from the last few years of pandemic and life knocking us around,”
Gone is the gentle optimism of his recent work, The Vivian Line & Hermitage—Hangover Terrace is marked by personal loss, shifting friendships, and emotional grit.
Ron Sexsmith proves, once again, that no one captures life’s quiet truths quite like he can. “The version of me that wrote those early records couldn’t write these songs,” he says. “Don’t give up. Stay focused on what’s real.”
There was a celebration of Gordon Lightfoot and his songs at Massey Hall not too long ago. Missing was the biggest fan of Gord, Ron Sexsmith.
Ron organized his own celebration for Gord at Hugh’s Room in Toronto from Jan 31 to Feb 2. It was all Gord, and each show was sold out. For the Mulligan Stew Podcast and the Terry David Mulligan YouTube Channel, Ron lays the whole story out.
He also takes us through his new songs….
Easy for you to say, “I wear my heart on my sleeve, where’s your heart at?
Cigarette and Cocktail“what comes for us, we can’t outrun”
Damn well please – “I’ve got one life, that’s all I know”
Burgoyne Woods “up to no good in Burgoyne Woods. A band of misfits from the land of hosers.”
Must be something wrong with her, “she says I’m lovely but the mirror says otherwise”
New from Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jon Batiste, Bruce Springsteen.
Live tracks from The Hip, Talking Heads, Van Morrison,
Classics from James Brown, 54.40, Northern Pikes, Steve Winwood, Byrds, Dr John, Rickie Lee Jones, Colin James, Roy Forbes, Leeroy Stagger, Joni.
Our guest this week is songwriter, storyteller and singer with a one-of-a-kind voice, Ron Sexsmith.
I think the older I get, the clearer those memories become—and the more precious,”
Friday of this week, he released his 18th album, Hangover Terrace.
It’s a wonderfully complex album born during Ron’s extended stay in the UK after his Sexsmith at Sixty tour. Recorded at London’s Eastcote Studios with longtime producer Martin Terefe, the sessions marked a turning point—ushering in a more introspective sound.
“This record speaks to the hangover I feel from the last few years of pandemic and life knocking us around,”
Gone is the gentle optimism of his recent work, The Vivian Line & Hermitage—Hangover Terrace is marked by personal loss, shifting friendships, and emotional grit.
Ron Sexsmith proves, once again, that no one captures life’s quiet truths quite like he can. “The version of me that wrote those early records couldn’t write these songs,” he says. “Don’t give up. Stay focused on what’s real.”
There was a celebration of Gordon Lightfoot and his songs at Massey Hall not too long ago. Missing was the biggest fan of Gord, Ron Sexsmith.
Ron organized his own celebration for Gord at Hugh’s Room in Toronto from Jan 31 to Feb 2. It was all Gord, and each show was sold out. For the Mulligan Stew Podcast and the Terry David Mulligan YouTube Channel, Ron lays the whole story out.
He also takes us through songs like:
Easy for you to say “I wear my heart on my sleeve, where’s you heart at?
Cigarette and Cocktail“what comes for us, we can’t outrun”
Damn well please – “I’ve got one life, that’s all I know”
Burgoyne Woods “up to no good in Burgoyne Woods. A band of misfits from the land of hosers.”
Must be something wrong with her “she says I’m lovely but the mirror says otherwise.”
“The Vivian Line is unlikely to land on anyone’s hip/hot list. Rather Sexsmith, now pushing 60, is content to churn out radiant, sublime, transcendent music that unobtrusively exists in its own delicate bubble, inviting us in to join him on his unique musical path.” American Songwriter
“Ron Sexsmith’s albums have always had a generally laid-back vibe, but in recent years this has become ever more wistful and soothing, a listening experience rather like snuggling up in a favourite blanket and letting your troubles wash away. Sign me up.” Folk Radio UK
Those already deeply appreciative of Ron’s songwriting chops include a stellar list of vocalists to have recorded Sexsmith compositions. That group includes such international stars as Rod Stewart, Emmylou Harris, Nick Lowe, plus Canadian favourites Michael Bublé, Feist and kd lang. Ron’s work has also elicited effusive praise from the likes of Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Steve Earle and Chris Martin, to name just a few. Over the course of a recording career now spanning 36 years, Ron has been nominated for 12 Juno awards, winning three times.
Now it’s time to visit The Vivian Line. Explore, linger, enjoy.”
I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Ron Sexsmith many times over the course of his 17 albums.
I like diving into deep conversations with him as much as I truly love his songs and melodies.
I also admire what he stands for. No co-writes, no writing by committee, no bending and shaping to suit the music fans who still don’t know who he is.
However, when he plays live, you know the room is filled with people who “get it” and it really does feel like a community.
So what is it he “does’?
Ron Sexsmith writes songs that you find yourself humming, and sings in an ever-developing soft voice that still resonates with character. His lyrics are thoughtful, kind and etched with very dry humour.
I loved this conversation with Ron. I hope you do as well.
His 17th album is now out – it’s called The Vivian Line.
Named after a rural road connection between his old home in Toronto to his new country home in Stratford.
FYI – There’s a reference to Richard Manual from The Band. He was born in the area and there’s a bench in his memory in the countryside that Ron will visit when he’s on his creative walks.
Discover Ron Sexsmith. Your heart will thank you many times over.
This week’s Easter Bunny is dressed up as Ron Sexsmith. His 17th studio album
is called The Vivian Line.
As always Ron is very transparent in his writing and life in general.
I think he still marvels at the life he’s lead and the career he’s hand-built.
The Vivian Line is a rural road that winds its way out of Toronto and slowly leads to his new home in Stratford. The change in his lifestyle is reflected in these songs.
What I had in mind is Ron in grade school having second thoughts about fitting it.
The oldest song is the best I think. Diamond Wave. It just took years for all the pieces to fit.
Ron says when he first started to sing When our love was new on stage he ended up crying his way through.
He channels Leonard Cohen on the final track Ever Wonder.
Lots of stories and dry humour from a country gentleman Ron Sexsmith.
Complete interview on Mulligan Stew Podcast and
Video Ron on tdm youtube channel.
Terry has an in depth interview with Ron Sexsmith, catching up on what he has been doing in the studio. Highly respected singer and songwriter, Ron Sexsmith spins tale, pokes fun at himself and takes us back to when he was a busker on the streets of Victoria BC
Colin linden, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and much more…
Ron Sexsmith’s latest album, Carousel One, is being released . Critics agree that the multi-Juno award winning singer- songwriter has delivered one of the most uplifting records of his storied career.
Send him a tweet @RonSexsmith Carousel One features 14 new Sexsmith compositions including the first single, “Saint Bernard,” a tribute to an anonymous family dog from a photograph picked up in a second-hand shop by his wife Colleen. The CD and digital versions of the album include two bonus tracks. Ron made a commitment to a gig in Grande Prairie a while back..then things really took off…he’ll be touring the world for the rest of the year BUT..he promised he’d do it and here he comes. Buy on iTunes Saturday April 25th Collins Recital Hall, GPRC Grande Prairie, Alberta
Rodney Decroo
Rodney has a brand new release called Campfire on the Moon. Songs of relationships, crazy people and a tale of a friend who was lost to Cancer called No Savior Big Enough.
DeCroo is wrestling with regret, loss, aging, love, memory, death, art—always with his own ongoing recovery embedded in the background.
With former Convictions band mate and stage collaborator Mark Haney on double bass, and long time friend Ida Nilsen contributing piano and vocals.
If you remember he recorded one of his LP’s War Torn Man at the Sidetrack in Edmonton.
Dates are: Calgary April 23 Ironwood Edmonton April 25 Brixx Red Deer April 27th Fratters
end him a tweet @DeCrooRodney
Whitehorse
New music from Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland Leave No Bridge Unburned boasts more of everything that makes Whitehorse exciting and innovative – it’s Whitehorse amplified, increased, intensified. If The Fate of the World Depends on This Kiss was Whitehorse’s urgent, romantic statement on uncertainty and impending disaster,Leave No Bridge Unburned is a reckoning, a confrontation. Leave No Bridge Unburned is all about surging ahead; there’s nothing to lose and no way to return.
Buy on iTunes
Amazing music ..not to be missed. EDMONTON, AB: Winspear Centre, April 15 w/ Noah Gundersen CALGARY, AB: Jack Singer Concert Hall, April 16 w/ Noah Gundersen
BANFF, AB: Banff Centre, April 17 w/ Noah Gundersen
LETHBRIDGE, AB: University of Lethbridge Theatre, April 18 w/ Noah Gundersen
“This record speaks to the hangover I feel from the last few years of pandemic and life knocking us around,”
Tell Ron you heard him on #MulliganStew ! 
Ron made a commitment to a gig in Grande Prairie a while back..then things really took off…he’ll be touring the world for the rest of the year BUT..he promised he’d do it and here he comes.
