We still have that north of the 49th. Also lots of great Canadian music, a sprinkling of new music from around the world, previews of Festival du Bois and Rogue shows and a whole bunch more. Yes, folks, there is still much to celebrate in these troubled times. Most of it is great music - and community spirit helps!
A look back at Folk Alliance International in Montreal last week, a look ahead to Festival du Bois next week in Maillardville, new music from all over, a bit of Welsh for St. David's Day, and a White Rabbit for the first of the month.
Whilst enjoying the music and camaraderie of hundreds of musicians, Folk DJs, and concert presenters from around the world at Folk Alliance International in Montreal, I was virtually hosting this show, celebrating new releases from around the globe and local concert previews. What a wonderful world we live in. Such a shame to feel its very existence threatened once again by fascist bastards.
This show was a big preview of next week's Folk Alliance International Conference in Montreal. The last time it was not in the USA was 2019, also in Montreal. Most of this show was Canadian. Most of the showcases I plan to attend feature Canadian performers. I look forward to asking my American friends what the hell they were thinking! At the end I announced The Arrogant Worms song We Are The Beaver, but had to scale back to their (ironically) shorter / smaller song Canada Is Really Big, so as not to go over the allotted 4 hours. I will play that song next week!
I started this show in June 1985, so it's been almost 40 years now when every Saturday I have assembled a radio show for you, showcasing new releases from around the world, favourite songs and artists from the past few decades, and highlighting concerts and festivals coming to the Lower Mainland in the coming weeks. Plus a few personal historical anecdotes and classic tracks by bands who inspired me to start a show in the first place. I hope you were able to recall music you've heard on my show over the past four decades that have inspired you, cheered you up, made you dance, smile, weep, or celebrate life in some small way. If so, please consider making a pledge on https://www.donatetocitr.ca/ (N.B. there are premiums to be had for donations over $35, and if you pledge over $101.90 I will send you a personal gift of music!)
A mixed bag of new releases, a sad R.I.P. to Marianne Faithfull, some vitriolic songs hurled south and east in the general direction of the new capital of fascism in DC, and a whole lot of great music made in Canada by some very talented Canadian musicians. And some great tunes and songs from elsewhere too. Plus a nod of appreciation to former CiTR alumnus Susi Lanagan who has hosted What The Folk! on PBS in Melbourne for the past 20 years. With a fair bit of help from me all along the way. Her final show airs next Wednesday from 2pm to 4pm Pacific on www.pbsfm.org.au
A very special edition of the show, with features on Robbie Burns Day, freedom for Malian singer Rokia Traoré, and tributes to Garth Hudson - the last surviving member of The Band - and to French folk singer Gabriel Yacoub, both of whom died this week. There were also a few concert previews, and some exciting new releases on this auspicious date: 25 25 - with a tune called "25%" thrown in for good measure! (The show started 12 minutes late for no apparent reason. Just some sort of computer glitch, I think. So if you missed anything, you can always tune in to the podcast any time. As long as I can figure out how to record the show when it started at the wrong time!)
New releases from West Africa and Ireland with plenty of Canadian musical excellence and creativity sandwiched in between.
Eight and a half decades on we see the returning spectre of the evils of fascism and the beginnings of imperial expansion. Herr Drumpf is running the fascist playbook - while Pee Pee bows down and our wonderful, peaceful nation is under threat both from without and from within. In the face of these challenges my only means of retaliation is music, music, music! A sort of Canadian "bandstand" of hope and defiance hit the airwaves on Saturday morning!
Songs and tunes which provided highlights of 2024 in Vancouver and beyond, and a look ahead to what's in store here in 2025. With a special emphasis on supporting musicians by buying their merchandise at gigs or from their websites - and a pox on Spotify and the other rip-off merchants who steal their music and make "curated" playlists (cough, splutter!)
Some of my favourite albums of 2024 (and a few from the tail end of 2023) plus some songs for the end of the old year and to welcome in the new one. While things do look awfully grim these days, the music has been - and continues to be - absolutely stellar.
Some of my favourite songs from the last 37 years of these Winter specials, some brand new releases for the Solstice, and a few surprises along the way, too. We bid a sad farewell to Indian percussion master Ustad Zakir Hussain and to NE songwriter Dave Mallett, plus some new releases and heaps of seasonal songs you definitely won't hear in the Malls.
A plethora of new releases from around the globe to kick off the show, and some exciting new Canadiana kept things running in an ultra-cool northern way. Once again I had TEN PAIRS OF TICKETS to give away to see the second preview of the new Bob Dylan bio-pic, A Complete Unknown. A few new songs of winter, lots more Canadians, and some spirited Celtic music to finish up.
New releases from West Africa, Vancouver, Barcelona, Italy, England, Eire, and Scotland. Plus concert previews, a memorial for the 14 women murdered at Ecole Polytechnique in 1989, a couple of Sugaree songs, and a few cuts to herald the incoming Winter and holiday season.
Plenty of new releases on the show today, including Canadian bands Locarno and Aerialists, as well as Cathy Jordan's Crankie Island Song Project, and Crys Matthews' Reclamation. I also had TEN PAIRS of tickets to give away to the exclusive preview showing of the new movie about Bob Dylan - A Complete Unknown. It will be shown at International Village Cinema in Chinatown on Wednesday December 4th at 7pm.
Includes brand new music from the likes of Vancouver's Robyn Lane & The Rhythm Makers, Locarno, Tinariwen, Mauro Durante & Justin Adams, Christy Moore, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, and a wonderful new album by Cathy Jordan of the Irish band Dervish. There is also a feature on the next two bands coming to The Rogue Folk Club: Italian trio Ensemble Sangineto (below) - who were the talk of the town at the Folk Alliance in Kansas City in February, with their unique blend of Celtic and Breton influences and Italian trad songs from all around the "boot" - and Linda McRae & Doug Cox - rootsy, bluesy songs from the left coast and the deep south.
Anger and consternation at the US election led to some protest songs. Loads of new releases, including a feature on the new Christy Moore CD, and a tip of the proverbial to Louis Riel on "his" day, with a tune played by Vancouver's Kathleen Nisbet (of Viper Central) - a direct descendant of the legendary Metis leader. Also, "The Boss" is coming to town next week, so a sprinkling of his songs too.
Inspired by local music columnist Hadani Ditmars' article in the latest issue of Songlines magazine, the show starts with music from guitar bands in Niger, and gravitates to musical luminaries in Mali (inspired by talking to CFMA winner Sophie Lukacs at The Rogue last week). Searching for songs / signs of HOPE in this dismal week, then focusing on some wonderful bands coming to town this month - from Italy, Ontario, Donegal, Scotland, and Quebec
Plenty of new releases, including Las Migas - female flamenco innovators from Barcelona, Toronto blues man Sugar Brown, American old-time / Celtic duo Rakish, a new single from Lonesome Ace Stringband, the stunning sophomore release by English guitarist Justin Adams and Italian fiddle player / percussionist / singer Mauro Volante, young Irish trad singer Macdara Yeates, Eire's trad trio Socks In The Frying Pan, Canadian blues pianist / singer Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, Dirk & Amelia Powell from Louisiana, and more! Plus concert previews (there are some incredible shows coming to town - most of them at The Rogue, www.roguefolk.bc.ca)
Mourning the death this week of Barbara Dane: American singer and activist with over 6 decades as a leading light in folk, blues and jazz. She was 97, and was still singing at least until the age of 95! Looking back at the Celtic Colours Festival in Cape Breton - what a fabulous time we had over there! Hard to believe we saw so much incredible scenery, drove almost 3,000km around the island, experienced the rich music and culture and history of that small - furthest - corner of this amazing country, and came back relatively unscathed 8 days later! Played a fair few new releases and threw in some local concert previews, and some Halloween songs, too.
Helen Dam
Your article is a testament to the enduring power of ideas, as you breathe life into https://geometrydashweb.com abstract concepts, infusing them with relevance, urgency, and a sense of purpose that resonates deeply with readers, compelling them to take action and make a difference in the world.