Folk Roots Radio... With Jan Hall

Canadian folk legend Ken Whiteley joins us on Episode 500 of Folk Roots Radio for an in-depth conversation about "Calm In The Eye of The Storm", his first recording in four years and a project that looks at the personal, political and spiritual dimensions of finding peace in these turbulent times. The follow up to 2016's Freedom Blues, the new album has a fabulous bluesy, folky and gospel sound, and a wonderful message to share with the world. Recorded during the coronavirus Covid-19 emergency, we chat about the album, Ken's production work, live show and gospel matinees. It was very enjoyable conversation, and hopefully it will be of great comfort to listeners during a period of uncertainty for many people. Stay safe and healthy - we'll get through this together. Check out the full playlist on the website: https://folkrootsradio.com/folk-roots-radio-episode-500-feat-ken-whiteley-in-conversation-calm-in-the-eye-of-the-storm/

Kelowna BC's Jane Eamon started writing the songs for her beautiful seventh album "Pieces of Me" after her husband had a stroke on Christmas Day and the sudden death of her father. At the time, Eamon, a 2011 Kerrville New Folk finalist, actually thought she was done with the music business - but the songs wouldn't rest, they just kept coming. Yet, after helping her husband recover from his stroke, he was then diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer which lead to further family turmoil. Fortunately Jane's songwriting helped her pull her through this incredibly difficult period in her life. What developed from all this was the stripped down, honest and completely authentic nine track album album Pieces of Me which speaks to the emotions of that challenging period, but also brings with it a sense of hope - storms can be weathered. Pieces of Me was produced by her long-time collaborator Andrew Smith from Lake Studios, Kelowna BC, and has been critically acclaimed despite flying under many radars. Jane Eamon's husb

Kevin Harvey front man and lead vocalist of the Durham County Poets joins us on Episode 499 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about their latest album, a full on blues recording, "Hand Me Down Blues" which has earned nominations for Blues Album of the Year at the 2020 Junos & the 2019 Maple Blues Awards New Artist/Group of the Year. It’s a wonderful tribute to some of their influences, and Kevin Harvey is always a great interview. We also check out more of the new music we’ve received, and this time around we hear from Little Misty, The Lonesome Ace Stringband, Frank & Allie Lee and Frank Birtwistle. We wrap up the episode with a special three song tribute to Nova Scotia based folk singer Laura Smith who sadly left us this week. Laura Smith had an absolutely fabulous singing voice, and though, because of some health challenges she did not leave a large body of recorded music, the fabulous albums she created deserve to be shared and savoured. Her spirit will live on. Safe Home, Sweet Light! Check out the full on the

The Durham County Poets are having an absolutely fabulous year. They released the wonderful "Hand Me Down Blues" in 2019 - a celebration of all things blues and the artists that have inspired their music. Since then, they have received nominations for the 2020 JUNO Blues Album of the Year & the 2019 Maple Blues Awards New Artist/Group of the Year. Front man and lead vocalist Kevin Harvey joined us on Folk Roots Radio to chat about the album and its impact, and upcoming tour dates. For more information and upcoming tour dates , visit https://durhamcountypoets.com. Music: Durham County Poets, "Hand Me Down Blues", "Can't Be Satisfied", "If The Lid Don't Fit" and "Evil In The Heart Of Man" from "Hand Me Down Blues" (2019, Self).

Toronto singer-songwriter and Unitarian Universalist minster Lynn Harrison joins us on Episode 498 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about her wonderful new album “Something More”. It’s a great interview and really inspiring - you definitely don’t want to miss it. We also continue to celebrate International Women’s Day with more new music from female artists and this time around we feature Lunar Bloom, Kristen Martell, Minuscule, Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn, Della Mae, Rose Cousins, The Haden Triplets and Lynne Hanson. Check out the full playlist on the website: https://folkrootsradio.com/folk-roots-radio-episode-498-feat-lynn-harrison-international-womens-day/

We're celebrating International Women’s Day on Episode 497 of Folk Roots Radio with an hour of special programming featuring female artists. Join us for new music from Sarah Harmer, Claudia Nygaard, Sarah Morris, Frazey Ford, Natalie MacMaster, Grace Morrison, Moira & Claire, The Pairs, Rory Block, Katie Dahl, Heather Pierson, 100 Mile House, The Lone Canary, Harrow Fair and The Small Glories. Check out the full playlist on the website: https://folkrootsradio.com/folk-roots-radio-episode-497-international-womens-day/

Welcome to another very special hour of Folk Roots Radio, as we give over the whole of Episode 496 to music from artists we enjoyed on the 2020 edition of the roots music cruise Cayamo. We had an absolutely fabulous time sailing around the Caribbean with 40 of the world’s best Americana, Roots and Blues musicians. We even caught up with the great Steve Poltz on the boat. No stranger to this show and a brilliant live performer, Steve will be back in Canada this April to play the Roots North Music Festival in Orillia. We also include music from Hayes Carll, Mavis Staples, Molly Tuttle, Joe Robinson, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Allison Moorer and Rodney Crowell. Join us for more great music, and fun conversation on Folk Roots Radio. For more information about Cayamo, visit https://cayamo.com. Check out the full playlist on the website: https://folkrootsradio.com/folk-roots-radio-episode-496-feat-steve-poltz-cayamo-2020/

Ken Dunn is a modern day traveling troubadour giving social and environmental issues a voice in song, while reminding us to keep our loved ones and peace at the forefront of this precious life. No stranger to Folk Roots Radio, the singer-songwriter from Gibsons BC often travels and plays with partner Anna Green, but he was flying solo when he joined us in the studio to for a wonderful chat about his music and 2019 live album, "Live in L.A.". Ken also played a few songs live for us. We're pleased to bring that interview to you as part of Episode 495 of Folk Roots Radio. We also take a listen to more of the latest new releases, and this time around we hear from Corin Raymond, Don Bray, Manitoba Hal, Poor Man's Gambit, Andrew Bird and Che Apalache.

Jack Pine joins us on Episode 494 of Folk Roots Radio for another conversation about his music, and, this time around, he plays live for us. Jack Pine is the stage persona of Gareth Auden Hole, an Ottawa based singer-songwriter, engineer and producer. It’s always fun to talk to Jack, who is a very engaging individual whether in live performance or conversation. We wrap up the episode with more of the new music that's landed on our doorstep, and this time around we include tracks from Nathaniel Rateliff, The Lonesome Ace Stringband, Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers, Si Kahn, Mike Klein, Katy Hobgood Ray feat. Dave Ray, Kete Bowers and Paul Kelly.

Noah Derksen is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter with a wonderfully soulful folk-roots Americana sound and some very strong songs. He joins us in the studio on Episode 493 of Folk Roots Radio for an in-depth conversation about his latest album “America, Dreaming”, and a few live songs. We also find time to include more of the new music we've received, and this time around we hear from Sussex, Ma Polaine's Great Decline, Hansan, Burnstick, The East Pointers, Ayla Brook & The Sound Men, Lynn Harrison and The John Byrne Band.

The Red River Ramblers are an Ontario band dedicated to the revival of Manitoba Métis Fiddle music, which brings together the rhythmic spirit of the First Nations peoples, with a blend of both the Scottish and French fiddle traditions. Douglas Richard Sinclair, a Métis musician with roots in the Red River Settlement, joins us on Episode 492 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about the band and their music. We also take a look at more of the latest new releases we've received and this time we listen to new music from 100 Mile House, Grace Potter, Lynne Hanson, Rod Abernethy, Artists for Peace & Justice (feat. Jackson Browne), Rumour Mill and Forest Sun. Check out the full playlist on the website:

Our interview with folk-pop cosmic balladeer Mister K went much further than we were able to share with you on Episode 491 of Folk Roots Radio. Check out the full interview below. Kevin Roy Kratsch spent five years on the road as country folk singer-songwriter Kevin Roy before re-inventing himself as cosmic balladeer Mister K, and starting work on “In Event Of Moon Disaster”, a folk-pop journey through the highs and lows of a mental health struggle, what Kevin describes as those 'Darker Days'. In Event Of Moon Disaster was created with producer and collaborator Rusty Matyas (The Sheepdogs, The Weakerthans, Imaginary Cities) who opened up about his own struggles with alcoholism prior starting work on the project. The two found support, inspiration, and empowerment while breathing life into these songs; a testament to the strength of healing through music and art. There have been three singles released from the album, so far: “Hundreds Of Dollars”, “Lonely One” and the latest, “Darker Days” – Kevin’s personal

On Episode 491 of Folk Roots Radio we chat to Kevin Roy from Manitoba about his new music project as cosmic balladeer Mister K, and upcoming album “In Event of Moon Disaster” – a musical journey through the highs and lows of a mental health struggle. In Event of Moon Disaster is a wonderful album and this is a great interview. We wrap up the hour with more of the new music that we’ve received, and this time around we hear from The Marrieds, William Kuklis, Harrow Fair, Simon Mayor and Jay Aymar. We also include a special tribute to the fabulous Nashville songwriter David Olney, who passed away suddenly last week during an in the round live performance at a showcasing event in Florida. Check out the full playlist on the website: https://folkrootsradio.com/folk-roots-radio-episode-491-feat-mister-k-more-new-releases/

We're giving over the whole of Episode 490 of Folk Roots Radio to a fabulous in-depth conversation with Bill Garrett who sat down us at the 2019 Folk Music Ontario conference to talk about his long career in music and the development of the wonderful boutique folk music record label Borealis Records. We wrap up the conversation with music from Bill Garrett, Bill Garrett & Sue Lothrop, Naming The Twins, Durham County Poets and Shelley Posen. Check out the full playlist on the website:

Noah Derksen is a Canadian singer-songwriter with a wonderfully soulful folk-roots Americana sound and some very strong songs. Also an American citizen, Noah Derksen's new album "America, Dreaming" - which was produced by Murray Pulver (The Bros. Landreth, Joey Landreth, Doc Walker, etc.) in Winnipeg, is a search for identity, reflecting on time spent living and travelling across the United States. "As an American-citizen growing up in Canada, I held an unrealistic depiction of the United States as a land of opportunity and freedom. In years spent living, touring, and working south of the border, I’ve discovered the practical limitations to that opportunity and freedom. America, Dreaming represents an observation of my home and native land south of the 49th parallel; an observation both externally, of how things change with time, and internally, on how I have had to shift my own perspective." Noah Derksen joined us in the studio to chat about the new album, and while he was with us played three songs from t

Ken Dunn is a modern day traveling troubadour giving social and environmental issues a voice in song, while reminding us to keep our loved ones and peace at the forefront of this precious life. Ken's eighth album, "Live in LA" was recorded at an impromptu gig at Kulak’s Woodshed in North Hollywood with proceeds going towards LA Family Housing support for those struggling with homelessness in the greater Los Angeles area. The songs on the album reflect on homelessness, peace, and social challenges as well as love - all things desperately needed in today's world. The song "Tahlequah" tells the story of a mother orca who carried the lifeless body of her young for two weeks before finally releasing the baby to the deep. According to Ken the song reminds us that not only human beings have precious lives, but our planet and all its inhabitants need to be protected and loved. There are now only 75 resident orcas in the Salish Sea near Ken in British Columbia. Ken Dunn joined us in the Folk Roots Radio studio to chat

Our interview with Keri Latimer from Leaf Rapids went so much further than what we were able to include in Episode 489 of Folk Roots Radio. Check out our full in-depth conversation here. Keri and her partner Devin Latimer, formerly of Juno Award-winning alt-country quartet Nathan, released "Citizen Alien", their second album as Leaf Rapids in May 2019. Citizen Alien is a wonderful recording, that uses Keri and Devin's own family history to tell stories about the nature of identity and reflect on what it means to belong, in a world where more and more politicians are using populist nationalistic rhetoric to separate the ‘us’ from the ‘them’. According to Keri Latimer, "Every family has stories of people who crossed oceans, who survived, who struggled and tried. People who knew injustice. And though some of those stories now fade into the haze of time, the truth of them remains vivid. On Citizen Alien, the album’s title track, love declared by ancestors leads to separation through the travesty of Canada’s Seco

We included an excerpt from our in-depth interview with Annie Capps (from Annie & Rod Capps) in Episode 488 of Folk Roots Radio. You can now check out the full interview here. Annie & Rod Capps eighth, self-produced album "When They Fall" is a wonderful collection of songs that really fit every mood - from the light and cheery, to the serious and dramatic. What all these songs have in common is they are very all very well-written, and beautifully sung and played by a fine group of musicians. Joining Annie Capps (vocals, guitar, banjo) and Rod Capps (guitar, viola and harmony vocals) on the album are regular band members Jason Dennie from Thunderwüde (mandolin, mandola and harmony vocals) and Dan Ozzie Andrews (bass) with Michael Shimmin (Joshua Davis, the olllam, May Erlewine) on drums and percussion. Drew Howard also guests on pedal steel and Jenny Bienemann provides some delicate vocal harmonies on the song "Brevity". When They Fall deservedly became one of Our Favourite Albums of 2019. Annie & Rod have

We’re bringing something a little different to you on Folk Roots Radio this week. We’re celebrating the music of Kevin K Gagnon, a bass player from Windsor ON who has been active on the local scene since 1978. When I received the press release about "It Is What It Is", Kevin's first solo album - released after 40 years in the music business, I knew I had to bring him into the studio for an in-depth conversation. During his career, Kevin K Gagnon has pretty much played every bar, club and concert venue throughout the Windsor/Essex area, and recorded in just about every local studio. “It Is What It Is” is a collection of mostly instrumental works, written for electric guitar as well as bass - Kevin plays both on the album. Back in the 80s, Kevin toured with his band “Destiny”, and he has played with Joe Konas (The Gods), the late Windsor blues great Michael Bruce and many others. He has also offered his talents for countless local charity events over the years and currently performs live with local Windsor band

We're pleased to bring you our full interview with New Jersey based singer-songwriter Sharon Goldman. Sharon Goldman has built a fine reputation as a songwriter with a wonderful string of albums culminating in KOL ISHA (A Woman’s Voice) from 2016 which focused on her own experience growing up in an orthodox Jewish family on Long Island. Her latest 12-song album "Every Trip Around The Sun", produced with Allison Tartalia, was released in July 2019 to more critical acclaim. The new recording features a fabulous selection of songs - some topical, some romantic, some nostalgic and some inspirational - all of them well-crafted and engaging. Every Trip Around The Sun was included on our long list of Our Favourite Albums of 2019. Check them all out HERE. For more information about the music of Sharon Goldman visit https://www.sharongoldmanmusic.com. Music: Sharon Goldman with "A Garden", "Am I There Yet", "Sunset At The Border" and "Penny With The Waves" from "Every Trip Around The Sun" (2019, Self).