CiTR -- The Saturday Edge
Now in its 31st year on CiTR, The Saturday Edge is a personal guide to world and roots music. The show highlights African, Latin, and European sounds in its first half, then explores Celtic, blues, songwriters, Cajun, and other styles in the second. It presents a broad range of traditional and contemporary music from around the world.
Episodes
Instrumentallly Speaking
A good tune can speak volumes without words and without need of translation. So there were plenty of instrumentals in today's show. We started in Mali, of course, as Tinariwen are in town this evening (at UBC, in fact!) There were plenty of fabulous new releases, and a few local concert previews too. The show ended with a flourish of exhilarating - and mostly instrumental - music from all around t
Fire & Flood & Fascism
Lots of music from the latest CD from Songlines magazine, RIP Dolly Parton and Wyckham Porteous, local concert previews, new releases, and a few songs about fires, floods and fascism - the three plagues of the apocalypse (now.)
Saltspring's eternal
An outside broadcast of sorts! Coming to you from an island paradise, this episode started in Senegal and Mali, sailed away to Cuba, Italy, Taiwan, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Germany before heading homeward to BC via Georgia, California and Louisiana. The 3rd hour had a distinctly Irish flavour, peppered with plenty of Canadiana, and hour 4 drifted away to Spain, Scotland and Cape Breton before returni
Edmonton Folk Festival Highlights
Looking back at the Edmonton Folk Festival with music by Djekady (American African band), Amble (melodic original songs from Eire), DUG (Scottish / US new trad duo), Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley) and Kate Rusby leading the way. Lots of new music and local concert previews as well as a few songs from Amy Helm who plays Saltspring and Vancouver next week. All this and much more.
Coming Over The Mountain!
Special edition from the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. This show featured many of the performers from this weekend's EFMF, some from last week's Mission Folk Festival, a bunch of new releases, and a few local concert previews.
Canadian Folk Festival Season rawks!
Today's edition features a bunch of great new releases, some new (to me) CDs by my recent "discoveries" at the Vancouver and Mission Folk Festivals, a sneak peek at artists performing next weekend at The Rolls Royce Of Canadian Folk Festivals (Edmonton), and a few extra special personal favourites to celebrate my birthday (tomorrow). Also a very sad RIP to Irish singer songwriter Glen Hansard, who
On a Mission
Coming to you from The Mission Folk Music Festival (well, the show was mostly inspired by this year's festival lineup!) Some fabulous songs and tunes from a wide variety of artists who are either performing at Mission or at next month's Edmonton Folk Music Festival, with songs from Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cuba, India, Taiwan, Ukraine, Persia, Montreal, and Vancouver - and t
Vancouver Folk Music Festival Edition
New music from the latest issue of Songlines magazine, the latest Putumayo Discovery CD - Cuban Connections - and a whole bunch of artists performing at this weekend's Vancouver Folk Music Festival - and next weekend's Mission Folk Music Festival. Researching these shows has been a real journey of discovery for me, and I hope you enjoy my selections! Also new music from veteran rockers Rolling St
Vancouver Folk Music Festival 2026
Many of the performers at the VFMF this year are complete unknowns to me, so probably complete unknowns to most of our listeners. I unearthed music by a lot of these performers to get an idea of what we might expect next weekend in Jericho Beach Park. Also continued to spin tracks by artists we heard on our recent Irish tour, and there were some amazing new releases from all around the planet this
Fourth of July
No celebration of the US 250th, just a couple of protest songs, and a big feature on new Celtic music, a look back at our recent Irish tour, and some tasty new releases from Lai, Senegal, France, Eire, and Canada
Canada Day and much more
Exciting new music from Mali and Senegal, a feature on Cape Verde (who are still in the World Cup!), a bit of Greek music for Vancouver's Greek Day (this Sunday), a look back at a few highlights of our recent trip to Ireland (we got back on Thursday), a look ahead to some amazing concerts coming to town, and a whole bunch of Canadiana to mark Canada Day (this coming Wednesday)
Coincidence and other likely stories
All kinds of coincidences and related tunes / songs (and seemingly unrelated ones, too!) Starting with Senegal's Ablaye Cissoko and two collaborations - one of them Canadian; and the link between the recently-deceased Toto La Momposina and the Anglo-Colombian groovers Sidestepper. A sneak preview of The Rogue Folk Club Fall Season, a tribute to Martin Carthy - who recently retired from public perf
Nostalgia meets future visitors
New releases from across Canada and beyond. Also a look back at some past favourites and ahead to future favourites coming to local concert halls and festivals.
D is for D-Day. Dervish, Dobb, Dawson and more
82 years since D-Day turned WWII, so snuck in this little reminder. Hitler cannot "win" 8 decades after his death. Or can he? Starting to look like it, isn't it? Quite a lot of Canadians, and a bunch of new releases and concert previews too.
41st Anniversary Special!
This show first aired on June 1st 1985, so this is the 41st Anniversary edition. Sprinkled a few of my favourite artists from these many moons, amongst some stirring new releases from Ireland, Africa, Scotland, B.C., Nova Scotia, Quebec, New Brunswick, Alberta, Spain, England, and the USA. It's always a marathon four hour show, but somehow it never feels like there is enough time to fit in all the
RIP Cris Derksen and Totó La Momposina
Sad farewells to indigenous Canadian cellist / songwriter Cris Derksen, who was killed in an automobile accident last week, and to Colombia's principal musical matriarch Totó La Momposina. The singer and bandleader died this week aged 85. She was one of my perennial favourites. I first saw her at the Edmonton Folk festival over 3 decades ago where she and her band were extremely memorable! New re
Happy 90th David Suzuki
Big birthday celebration next Friday for CBC TV host / biologist David Suzuki, so music by some of the guests who will join him on stage at the QE Theatre in Vancouver. Also Joan Baez announced her retirement, so a few songs from her. Also, another brieft tribute: 45 years ago this week, Bob Marley passed away. Plus music from the new issue of Songlines Magazine, and some other interesting new rel
The Merry Month Of May
May songs from around Europe and across Canada, plus new releases - including the most recent Celtic Colours Festival and Winnipeg's Cara Luft. Lots of local concert previews, and some old favourites from the annals.
A multicultural mosaic
Heaps of new music from all around the world, plenty of it Canadian - including brand spanking new albums from Taj Mahal (USA), The McDades (AB) and Veranda (PQ) Features on Melisande and Supertrad, who perform at the Rogue's 39th Anniversary concerts next week.
R.I.P. Dave Mason
I was abducted by aliens and transported back to March 7th. When I pleaded with them that I had no desire to relive the past few weeks since Dementia Donny attacked Iran they relented and brought me back. So The Saturday Edge On Folk ran half an hour late and ran half an hour late to 12:30pm today. Phew, what a trip! Thanks to Ciara and Jasper (their earthly names) for bringing me back! This allow
R.I.P. Moya Brennan
A tribute to the wonderful Irish singer Moya Brennan (Clannad) who died this week. Also music from some of the winners at last weekend's Canadian Folk Music Awards, a few songs for Earth Day and Visaki, new music from young Irish blues singer Muireann Bradley, new singles by NS duo Mama's Broke, Canadian guitar wizard Don Ross, and the amazing Bette Midler, plus some stunning music from Senegal, H
Van Folk Fest Previews
Canadian Folk Music Awards nominees and a big chunk of artists performing at the 49th annual VFMF in July. (Line-up just announced this week!) Also a few performers coming to the Mission Folk Festival the following weekend, and heaps of new releases from Songlines magazine etc., and previews of local concerts scheduled for the next few days / weeks.
And the winners are ...
Music by some of the winners of last week's Canadian Blues Music Awards in Toronto, and three Juno winners from the previous weekend as well. Started with some funky new North & West African music and other new releases from Putumayo Discovery - and more. Plenty of Vancouver concert previews as the show folk-rocked on! A few old faves snuck in along the way, too.
Canadian Blues Awards & Much More!
Started with a feast of North African, Cuban and Mexican music. Then played music by most of the nominees for The Canadian Blues Music Awards (to be awarded on Monday March 30th), also features on Morgan Toney (Mi'k Maq fiddler / songwriter from Cape Breton) and the incredible Medusa Quartet from Ontario, who celebrate the launch of their second CD with a gig at The Rogue next Thursday. Lots more
Viva Cuba!
Started with a whole array of music from the beleaguered island nation of Cuba. I can't do much about solving their power cuts or breaking the blockade from our imperialist neighbours to the south, but if enough people listen to this music and enjoy it, maybe something will stir somewhere out there, wheresoever the airwaves from CiTR can get through. Maybe that something will help or inspire a Cub
St. Patrick's Day Special
Started the show in Africa, headed to the Middle East, and then crossed Canada with a few side trips to focus on 19th century African-American sailor turned one-legged busker Billy Waters, and Orcadian quartet Gnoss, before the second half of my weekly four hour musical romp allowed me to spin some of my all-time favourite Irish songs and tunes to kick off St Patrick's week.
A Sad & Beautiful World
While oligarchs, sexual predators, gangsters and thugs are destroying the planet, I look out upon a beautiful world. I hear music that inspires and enriches us. I want to share this music far and wide, but it all feels very scary right now. Regime change must surely happen, ASAP, starting with the USA, and Israel. It probably won't happen. Soon, if ever. If we have to go, we will go down singing.
Fundrive Special!
CiTR is holding its annual Fundrive this week, so this was me spruiking away - solo- for four hours, while playing music by many favourites - old and new - from all corners of the known world. I've been hosting this show for over 40 years so choosing "favourites" can be quite time-consuming! I concentrated on performers coming to town or who have performed here recently. And not-so-recently, too!
Year of The Horse and Black History Month
A few songs with a Horse theme to mark the Lunar New Year (of The Horse) and some of my all-time favourite music by black artists to mark Black History Month. Then a bunch of local concert previews, and new releases (including the brilliant Canadian string quartet, Medusa). Sadly, a few songs about the darkening of the world as Dementia Donny leads us to the brink of more wars.
A Big Love Fest
It's Valentines' Day, but it's also time celebrate my love of music every day. I hope you share this love / obsession, too! There are some extremely lovable concerts coming to town in the next few weeks and I played plenty of tracks from those performers. Plus some new tracks from around the world (of love) and a few old "flames", too!
Grammies and Other Divas
Plenty of variety this week, including some Grammy Winners and Nominees, music from a number of new Putumayo Discovery albums, and the latest issue of Songlines Magazine. Also featured new albums from Ireland's Ye Vagabonds, and American bluegrass divas Della Mae, and Sierra Hull. Plus a bunch of local concert previews, and new tracks from Canadian (mostly) Celtic combos Medusa Quartet, and The Mc
Rise up, and groove!
Music from the latest issue of Songlines Magazine's Top of the World CD; R.I.P. Sly Dunbar, drummer with the legendary reggae riddim section Sly & Robbie; new singles by The Boss, Eric Bibb, The Fugitives, Medusa Quartet, Sophie Lukacs, and Daughters of Donbas; local concert previews galore; new albums by Della Mae, and Irish trad band Ye Vagabonds; and some stunning Ukrainian folk with a mode
A Celebration of Fiddle Wizards
Heaps of fiddle music. I am so impressed by the dedication to the craft and amazing creativity of fiddlers the world over! I missed the Folk Alliance in New Orleans this week - way too scary in America right now! Played music by the winners at the Folk Awards night, and also celebrated Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Taj Mahal. This show was a bit of a mish-mash, as was my head after the shockin
R.I.P. Bob Weir
Grateful Dead founder Bobby Weir passed away this week. Sad news. Concert previews, a few new releases, some old faves, and some not-so-subtle digs at the fascists down south. We live in scary times ... (This show was not broadcast LIVE on CiTR. My show was pre-empted, but I had a few things to say! It went out from the Rogue website and is now available as a podcast at CiTR.)
Murder In The City and Other Fascist Horrors
Songs and tunes decrying the rise of fascism. Music from Venezuela, Greenland, Denmark, Canada, Cuba and other countries threatened by the US regime. Complaints and laments about murder in the streets and blood for oil. Plus some great songs and tunes from many corners of the civilized world!
Tha Janus Sydrome
New music from Fraser & Haas, Vasen, Maria Muldaur and more. A look back at favourite recordings and concerts of 2025. A fond - and extended - look back at my favourite festival of 2025 (Tonder, in Denmark last August), and a look ahead at 2026 with concert previews and more new releases. For the full version of the final song, go to the podcast of the show. Trust me, it's worth it!
Best Of 2025
Some of my favourites in a wide range of genres from a great musical year, plus sad R.I.P.s to English bluesman Mick Abrams and English melodeon legend Rod Stradling. Also a few songs for Boxing Day, The 12 Days of Christmas, and New Year's Eve.
Annual Christmas Special
Seasonal favourites old and new sprinkled amongst new releases from around the world. Plus a sad RIP to Texas songwriter Joe Ely. Previews of Cool Yule (the final Rogue show of 2025) and the first two shows in Jan uary (J.P. Cormier, Fraser & Haas), and, of course, my trademark 40th annual mash-up for Christmas Day (The Pogues, Monty Python, Steeleye Span etc.)
Desert Blues to Winter Snows
New music from Africa to start the show, featuring Putumayo's excellent latest release - Desert Blues. Lots more from across the "dark continent", then music from Iran, Romania, and Cuba before paying respect to Raul Malo, who died this week. Great lead singer with The Mavericks. Some stirring instrumentals from across Canada, some wonderful new topical songs, and then another RIP - this time to Q
RIP Steve Cropper, Jimmy Cliff & Adam McNaughton
Memphis guitarist and Stax Recrds co-founder Steve Cropper died this week. Such a big influence on music - especially my favourite roots music of the sixties. Also paid tribute to reggae pioneer Jimmy Cliff, and Scottish songwriter / educator Adam McNaughton with a couple of songs towards the end of the show (including the condensed "Hamlet". The whole play in 4 minutes to the tune of The Mason's
R.I.P. Canadian Bluesman Tim Williams
New music from North Africa, Middle East, Brazil, and Cuba then some blues from Calgary's Tim Williams who died today. New music from the USA and across Canada, with plenty of new and mighty local releases. A feature on SK's Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys who make their Vancouver debut next Friday. Groovy fiddle tunes, trad songs and more from Eire, Scotland, Quebec, Alberta, and B.C.
Overseas Special - Ladysmith BC
A plethora of new releases, including the latest from Alex Cuba (Alexis Puentes) from Smithers BC, local concert previews galore, and a few idiosyncratic personal choices - plus some songs and tunes for my partner Margaret's birthday
The Winds Of November Come Early
50 years on from the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Gordon Lightfoot's masterpiece. That song, new songs from Mavis Staples and Vancouver's Sinead X Sanders, a tour around Africa, some Celtic and trad delights, a few powerful anthemic songs, and some very hot picking at the end, and there you have it, folks: a four hour odyssey that is built to stir the soul and the passions every Saturday mornin
Great tunes and 3 Sad RIPs
Fond farewells to Scots singer Archie Fisher (tracks 50-54), Breton trad singer Yan Fanch Kemener (tracks 17-19), and American songwriter Bob Franke (tracks 27 & 28). A few songs for Remembrance Day. Tasty new releases from Denmark, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, BC, Alberta, USA, Mali, and Senegal. Plus a couple of tracks from the amazing young Scots lowland piper Brighde Chaimbeul, who plays
A Potpourri, but No Kings!
New music from as far afield as Malawi, Senegal, Mali, and Zimbabwe, and from all across Canada from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, to PEI, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Yukon, and BC. Plus a couple for tracks from the great new albums by Alison Brown & Steve Martin, and Robert Plant's new project. Previews of local concerts, too.
Halloween & tRump & Other Horris
This week's show featured Canadian singer Martin Kerr, whose new album is a powerful condemnation of the American fascist party and the lunatic in chief down there. Three songs about failed covert operations during WWII, including a brand new one about an incident with the Queen Mary, which was operating as a troop ship bringing American soldiers over to Europe. She was under strict orders not to
What's Up America?
Canadian songwriter Martin Kerr leads a vitriolic attack on the rise of fascism in America. Plus loads of new releases, a look at the Celtic Colours Festival and this evening's finale, and a few local concert previews.
Celtic Colours Preview
A feature on many of the performers who will be broadcast on the live stream from www.celtic-colours.com over the next few days (and available until the end of the month if you missed them). Also new releases from Le Vent Du Nord, Martin Kerr, Cheikh Lo etc. and local concert previews too.
In Search of BC's West Coast Sound
Tracing a line from Pied Pumkin through Spirit of the West, Nyetz, The Bills, Outlaw Social, and Viper Central to the Unfaithful Servants, my "take" on BC's special West coast sound! Started with some hot new sounds from Africa, featured a bunch of local concert previews, some tasty new releases, and a few songs which came to mind on our recent cruise around the British Isles, Eire, and Norway
R.I.P. Danny Thompson
The great English bass player Danny Thompson died this week at the age of 86. He made signature contributions to hundreds of recordings and memorable concerts in his 70 year career. I only included 16 tracks today. He played on everything from trad folk to blues, jazz, African music, and country, as well as underpinning memorable singer songwriters' highest achievements. He was a remarkable humori
Voyage of The Hector & other stories
The first ship to carry exiled Scots from The Highlands to Pictou, NS was The Hector. It left Ullapool on September 15th 1773. Commemorated in songs and tunes on a CD I found in the Ullapool Museum last month. Plus lots of new releases , Rogue previews (Unfaithful Servants & Ms. Shari Ulrich, John Doyle, Little Miss Higgins), and more. Unfortunately, a power outage crippled CiTR and the podcas
New Roots For a Dying World
Some excellent new releases from Putumayo, Dar Williams, Songlines magazine, Denmark, Louisiana, SK, BC, ON etc. Plus congrats to the winners at this week's Americana Festival Awards in Nashville, and the 57th anniversary of the first LP I ever bought with my own (pocket) money - the 2nd LP by Traffic. Also a bunch of Canadian and Irish music by performers coming to The Rogue over the next few wee
Tonder Festival (Denmark)
A fond look back at last week's amazing Tonder Festival in Southern Jutland, Denmark. Plenty of great Canadian artists were on the bill, and it was the last ever gig by England's Oysterband. Also a Fall Season launch of The Rogue Folk Club, with plenty more Canadian (and Irish) performers.
Festivals Past & Future
Highlights from two of my favourite folk festivals: Towersey Village Festival 1990, and Doolin Folk Festival 2015, plus a look ahead to this week's Tonder Festival in Denmark
Festivals Past & Future
highlighting two of my favourite folk festivals: England’s Towersey Village Festival 1990, and Ireland’s Doolin Folk Festival 2015, plus a look ahead to this week's Tonder Festival in Denmark (where Margaret and I will witness the last ever concerts by one of our favourite bands, Oysterband, amongst many other fine acts - many of them Canadian!)
Encyclopedia Canadiana
Some of my favourite Canadian songs down the 40 years of The Saturday Edge, plus some more faves from around the planet. Just a few new releases this week, and two album features: Cathy Jordan's Crankie Song Project, and the unreleased album by Scottie supergroup Clan Alba (which should beacon available later this year, pending a legal challenge to help out Scottish singer Dick Gaughan, whose back
Loose Ends & August Grooves
Continuing my celebration of some of my favourite songs and tunes, and adding liberal sprinkles of new releases and concert previews to the mix. A mix you won't find anywhere else on your radio - and definitely not in playlists "curated" by AI and the execrable Spotify (pause to look for the spittoon here ... !) Right. That's better. Enjoy the show now and whenever you like here on the amazing CiT
Steve's Birthday Special
On the occasion of my birthday I decided to play a whole bunch of my favourite singers, bands and tracks.
On A Mission
Anecdotal notes about the Mission Folk Music Festival and music down the years since its inception in 1988 (I am a founder of this event). Surprise Album of the Week: Teddy Thompson, recorded LIVE at The Rogue last June. Plenty of my favourite artists - leading up to my next show, which will be on my birthday next Saturday. Lots of unapologetic self-indulgence alert!
Van Folk Festival Special
A variety of performers from the Vancouver Folk Festival lineup and Mission Folk Festival, too. Plus local concert previews, a few new releases, and topical songs. For the past few years I've broadcast LIVE from the festival site. Not this time. I had too many technical problems last year, and no musicians are around from 8am to noon on a Saturday for interviews, so I chose to prerecord the show i
Vancouver and Mission Folk Fest Previews
Music by many of the performers coming to these two local festivals, plus Album of the Week: A Tribute to the King of Zydeco - Clifton Chenier and a look ahead to some local concerts, notably the debut of Scots fiddler Ryan Young (July 24th). Some new releases, too - including a surprise live recording of Teddy Thompson from The Rogue last June (I didn't know he was releasing this as a CD!)
Canadian Folk Fesstival Season - Part 1
Music by many of the performers coming to the Vancouver Folk Music Festival in two weeks time, plus a few by performers coming to the Mission Folk Festival the following weekend. New releases, local concert previews, and topical songs, of course, and some inspired fiddling and singing in the final hour.
Canada Day Preview
Lots of new music and old music and unusual combinations. This show is almost as much a journey of discovery for me as it is for the audience. I get a little taste of each track and if I like it I add it to the playlist, then shuffle the order and whittle it down to four hours every week. When the show airs I get to listen to all the songs in their entirety and in combination with all the other tr
Masters of War beware!
Vancouver and Mission Folk Festival previews, new releases from around the world, protest songs about the dark approaches to WW III, songs of hope, reflection and loss, and defiant upbeat numbers from all genre. Plus R.I.P. to Sly Stone, who passed away last week
No Kings Day
Today's show was started automatically - twenty minutes early! Started with new music discovered within the pages of the excellent UK magazine, Songlines, which comes with a free CD every month. Paid tribute to Beach Boy Brian Wilson with two songs covered by other luminaries, and one Beach Boys original penned by the great innovator. Then a bunch of songs inspired by the latest tragic and outrage
40 Years On - Part Three
Continuing the flashbacks from the past 4 decades of hosting this show I chose more old favourites to blend with some great new releases, as well as concert and festival previews. Had to whittle it down from the original 193 songs chosen, to a more manageable 52! Suffice to say, there have been more than a few good memories down these years at CiTR!
40th Anniversary Special
My first show at CiTR was on June 1st 1985. Today I continued my 40th Anniversary nostalgia with a bunch more of my fave songs from these past 4 decades, and threw in some tasty new titles as well. This was a very fun trip down memory lane for me, and I still managed to learn something new and exciting along the way. I hope the radio audience enjoyed it, too!
R.I.P. Dan Storper (Putumayo Founder)
Dan Storper, founder of Putumayo World Music, passed away on Thursday. Since 1993 I've been enjoying the unique compilation albums Putumayo have released, celebrating regions and countries, and genres of music from all over. Their booklets are full of information, recipes, translations and all manner of extra details about the musicians, too. Thanks, Dan. for making so much beautiful music accessi
Music of Merriment & Resistance
Plenty of new music including some powerful anti-fascist songs from Mark Rubin and Martin Kerr and all sorts of merriment from Africa, Aotearoa, Denmark, Sweden, Eire, Canada and the American resistance! Also music by some of the winners at last week's East Coast Music Awards in St. John's. Plus concert previews and R.I.P. to English guitar legend Wizz Jones - and a farewell song from / to NL's M
Celebrating 38 Years Of Folking Good Music at The Rogue Folk Club
Since May 10th 1987, Vancouver's Rogue Folk Club has been presenting over 50 concerts per year of Celtic, Folk, Blues, Bluegrass, Manouche, Cajun, and World Roots Music. Today, on the Society's 38th Anniversary, I indulged in a hefty slice of nostalgia with music by some of the amazing - and diverse - performers who have graced The Rogue stage down the years. Also some new releases, concert previe
Cinco de Mayo and more
Started in West Africa, moved to Mexico for celebratory music, then on to concert previews and VFMF previews and a couple of great new CDs (Matt Andersen and Eliza Gilkyson.) Everything from blues to old time to Celtic to songwriters to comedy. Hope I didn't miss anyone out!
Vancouver Folk Festival Preview
This year's folk festival runs July 18th to 20th in Jericho Beach Park, and they announced the line-up on Thursday. I hope to broadcast LIVE from the park once again. Meanwhile tracks 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 17, 22, 24, 27, 28, 33, 34, 37, 39, 49, 50, and 55 are by artists performing this year. Some new Putumayo releases were also featured on today's show, as well as many new releases from around the
Earth Day / Easter Special
Songs for Mother Earth and The Easter Bunny, plus memories of Sandy Denny (who died April 21st 1978) and NL accordionist Frank Maher, who died last week. Plus more new releases and concert previews than you can shake a stick at. Spot the 420 hints, if you can...
April Showers and May Flowers
From darkness to light, with an RIP to Mali's Amadou Bagayoko of the blind duo Amadou et Mariam, new music from African giants Youssou N'Dour and Salif Keita, heaps more new releases from all across Canada, as well as Sweden, India, New Zealand, and Eire. Plus concert previews and more.
A cross-Canada celebration
Canada is very cross right now! Anyhow, loads of new releases today, many of them courtesy of fellow DJ Daniel Rosenberg, who was in town for last week's Junos. Thanks, Dan! I managed to play at least one song from each of the ten Canadian provinces and two Canadian Territories. While Lindisfarne's tirade against the Tory government in the UK in the early 1970s was somewhat tongue-in-cheek I added
Spring Is In The Air
Tunes from the brand new Cousin Harley CD, and forthcoming album by NL's Quote The Raven, as well as new music from Stephen Fearing, Kathryn Tickell, Tara Breen, Morgan Toney, Jason Isbell, Melisande, and Dreamers Circus. Aslo a feature on Malian kora virtuoso Ballake Sissoko, and previews of upcoming shows by the likes of Steve Dawson, Aleksi Campagne, Collage Trad, Hildaland, Coig, Quote The Rav
Norouz - Persian New Year / Aurelio R.I.P.
Songs and tunes for the Persian New Year and the coming of Spring. Sad R.I.P. to Garifuna singer / activist Aurelio who died in a helicopter crash this week. Local concert previews: Ballake Sissoko, Judy Collins, Rum Ragged, Lucy MacNeil Quartet. A few new releases, too. Lots of CanCon. Elbows Up!
St. Patrick's Week Special
Being the closest Saturday to St. Patrick's Day this show was a celebration of Celtic music, with a lot of my favourite Irish artists to the fore. The new CD by Stephen Fearing was released yesterday, so this was a CiTR exclusive. Another exclusive at the end was a track recorded at The Rogue with Co. Clare fiddler Martin Hayes and the late Chicago guitarist Dennis Cahill in 2017. These tunes were
International Womens Day
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!
White Rabbits and Montreal Snow
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.
