Episode #1107
Disclaimer: This is raw and real radio unlike anything I would normally put out there. It’s emotional and immediate. It’s definitely not for everyone. Listener discretion is very much advised. I respect and appreciate the intimacy of radio to try to edit or fix this one. It’s a rough ride because it’s a rough day.
The morning of this show, I learned of the death of one of UMFM’s longest-serving volunteers, John Prentice. John hosted Planet Mainstage on UMFM for many years. Prior to that, he hosted Folkus and The World Beat Show. John has been an active member of the television and film industries in Manitoba for many, many years. He’s been a volunteer with the Winnipeg Folk Festival for most of its 50-year history, and a regular attendee at festivals in Canmore, Calgary, and many other places. He’s been involved with choirs, dance groups, and just about every arts & culture organization around. He’s served terms on several boards of directors. John’s knowledge and passion cannot be understated and can never be replaced.
For me, John has been a friend, a role model, a mentor, and so much more for most of my life. I first met him as a teenager volunteering at Videon TV and saw him regularly at the folk festival before joining him at UMFM. John was part of an incredible community of dedicated programmers who loved folk and roots music, where he anchored programming alongside longtime UMFM icons Gail Comfort and Lyle Skinner. I learned so much from him and always enjoyed catching up. He was a regular caller during my live shows and a valued collaborator and a source of feedback and encouragement. I know my show wouldn’t be what it is and I wouldn’t be the man I am without John. I loved, admired, and appreciated him immensely.
So it was with a heavy heart that I even came in to do the show on this day. I knew that it couldn’t be business as usual, but I also knew that he would want the show to go on and I had to pay tribute to this massive influence on so many of us. So in the hours before the show, I started scouring his playlists for common favourites. This show is made up of songs entirely pulled from his playlists between the years of 2005 and 2010. I’ll keep going through the lists and put together a proper, planned tribute at another time.
Again, this episode might be a rough listen. It certainly was rough to put together. If you’re looking for something a little more representative of what we usually do on this show, choose another episode. If you choose to listen, prepared to hear me talk from the heart about a dearly departed friend.
Immense thanks and love go out to Nicole, who helped make sure I could get through this one.
Artist – Song Title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – MB=Manitoba Artist – WPG=Winnipeg artist
Todd Snider – Enjoy Yourself – East Nashville Skyline
The Duhks – You Don’t See It – Fast Paced World – CDN – WPG
Nathan – The Wind – Key Principles – CDN – WPG
The Wailin’ Jennys – Arlington – 40 Days – CDN – WPG
James Keelaghan – Sing My Heart Home – Home – CDN
Madison Violet – Crying – No Fool For Trying – CDN
Old Man Luedecke – Send My Troubles Away – Proof of Love – CDN
Stephen Fearing – Yellowjacket – Yellowjacket – CDN
Steve Goodman – City of New Orleans – No Big Surprise: The Steve Goodman Anthology
Lucinda Williams – Are You Alright? – West
Leonard Cohen – Tower of Song – I’m Your Man – CDN
John Prine – The Moon Is Down – Fair and Square
Billy Bragg – A New England – Life’s a Riot with Spy vs. Spy
Bruce Cockburn – Night Train – The Charity Of Night – CDN
Bob Dylan – Buckets of Rain – Blood On The Tracks
Chris Smither – Leave The Light On – Leave The Light On
Chuck Brodsky – The Room Over the Bar – Color Came One Day
Jesse Winchester – Defying Gravity – Learn To Love It
Greg Brown – Canned Goods – One More Goodnight Kiss
Iris DeMent – Let the Mystery Be – Infamous Angel
Pieta Brown – Don’t Turn Away – Pieta Brown
The Pines – Heart & Bones – Tremolo
Richard Thompson – Johnny’s Far Away – Sweet Warrior
Teddy Thompson – Everybody Move It – Separate Ways
Loudon Wainwright III – Things – Years in the Making
Martha Wainwright – These Flowers – Martha Wainwright – CDN
Catherine MacLellan – Set This Heart On Fire – Water In The Ground – CDN
Amelia Curran – Scattered & Small – War Brides – CDN
Eliza Gilkyson – Tender Mercies – Land of Milk and Honey
Lee Harvey Osmond – Queen Bee – A Quiet Evil – CDN
Lynn Miles – Love Sweet Love – Love Sweet Love – CDN
Bop Ensemble – Flash Around The Globe – Between Trains – CDN
Eivør – If I Needed You – Eivør
Dan Frechette – Creeping Around – Lucky Day – CDN – WPG
D. Rangers – The Paw-Paw Patch – The Paw-Paw Patch – CDN – WPG
Chic Gamine – Butterfly Woman – Chic Gamine – CDN – WPG
Dust Poets – Big World – World at Large – CDN – WPG
The Doug and Jess Band – Slave to This World – Slave To This World – CDN – WPG
Twilight Hotel – Lift Me Far – Bethune – CDN – WPG
Danny Michel – Love You for Miles – A New Coat of Paint (Volume 2) – CDN
David Francey – Tonight In My Dreams – The Waking Hour – CDN