Ever year, it’s my goal to prove that not all Christmas music is cheesy and terrible. Some of it is even pretty great. We present some strong evidence to prove the point today. We’ve also got new additions to the amazing Willie P Bennett Legacy project and a few upcoming shows to preview.

Artist – Song title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – WPG=Winnipeg artist

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Ken Whiteley – Down to the Water – The Willie P Bennett Legacy Project – CDN
Gurf Morlix – Caney Fork River – The Willie P Bennett Legacy Project
Willie P Bennett – Pushin’ – Scenery/Sharpen the Plow – CDN
Lynn Miles – Highheels in the Snow – unreleased – CDN
Lynn Miles – Let It Snow – unreleased – CDN
Ondine Chorus – Children, Go Where I Send Thee – Twoards a Little Light – CDN

2:30 – 3:00 pm

David Myles – The Gift – It’s Christmas – CDN
Farmer Jason – Christmas Riddles – Christmas on the Farm
James McMurtry – These Things – Complicated Game
Jon Dee Graham – Butterfly Wing – Do Not Forget
Mike June – Let It Go – recorded live on UMFM
Johnny Bower – Honky the Christmas Goose – A Moose in a Maple Tree: A Christmas Compilation – CDN

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Matt The Electrician – All I Know – Accidental Thief
Jimmer – Empty – The Would-Be Plans
Turnpike Troubadours – Diamonds and Gasoline – Diamonds and Gasoline
Girls Guns & Glory – Built For Speed – Good Luck
Kieran Kane – He Never Knew What Hit Him – Dead Rekoning
The Weakerthans – Everything Must Go! – Left and Leaving – CDN – WPG

3:30 – 4:00 pm

John K Samson – Cruise Night – City Route 85 – CDN – WPG
John K Samson – The Last And – Provincial Road 222 – CDN – WPG
John K Samson – Longitudinal Centre – Provincial – CDN – WPG
Shakey Graves – Dearly Departed – And the War Came
Rayland Baxter – Willy’s Song – Feathers & Fishhooks
Geoff Berner – Maginot Line – We Shall Not Flag Or Fail, We Shall Go On To The End – CDN
Geoff Berner – That’s What Keeps the Rent Down, Baby – recorded live on UMFM – CDN

Tonight marks the return of Barney Bentall & The Grand Cariboo Opry, and that’s a great reason to celebrate. We’ve even got an interview with Barney to tell us all about the magic. Plus, there are more great upcoming shows, and we’re slowly and carefully easing into holiday music mode.

Artist – Song title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – WPG=Winnipeg artist

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Quinton Blair – Take my Hand, Take Me Home – Blues Man – CDN
Barney Bentall & Co. – Goin’ To The Opry – The Grand Cariboo Opry – CDN
Barney Bentall & Co. – Poorhouse – The Grand Cariboo Opry – CDN
Dustin Bentall – Crash Hard – Streets With No Lights – CDN
Jeffrey Hatcher – Crazy Man – recorded live on UMFM – CDN – WPG
The Devin Cuddy Band – Forty Four – Kitchen Knife – CDN
The Devin Cuddy Band – Home – Kitchen Knife – CDN

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Vance Gilbert – Times Two – Fugitives
Vance Gilbert – Icarus by Night – Shaking off Gravity
John K Samson – When I Write My Master’s Thesis – Provincial – CDN – WPG
The Weakerthans – Reconstruction Site – Reconstruction Site – CDN – WPG
Skydiggers – I’ll Be Home – Skydiggers – CDN
Jim Bryson – All the Fallen Leaves – Where the Bungalows Roam – CDN

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Paul Kelly – How to Make Gravy – Words & Music
The Blue Shadows – If We Make It Through December – On The Floor Of Heaven – Deluxe Re-issue – CDN
James McMurtry – Holiday – Childish Things
Wendy Bird – Deliver Me – Natural Wonder – CDN
The Blue Shadows – I Believe – On the Floor of Heaven – CDN
The Jayhawks – I’d Run Away – Tomorrow the Green Grass

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Barney Bentall interview

Barney Bentall – Four Went to War – Flesh and Bone – CDN
Barney Bentall – St. Valentines Day – Flesh and Bone – CDN

It appears as if the last big wave of new music this year has hit us, and it carried along some real gems, so a necessary exploration of the contents kicks us off. It’s another crazy busy week for shows in Winnipeg, so plenty of goodness to preview as well.

Artist – Song title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – WPG=Winnipeg artist

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Punchbuggy – Pat Benetar – All Nite Christian Rollerskate – CDN
Bob Schneider – Han Solo – King Kong
Whitehorse – Sweet Disaster – Leave No Bridge Unburned – CDN
Doug Seegers – There’ll Be No Teardrops Tonight (w/Buddy Miller) – Going Down To The River
James McMurtry – How’m I Gonna Find You Now – Complicated Game
Thompson & Teddy Thompson – Family – Family
John Southworth – Ode to the Morning Sky – Niagara – CDN

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Doug Paisley – Until I Find You (feat. Bonnie “Prince” Billy) – Until I Find You – CDN
Jonathan Byrd – Slip Away – You Can’t Outrun the Radio
Amelia Curran – The Matador – They Promised You Mercy – CDN
Buck 65 – That’s the Way Love Dies – Neverlove – CDN
Blitzen Trapper – To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) – While No One Was Looking: Toasting 20 Years of Bloodshot Records
Carolyn Mark – Last to Know – While No One Was Looking: Toasting 20 Years of Bloodshot Records – CDN
Jon Dee Graham – A Place in the Shade – Do Not Forget

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Buffy Sainte-Marie – The Universal Soldier – Vanguard Visionaries – CDN
Joe Nolan – Autumn Sky – Tornado – CDN
Joe Nolan – Did Somebody Call the Cops – Tornado – CDN
Jill Barber – Tell Me – Mischievous Moon – CDN
Del Barber – Farewell, God Bless You, Goodbye – Prairieography – CDN – WPG

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Northcote – How Can You Turn Around – Northcote – CDN
Matthew Barber – And You Give – Ghost Notes – CDN
Jenn Grant – The Fighter – The Beautiful Wild – CDN
Steve Dawson – Walkin’ Down the Line – Waiting for the Lights to Come Up – CDN
Jim Byrnes – You’ll Miss Me (When I’m Gone) – St. Louis Times – CDN
Big Dave McLean – Dead Cat on the Line – Faded but not Gone – CDN – WPG