This episode might make you a bit dizzy with all of the looking back and forward, but it’s worth the whiplash. We looked back at Stephen Fearing’s great show, Jeff Healey’s great career, and at one of the greatest Canadian bands of all, The Lowest of the Low.

We also looked forward to some new/upcoming releases from some old favourites. Lastly, we looked forward to Monday’s Steve Earle/Allison Moorer concert by looking ahead at Allison’s great new album, which looks back on some old classics, and we looked back at some of the great work Steve Earle has done with others

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Music Month in Manitoba continues with one of the most solid weeks of shows we’ve seen in a very long time. It kicks off this afternoon with Hayes Carll playing live at Candor. Can’t miss that one, so this show is pre-recorded. Hayes takes the stage again tonight opening for Corb Lund. Then, Brock Zeman & Dan Walsh are back, a stellar Townes Van Zandt tribute show on Friday, then Saturday, it’s Stephen Fearing & Oh Susanna for goodness sake! How could we possibly think of anything but shows on a week like that?

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part 2
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Episode #250

Some requests & dedications started us off on the right track. Then, it’s Oscar night tonight and a couple of movies with great soundtracks are up for some big awards, so we heard some great movie music. Following that, we look ahead to March, which is music month with an outstanding lineup of shows, kicking off with John Wort Hannam & Twilight Hotel on Friday (which is technically February, but who’s counting), then Josh Ritter and Two Hours Traffic on Saturday. And that’s only the beginning!

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Download this episode (right click and save)

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

2:00pm – 2:30pm

February – Jim Bryson – The Occasionals – CDN
Alejandro Escovedo – Castanets – A Man Under the Influence
Alejandro Escovedo – Rhapsody – A Man Under the Influence
Eddi Reader – California – Angels & Electricity
Billy Bragg & Wilco – California Stars – Mermaid Avenue

2:30pm – 3:00pm

Two Thumbs Up! (movie music):
Barry Louis Polisar – All I Want Is You – Juno soundtrack
Michael Cera & Ellen Page – Anyone Else But You – Juno soundtrack
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova – Falling Slowly – Once soundtrack
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova – When Your Mind’s Made Up
Julie Miller – All My Tears – Songcatcher soundtrack
Matt Murphy – Worth a Song – (The Life and Hard Times of) Guy Terrifico soundtrack – CDN
Loudon Wainwright III – Grey in L.A. – Strange Weirdos: Music from and Inspired by the Film Knocked Up
Dolly Parton – Travelin’ Thru – Transamerica soundtrack

3:00pm – 3:30pm

upcoming shows:
John Wort Hannam – Scotsman’s Bluff – Pocket Full of Holes – CDN
John Wort Hannam – Church of the Long Grass – Dynamite & Dozers – CDN
John Wort Hannam – Two-Bit Suit – recorded live on UMFM – CDN
John Wort Hannam – Infantry Man – recorded live on UMFM – CDN
Twilight Hotel – No Place for a Woman – recorded live on UMFM – CDN – WPG
Twilight Hotel – Slumber Queen – Highway Prayer – CDN – WPG

3:30pm – 4:00pm

Josh Ritter – Lawrence, KS – Golden Age of Radio
Josh Ritter – Snow Is Gone – Hello Starling
Josh Ritter – Girl in the War – The Animal Years
Josh Ritter – Blame It on the Tetons – Girl in the War digital EP
Josh Ritter – Right Moves – The Historical Conquests of
Two Hours Traffic – Jezebel – Isolator EP

Fred Eaglesmith – Codeine – live recording – CDN

Episode #249 – One for Willie P.

A show I wish I never had to do. Yesterday, one of the true guiding lights of this show went out, as Canada’s greatest songwriter of all time, Willie P Bennett died. His songs and spirit will live on forever, but it’s sad to think that we’ll never see him or hear from him again. In memory of him, two hours of memories and music from the man, including Willie originals, Willie covers, a song about Willie, songs featuring Willie, and Willie live. We heard from friends like Stephen Fearing, Scott Nolan, Colin Linden, and Willie’s longtime boss, bandmate, and friend, Fred Eaglesmith.

Push on, you weary soul…

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Download this episode (right click and save)

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

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Willie P. Bennett – Willie’s Diamond Joe – Tryin’ to Start Out Clean – CDN
Willie P. Bennett – Storm Clouds – Hobo’s Taunt – CDN
Willie P. Bennett – Pens and Paper – Blackie and the Rodeo King – CDN
Willie P. Bennett – Patience of a Working Man – The Lucky Ones – CDN
Willie P. Bennett – Push On – Take My Own Advice – CDN
Willie P. Bennett – Last Word – Heartstrings – CDN
Willie P. Bennett – Stardust – live recording – CDN

2:30pm – 3:00pm

Stephen Fearing interview clip

Stephen Fearing – The Lucky Ones – recorded live on UMFM – CDN
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings – Lace and Pretty Flowers – High or Hurtin’: The Songs of Willie P. Bennett – CDN
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings – Has Anyone Seen My Baby Here Tonight? – High or Hurtin’: The Songs of Willie P. Bennett – CDN
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings – Sometimes It Comes So Easy – Let’s Frolic Again – CDN

3:00pm – 3:30pm

Prairie Oyster – Goodbye, So Long, Hello – String of Pearls – CDN
Stan Rogers – Music in your Eyes – From Coffee House to Concert Hall – CDN

Scott Nolan interview clip

Scott Nolan – Drive Day – live recording – CDN – WPG
Fred Eaglesmith interview clip
Fred Eaglesmith – Your Sister Cried – live recording – CDN
Fred Eaglesmith – I’m Just Dreaming – live recording – CDN

3:30pm – 4:00pm

Fred Eaglesmith – Codeine – Dusty – CDN
Willie P. Bennett – One Vessel – live recording – CDN
Willie P. Bennett – Brave Wings – live recording – CDN
Willie P. Bennett – Sunset Pendulum – live recording – CDN

Colin Linden interview clip

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings – Willie’s Diamond Joe – Bark – CDN

Episode #248

Even though it’s February and it’s miserable outside, we’re in a bit of a celebratory mood this week. Long time listener Allison is celebrating a birthday, the greatest little store in town, Candor is celebrating the first anniversary of their amazing grand opening show, and The King of Fundrive, CKUW’s Stu Reid, is putting together the posters and the prize packs for his annual plea to keep the station on air, and this year, he’s invited me down to be a Phone Troll! All this, and, it’s Valentine’s Day coming up and for once I’ve actually got something to celebrate on that silly day.

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Download this episode (right click and save)

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

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Paul Kelly – Before Too Long – A-Z live downloads
Paul Kelly – Won’t You Come Around – Ways & Means
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings – Driftin’ Snow – High or Hurtin’ – CDN
Clem Snide – All Green – Soft Spot
Geoff Berner – Today Is Your Birthday – recorded live on UMFM – CDN
NQ Arbuckle – Happy Birthday – Hanging the Battle Scarred Pinata – CDN

2:30pm – 3:00pm

Jesse Denatale – Pretty Boy Floyd – recorded live at Candor
Jesse Denatale – Soul Parade – recorded live on UMFM
Matt Epp – She’s High Water – recorded live on UMFM – CDN – WPG
Loudon Wainwright III – Daughter – Strange Weirdos: Music from and Inspired by the Film Knocked Up

Candor interview

3:00pm – 3:30pm

Townes Van Zandt – Flyin’ Shoes – Legend
Blaze Foley – Clay Pigeons – Live at the Austin Outhouse
Dustin Bentall & Romi Mayes – Crash Hard – recorded live on UMFM – CDN
Romi Mayes – Willie’s Diamond Joe – TwangTrust Broadcasts 1999-2007 – CDN – WPG

3:30pm – 4:00pm

Lucinda Williams – Right in Time – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Steve Earle – Satellite Radio – Washington Square Serenade
Bruce Springsteen – Pay Me My Money Down – We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions
Paul MacLeod – Money – Bright Eyes Fade – CDN
Skydiggers – Radio Waves – Road Radio – CDN
Steve Earle – Sparkle & Shine – Washington Square Serenade
Jack Johnson – Broken – Sing-a-longs and Lullabies for the Film: Curious George

Episode #247

Some new music, a trip into the TTBTGH mail bag for some recent CD submissions, and a whole lot of great music in this super-sized episode, as Bluegrass Guy couldn’t make it in so we kept on going until we started to run out of steam after 2.5 hours!

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Download this episode (right click and save)

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

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Josh Ritter – Bright Smile – Hello Starling
Kathleen Edwards – The Cheapest Key – Asking for Flowers – CDN
Kathleen Edwards – Copied Keys – Back to Me – CDN
Colin Linden – Skeleton Key – Big Mouth – CDN
Ox – Brand New Key – Dust Bowl Ballads – CDN
Fred Eaglesmith – Here’s the Keys – Drive in Movie – CDN
Slaid Cleaves – Key Chain – Broke Down

2:30pm – 3:00pm

Brandi Carlile – The Times They Are a Changin’ – Serve2: Fighting Hunger & Poverty
Bob Dylan – The Ballad of Hollis Brown – Serve2: Fighting Hunger & Poverty
Bruce Springsteen – The Ghost of Tom Joad – Serve2: Fighting Hunger & Poverty
Gary Louris – She Only Calls Me on Sundays – Vagabonds
The Jayhawks – Waiting for the Sun – Hollywood Town Hall
The Jayhawks – Tailspin – Rainy Day Music

3:00pm – 3:30pm

James Murdoch – Get What You Deserve – In Transit – CDN
Romantica – Queen of Hearts – America
Ray Bonneville – Crow John – Goin’ by Feel
Steve Dawson – Walkin’ Down the Line – Waiting for the Lights to Come Up – CDN
Gillian Welch – One More Dollar – Revival
Kym Tuvim – Birdsong – Nothing Sweet Nothing

3:30pm – 4:00pm

Sally Spring – I Can’t Understand Why – Mockingbird
Whiskeytown – Jacksonville Skyline – Pneumonia
Tracy Grammer – The Waking Hour – Book of Sparrows
David Ross Macdonald – Easier Said – Knuckled Brass and Bone
Brock Tyler – The Devil’s on Horseback – Unclosing – CDN
Joe Purdy – Why You – Only Four Seasons
Jason Collett – No Redemption Song – Here’s to Being Here – CDN
Chris Neufeld – Told a Joke – Colorado Low – CDN – WPG

4:00pm – 4:30pm

The Brothers Cosmoline – Motel 6 – Songs of Work & Freedom – CDN
The Brothers Cosmoline – Oh Caroline – Motel 6 – Songs of Work & Freedom – CDN
Ken Whiteley – That’s When I Need a Song – One World Dance – CDN
Ox – QB – Dust Bowl Ballads – CDN
Levon Helm – Wide River to Cross – Dirt Farmer
Melwood Cutlery – Ballad of the Moonlight Lady – Campfire – CDN
Harry Manx – Only then will your House Be Blessed – Wise and Otherwise – CDN

Episode #246

Pretaped this week as I’m off on vacation in Florida. In honour of that, a few songs related to that journey.

There are a couple of great shows coming up this week, starting off with a lovely lady named Kim Barlow who hails from the Yukon but is visiting us on Tuesday, January 29 at the West End. We checked out some of her great material.

Then after that, on Thursday, January 31, one of my favourite live performers and one of the most powerful and passionate singer/songwriters alive today, Martyn Joseph returns to Winnipeg. I’ve interviewed Martyn a number of times but it was shocking to learn that it’s been almost 4 years since I talked to him last in February of 2004. I can’t be here to interview him live this week, so we listened back to that interview.

Download this episode (right click and save)

Download this episode (right click and save)

Download this episode (right click and save)

Download this episode (right click and save)

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

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Skydiggers/Cash Brothers – I’m Coming Home – Skydiggers/Cash Brothers – CDN
Patty Griffin – Florida – Impossible Dream
Iron & Wine – Sunset Soon Forgotten – Our Endless Numbered Days
The Waltons – Sunshine – Lik My Trakter – CDN
Joe Purdy – Cinderella & the A Train – Only Four Seasons
Eliza Gilkyson – Bare Necessities – Your Town Tonight

2:30pm – 3:00pm

Kim Barlow – Things I Miss – Champ – CDN
Kim Barlow – Slim Pickins – luckyburden – CDN
Kim Barlow – Lonely Mountain – luckyburden – CDN
Kim Barlow – Waterfall – Gingerbread – CDN
Sarah Harmer – Home Soon (the cherry song) – Sweetheart – CDN
Sarah Harmer – Alabaster – live recording – CDN

3:00pm – 3:30pm

Martyn Joseph – Cardiff Bay – Thunder and rainbows (the best we could find 1988-2000)
Martyn Joseph – One of Us – Thunder and rainbows (the best we could find 1988-2000)
Martyn Joseph – Call It Democracy – Run to Cover
Martyn Joseph – How Did We End Up Here – Deep Blue
Martyn Joseph – Things that We Have Carried Here – Vegas

3:30pm – 4:00pm

Martyn Joseph – Wake Me Up – Whoever It Was that Brought Me Here Will Have to Take Me Home
Martyn Joseph interview
Martyn Joseph – Whoever It Was that Brought Me Here Will Have to Take Me Home
Martyn Joseph – Vegas – Vegas

Episode #245

If you’ve become reliant upon the podcasts to listen to the show, this week is a reminder that listening live is always best if you can manage. The fancy-pants machine that records our broadcasts for the CRTC and which I use to make my podcasts wasn’t working (don’t tell the CRTC that), so this great episode lives on only in our memory…

Another show with no real rhyme or reason, just solid music. We started off looking ahead to the upcoming Blue Rodeo/Luke Doucet show, talked a bit about my upcoming trip, but other than that, it was just whatever good songs were requested or I could think of!

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

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Luke Doucet and the White Falcon – Blood’s Too Rich – Blood’s Too Rich – CDN
Luke Doucet – It’s not the Liquor I Miss – Broken (and other Rogue States ) – CDN
Veal – Mitzi’s – Embattled Hearts – CDN
Luke Doucet – Outlaws – Aloha Manitoba – CDN
Blue Rodeo – Heart Like Mine – Outskirts – CDN
Blue Rodeo – Restless – Lost Together – CDN

2:30pm – 3:00pm

Blue Rodeo – ’til I Gain Control Again – Five Days in July – CDN
Jimmy Lafave – That’s the Way It Goes – Cimarron Manifesto
Jimmy Lafave – Buffalo Return to the Plain – Buffalo Return to the Plain
The Be Good Tanyas – Light Enough to Travel – Blue Horse – CDN
Hayes Carll – Hey Baby, Where You Been – Little Rock
Johnny Cash – I Walk the Line – The Legend
Rodney Crowell – I Walk the Line (Revisited) – The Houston Kid

3:00pm – 3:30pm

Gurf Morlix – Diamonds to Dust – Diamonds to Dust
John Hiatt – Crossing Muddy Waters – Crossing Muddy Waters
Lyle Lovett – Step Inside this House – Step Inside this House
Greg Brown – Sleeper – Dream Cafe
Kate Maki – Blue Morning – On High – CDN

3:30pm – 4:00pm

Ox – Blue Morning – Dust Bowl Revival – CDN
Ox – Going Away – Dust Bowl Revival leftovers – CDN
Carolyn Mark – Happy 2B Flying Away – Nothing Is Free – CDN
The Sadies – Good Flying Day – In Concert Vol. 1
The Flying Burrito Brothers – Hot Burrito #2 – Sacred Hearts and Fallen Angels: The Gram Parsons Anthology
Robbie Fulks – I Never Did Like Planes – Georgia Hard
Robbie Fulks – Leave it to a Loser – Georgia Hard

Episode #244

Sometimes you show up without a real plan and let things roll, and if you’re really lucky, like I think I was today, you get into it and end up with a pretty solid show. Talking about Robbie Fulks’ son got us off to a rockin’ start, so we ran with it and ended up rocking a bit more than we sometimes do, but with a playlist like this, perhaps we should more often! 2 hours of rockin’ goodness!

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Download this episode (right click and save)

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

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Robbie Fulks – Countrier than Thou – Georgia Hard
Robbie Fulks – Roots Rock Weirdos – The Very Best of Robbie Fulks
Robbie Fulks – Let’s Kill Saturday Night – Let’s Kill Saturday Night
The Rocky Fortune – Hot Black Blood – Back of the Beeside – CDN
The Rocky Fortune – Drop Me in the Well – Sway – CDN
Buddy Miller – Water When the Well Is Dry – Midnight & Lonesome
Buddy Miller – 100 Million Little Bombs – Poison Love

2:30pm – 3:00pm

The Gourds – Lower 48 – Blood of the Ram
James McMurtry – Childish Things – Childish Things
James McMurtry – Safe Side – Candyland
Kathleen Edwards – Westby – Failer – CDN
Kathleen Edwards – What Are You Waiting For? – Back to Me – CDN
Jim Bryson – Feel Much Better – The North Side Benches – CDN

3:00pm – 3:30pm

NQ Arbuckle – Skydive Home – Hanging the Battle Scarred Pinata – CDN
NQ Arbuckle – Saskatoon – live recording – CDN
Luke Doucet and the White Falcon – First Day (in the new hometown) – Blood’s Too Rich – CDN
Melissa McClelland – Passenger 24 – Thumbelina’s One Night Stand – CDN
Richard Shindell – Confession – Somewhere Near Paterson

3:30pm – 4:00pm

Richard Shindell – Waist Deep in the Big Muddy – Vuelta
Cry Cry Cry – Shades of Gray – Cry Cry Cry
Richard Shindell – Lawrence, KS – South of Delia
Josh Ritter – Good Man – The Animal Years
Bob Schneider – Good Luck – Galaxy Kings
Jill Barber – In Perfect Time – A Note to Follow So – CDN

Episode #243

Just when you think you’ve settled on your Best of the year list, you spend some more time with a few late-comers and rethink the whole darn thing, as a few overlooked 2007 contenders proved off the top of the show.

Then, a brief sappy interlude.

With all of the Best of the year preparations and whatnot, a lot of new music gets sadly overlooked, but now that things are calm again, it’s time to dig into the TTBTGH mailbag for a look at a few fine discs that have been sent our way as of late.

Then, a live, in-studio visit by one of Winnipeg’s best, and the artist responsible for one of the best discs of 2007, Mr. Scott Nolan, who dropped by to chat and play some amazing new songs. Somehow, he just gets better, and he was damn good to start out with!

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Download this episode (right click and save)

Download this episode (right click and save)

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

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Serena Ryder – Calling to Say – digital single – CDN
Serena Ryder – Told You in a Whispered Song – Told You in a Whispered Song EP – CDN
Serena Ryder – Weak in the Knees – Told You in a Whispered Song EP – CDN
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – If I Am a Stranger – Follow the Lights
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Rich Woman – Raising Sand
Jack Johnson – Broken – Sing-a-longs and Lullabies for the Film: Curious George

2:30pm – 3:00pm

Jack Johnson – Better Together – In Between Dreams
Jim Henry – Baby’s Coming Home – Jacksonville
Andy Swan – Can I Pay You with Sunshine? – Ottawa – CDN
Andy Swan – No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service – Ottawa – CDN
Jon Brooks – Tajik Boy – Ours and the Shepherds – CDN
Scott Orr – Wondergirl – Miles from Today – CDN
Mike Macdonald and The Widow Makers – Never Had the Chance – Gravel Roads and Skyscrapers – CDN
Dave Clarke – In My Home Town – Reunion – CDN

3:00pm – 3:30pm

Scott Nolan – Settled Down – Receiver / Reflector – CDN – WPG
Scott Nolan interview
Scott Nolan – Drive Day – live recording – CDN – WPG

3:30pm – 4:00pm

Scott Nolan – Somewhere Near Regina – live performance – CDN – WPG
Scott Nolan – Ninety Miles an Hour – live performance – CDN – WPG
Scott Nolan – All Over Now – Receiver / Reflector – CDN – WPG