2017 started off not much better than 2016, when the sad news of one of Canada’s iconic music venues, Toronto’s Hugh’s Room, has closed. We played some songs in honour of Hugh’s shows past and uncertain future. That, and the end-of-holidays return to work, gave us a little taste of The Darkness, which was soon resolved by an exciting upcoming concert and a review of some great stuff from 2016, and more!

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

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Steve Forbert – Romeo’s Tune – Jackrabbit Slim
Steve Forbert – Song for Katrina – Little Stevie Orbit
Jory Nash – Luger – The Many Hats of – CDN
Gordon Lightfoot – The Way I Feel – Songbook – CDN
Leeroy Stagger – Sundown – Dream It all Away Tour EP – CDN

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Mike June – The Darkness – Poor Man’s Bible
Rose Cousins – The Darkness – We Have Made a Spark – CDN
Blue Rodeo – In the Darkness – In our Nature – CDN
The Lowest of the Low – Eternal Fatalist – Shakespeare my Butt – CDN
Ron Hawkins – Chrome – Spit Sputter Sparkle – CDN
Blue Rodeo – Disappear – Live at Massey Hall – CDN

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Blue Rodeo – ’til I Gain Control Again – Five Days in July – CDN
Blue Rodeo – 5 Will Get You Six – Outskirts – CDN
Lucinda Williams – Hickory Wind – The Life & Songs of Emmylou Harris
Holly Williams – Settle Down – Southern Family
Harrow Fair – Told a Lie to my Heart – Call to Arms – CDN
Amanda Rheuaume – Blood from a Stone – Holding Patterns – CDN

3:30 – 4:00 pm

The High Bar Gang – Long Lonesome Highway Blues – Someday the Heart will Trouble the Mind – CDN
Amanda Shires – The Way It Dimmed – My Piece of Land
Rob Waddell – Gloria – Everything Is from now On – CDN
Trevor Alguire – My Sweet Rosetta – Perish the Light – CDN
Shannon Lyon – I Might just Stay Home – My Throat Is Soar – CDN
Rodney Crowell – It ain’t Over yet – Close Ties
Rodney Crowell – Still Learning How to Fly – Fate’s Right Hand

The latest in our annual series of holiday marathons where we take over some of the extra time in the schedule and stretch out and get deep into some themes and songs we don’t listen to often. It’s January 1, and the anniversary of the deaths of two of the most significant writers of all time, so tributes to Hank Williams and Townes Van Zandt to start things off. 2016 was a pretty ruthless year when it came to killing off a lot of important artists, so we take time to remember a few of those who might have been overshadowed by bigger names. We’re also working hard, trying to narrow down the Best of 2016 list, so we listen to some favourites from the year and continue to shape the official list.

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

12:30 – 1:00 pm

Hank Done It this Way:
Hank Williams – I’ll Never Get Out of this World Alive – The Ultimate Collection
Paul Kelly and Charlie Owen – Angel of Death – Death’s Dateless Night
Neko Case – Alone and Forsaken – Canadian Amp
Hank Williams – I’m so Lonesome I could Cry – The Ultimate Collection
Ryan Adams – Lovesick Blues – Hank Williams: Timeless
Mary Gauthier – Lost Highway – Live on the Air: 1998-2004
Buck Owens – Hey, Good Lookin’ – Honky Tonk Man: Buck Sings Country Classics
Serena Ryder and the Beauties – Ramblin’ Man – Serena Ryder and the Beauties – CDN
The Secret Sisters – Why Don’t You Love Me – The Secret Sisters

1:00 – 1:30 pm

The Co-Dependents – Long Gone Lonesome Blues – Live Recording Event – CDN
Billy Cowsill – Your Cheatin’ Heart – Sorrow Bound: Hank Williams Re-Examined
Jerry Jeff Walker – I Feel Like Hank Williams Tonight – Live at Gruene Hall
Kris Kristofferson – If You Don’t Like Hank Williams – The Essential
Johnny Cash – The Night Hank Williams Came to Town – The Legend
The Roadside Graves – Hank Williams – We Can Take Care of Ourselves
Guy Clark – Hank Williams Said It Best – Dublin Blues

1:30 – 2:00 pm

A Tribute to Townes:
Guy Clark – To Live’s to Fly – Poet: A Tribute to Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt – Pancho and Lefty – The Late Great Townes Van Zandt
Shannon Lyon – If I Needed You – Sorrow & Solitude – CDN
The Lemonheads – Waitin’ Around to Die – Varshons
Steve Earle – Tecumseh Valley – Train a Comin’
Kate Maki – I’ll Be Here in the Morning – Introducing Townes Van Zandt Via The Great Unknown – CDN
Townes Van Zandt – Rake – Delta Momma Blues

2:00 – 2:30 pm

The 2016 Death Toll:
Guy Clark – Let Him Roll – Old No. 1
The Snakehandlers – People who Died – Country Rock is Neither
Lonnie Mack – Wham! – The Wham of that Memphis Man!
Lonnie Mack – Why – The Wham of that Memphis Man!
Scott Nolan – One Little Spark – Silverhill – CDN

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Paul MacLeod – Cruelty – Tell the Band to Go Home – CDN
Paul MacLeod – Ghosts – Close and Play – CDN
Paul MacLeod – Lies – Bright Eyes Fade – CDN
Paul MacLeod – Another White Band – Gauge – CDN
Penny Lang – Where Will You Be? – Somebody Else – CDN
Energy Orchard – The House Must Fall – Energy Orchard
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – How Long Do I Have to Wait for You? – Naturally

3:00 – 3:30 pm

2016 in review:
Liam Corcoran – Hand It to You – Behind that big red Curtain: A Tribute to Al Tuck – CDN
Al Tuck – Chancellor – single – CDN
Buddy Miller – One of these Days – The Life & Songs of Emmylou Harris
Alejandro Escovedo – Sunday Morning Feeling – Burn Something Beautiful
Amanda Shires – My Love (The Storm) – My Piece of Land
Jason Isbell – God Is a working Man – Southern Family

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings – Live by the Song (with Rodney Crowell) – Kings and Kings – CDN
Brock Zeman – Drinks (the Clown) – The Carnival Is back in Town – CDN
Mayhemingways – Hunter St. Blues – Hunter St. Blues – CDN
Corin Raymond – Under the Belly of the Night – Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams – CDN
Colleen Brown – I Can’t Wrap my Heart around It – Seasons are Circling – CDN
Alex Dezen – A Little less like Hell – Alex Dezen

Christmas Day is the perfect time to celebrate with family and friends, and great music, so we at the home office prepared a family Christmas special full of music that will make you laugh, celebrate, and feel a bit of joy on this blessed day. So to you & yours from me & mine, have a very merry Christmas!

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

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Wyckham Porteous – Christmas Day Song (feat. Sam Parton) – single – CDN
Kasey Chambers – Christmas Day – Bittersweet
Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill And The Little Hillbillies – Christmas Time – Little Kasey Chambers and The Lost Music
Chris Trapper – Christmas Ends A Day Too Soon – It’s Christmas Time
Robyn Hitchcock – The Day Before Boxing Day – The dB’s & Friends: Christmas Time Again!
Paul Kelly – How to Make Gravy – recorded live on UMFM
The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl – Fairytale of New York – The Very Best of the Pogues

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Robert Earl Keen – Merry Christmas from the Family – Merry Christmas from the Family
Robert Earl Keen – Happy Holiday Y’all – A Truer Christmas
Dolly Parton – The Little Drummer Boy – Home For Christmas
Belle Plaine – Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis – The Unrequited Love – CDN
Colleen Brown – Heading Home (ChristmasSong) – single – CDN
Chic Gamine – Noel (Au Coin De Portage Et Main) – Ho! Ho! Ho! Canada VI – CDN – WPG
Reid Jamieson – Pretty Paper – Songs For a Winter’s Night – CDN

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Idina Menzel & Michael Bublé – Baby It’s Cold Outside – Holiday Wishes – CDN
Jim Bryson – Half Price (featuring Amanada Rheaume) – Ho! Ho! Ho! Canada VI – CDN
The Rocky Fortune – Merry Boxing Day – single – CDN
NQ Arbuckle – Christmas in Hell – single – CDN
John Moreland & The Dust Bowl Souls – Christmas Lights – Everything The Hard Way
Weeping Tile – Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight) – live recording – CDN
Abigail Lapell and Laura Spink – Silent Night – home recording – CDN

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Ondine Chorus – Children, Go Where I Send Thee – Towards A Little Light – CDN
Boreal – Gotta Go – Winter’s Welcome – CDN
John Prine – A John Prine Christmas – A John Prine Christmas
David Myles – Santa Never Brings Me A Banjo – It’s Christmas! – CDN
Loudon Wainwright III – Christmas Morning – 40 Odd Years
Scott Miller – Skeptical Christmas – A Truer Xmas 2
Chip Taylor – Merry F’in Christmas – single
Skydiggers – Good King Wenceslas – Still Restless The Lost Tapes – CDN

Today a real treat, as our friend Del Barber drops in for an entire show of conversation, spinning a few favourites, and performing some brand new songs!

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

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Paul Kelly – How to Make Gravy – live recording

Del Barber interview

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Greg Brown – Cold & Dark & Wet – The Evening Call
John Prine – Silent Night all Day Long – A John Prine Christmas
Joel Plaskett – Jesus Christ It’s Christmas Again! – live recording – CDN

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Brent Cobb – Black Crow – Shine on Rainy Day
The Brothers Comatose – To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) – The Covers, Vol. 2
John Hiatt – Crossing Muddy Waters – Crossing Muddy Waters
Del Barber – Farewell, God Bless You, Goodbye – Prairieography – CDN – WPG
Del Barber – Everyday Life – live performance – CDN – WPG
Del Barber – Easy Way Out – live performance – CDN – WPG

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Del Barber – Lucky Prairie Stars – live performance – CDN – WPG
Del Barber – Clay Pigeons – live performance – CDN – WPG

Today we kick things off in the (unorthodox) holiday spirit, before pausing to consider some contenders for the Best of 2016 list. We also pay a long overdue tribute to the late, great Bap Kennedy, and play a bunch of great stuff that we haven’t heard in a while!

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

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Rueben de Groot – Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow – Christmas Is For Boys And Girls! – CDN
Luther Wright & The Wrongs – Blue Christmas – Christmas Is For Boys And Girls! – CDN
Chris Trapper – Black and Blue Christmas – It’s Christmas Time
Warp Drive – Christmas Time (Is Religiously Complicated) – single
Beards (featuring Erin Rae) – Incarcerated Christmas – Christmas
Abbie Gardner – We Need a Little Christmas (feat. Anthony da Costa) – Naughty and Nice
Mayhemingways – Hunter St. Blues – Hunter St. Blues – CDN
BJ Barham – Reidsville – Rockingham

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Shannon Lyon – I Might Just Stay Home – My Throat Is Sore – CDN
Mandolin Orange – Lonesome Whistle – Blindfaller
Kieran Kane – The Girl from Oklahoma – Unguarded Moments
Dylan LeBlanc – Easy Way Out – Cautionary Tale
Jack Marks – Wicked Moon – Wicked Moon – CDN
Dori Freeman – Go On Lovin’ – Dori Freeman
Rob Vaarmeyer – Tantric Tobogganing – Back to Normal – CDN – WPG

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Energy Orchard – The House Must Fall – Energy Orchard
Bap Kennedy – Rock and Roll Heaven – Big Picture
Bap Kennedy – Long Time a Comin’ – Domestic Blues
Bap Kennedy – Elvis Hank and Me – Lonely Street
Bap Kennedy – Ballad of Neil Armstrong – Howl On
Kasey Anderson – Home – Nowhere Nights
Nels Andrews – Jesse’s Mom – Jesse’s Mom

3:30 – 4:00 pm

John Fullbright – Moving – From The Ground Up
Meg Hutchinson – Ready – Come Up Full
Caroline Herring – Traveling Shoes – Camilla
Stan Rogers – California – Northwest Passage – CDN
Stan Rogers – Song Of The Cradle – Folkscene Collection Volume Two – CDN
David Wiffen – One Step – David Wiffen – CDN
David Wiffen – I’ve Got My Ticket – David Wiffen – CDN

Today we look back at some of the winners of last night’s Canadian Folk Music Awards, we help our old friend Michael Johnston celebrate 25 years of music, we play some songs for the season, take a look at the already impressive 2017 Static Roots Festival lineup, and play a few of Big D’s 2016 favourites!

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

2:00 – 2:30 pm

David Francey – Big Texas Moon – Empty Train – CDN
Corin Raymond – Under the Belly of the Night – Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams – CDN
Donovan Woods – My Good Friends – Hard Settle, Ain’t Troubled – CDN
Jadea Kelly – Mercy – Love & Lust – CDN
Kaia Kater – Harvest and the Plough – Nine Pin – CDN
The Andrew Collins Trio – And It Was Good – And It Was Good – CDN

2:30 – 3:00 pm

King Creosote + Michael Johnston – Supermoon – The Bound of the Red Deer – CDN
Michael Johnston & Andy Maize – Stay Awake – These Are our Songs – CDN
Michael Johnston – My Curious Heart – Curious Heart – CDN
Skydiggers – I’ll Be Home – Skydiggers – CDN
Skydiggers – 80 Odd Hours – Just Over this Mountain – CDN
The Cash Brothers – Nebraska – How Was Tomorrow? – CDN
Slydiggers – Ramblin’ On – She Comes into the Room – CDN
The Cash Brothers – Night Shift Guru – How Was Tomorrow? – CDN

3:00 – 3:30 pm

David Myles – Santa Never Brings Me a Banjo – It’s Christmas – CDN
Hank Snow – The Reindeer Boogie – Christmas with Hank Snow – CDN
Booker T & The MG’s – Merry Christmas Baby – In the Christmas Spirit
Good Lovelies – Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas) – Under the Mistletoe – CDN
Good Lovelies – Waiting for You – Burn the Plan – CDN
Good Lovelies – Down. Down, Down – Good Lovelies – CDN
John Blek & The Rats – Calling Out my Name – Leave your Love at the Door
John Blek & The Rats – Wandering Child – Borders

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Erin Rae & The Meanwhiles – Monticello – Soon Enough
Jack Marks – Song for Me – Blues like These – CDN
Jim Bryson – Rust and Fade – Somewhere We Will Find our Place – CDN
Malojian – I’ll Be Alright – I’ll Be Alright
Aaron Lee Tasjan – Memphis Rain – Silver Tears
The Loved – The One You Want – The Loved
Peter Bruntnell – Mr. Sunshine – Nos Da Comrade

Last night I witnessed a really fun and memorable evening of songs about love. It was full of many great original songs, but also a whole bunch of terrific covers. Today we go through the highlight reel and hear a bunch of the original versions of songs that were performed there. Also, we’ve got some requests, great new music, and an exciting upcoming show to preview!

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

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Corin Raymond – I Wish I Was in Love – There Will Always Be a Small Time – CDN
Richard Thompson – Keep your Distance – Rumor and Sigh
John Moreland – Break my Heart Sweetly – In the Throes
Leonard Cohen – Leaving the Table – You Want It Darker – CDN
Patty Griffin – Getting Ready – Children Running Through

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Bob Dylan – Don’t Think Twice It’s all right – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton – The Last Thing on my Mind – Dolly
Julie Miller – Take Me Back – Blue Pony
Patsy Cline – You Belong to Me – The Angels Sing Merry Christmas
Lou Reed – Perfect Day – Transformer
John Prine – In Spite of Ourselves (w/Iris DeMent) – In Person & On Stage
Van Morrison – Into the Mystic – Moondance
Van Morrison – If I Ever Needed Someone – His Band and the Street Choir

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Brandi Carlile – Sweet Home – live recording
Old Crow Medicine Show – Sweet Amarillo – Remedy
Gillian Welch – 455 Rocket (Revival Outtake) – Boots No. 1: The Official Revival Bootleg
NQ Arbuckle – Punk Rocker – Live at the Dakota – CDN
David Olney – Upside Down – Holiday in Holland

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Brock Zeman – 50 Dollar Bill – The Pinball Sessions – CDN
C.R. Avery – The Boxer who just Returned from London – Magic Hour Sailor Songs – CDN
C.R. Avery – Live a Little – Midnight Goldmining – CDN
C.R. Avery – Against the World – All the Angels Didn’t Scare Me – CDN
Gregory Alan Isakov – Saint Valentine – The Weatherman
Gregory Alan Isakov – That Moon Song – This Empty Northern Hemisphere

This weekend yet another amazing musician took up residence in the rock ‘n’ roll graveyard, when the amazing Sharon Jones lost her long battle with cancer. Hey, 2016, ENOUGH ALREADY! Luckily, we’ve got some great new music, a couple of requests, and some exciting upcoming shows to preview. And to promote one of the most interesting shows, one of the couples involved with next weekend’s “An Evening with the Bickersons,” newlyweds Jessee Havey and Nathaniel Good, now known as Nation of Two, stopped by to chat about it, their recent wedding, and to perform live on-air for the very first time anywhere!

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

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Colleen Brown – I Can’t Wrap my Heart Around It – Seasons Are Circling – CDN
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – How Long Do I Have to Wait for You? – Naturally
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – How Do I Let a Good Man Down? – Naturally
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Tell Me – 100 Days, 100 Nights
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours – Sweetheart 2014
Matt Epp – The Sound (w/Faouzia) – single – CDN

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Joe Nolan – Broken Angel – single – CDN
Anne Janelle – I Didn’t Want to Break It – I Didn’t Want to Break It – CDN
King Creosote + Michael Johnston – Will You Wait for Me? – The Bound of the Red Deer – CDN
Leonard Cohen – Chelsea Hotel No. 2 – The Best Of – CDN
Gillian Welch – Dear Someone – Time (The Revelator)
100 Mile House – Hidden Springs – Hireath – CDN
Rueben de Groot – Be my Baby – Rocket Surgery – CDN

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Colleen Brown – Love You Baby – Foot in Heart – CDN
Mike O’Neill – Are We Waiting? – What Happens Now? – CDN
Last Ditch on the Left – Anjalee – Last Ditch on the Left – CDN – WPG
The Duhks – Suffer No Fools – Beyond the Blue – CDN – WPG

Nation of Two interview

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Nation of Two – If You Need to – live performance – CDN – WPG
Nation of Two – Simple and Sober – live performance – CDN – WPG
Nation of Two – Spirit in Mind – live performance – CDN – WPG

Any self-respecting singer/songwriter show had better take note of the passing of one of the true giants of songwriting, so much of today’s show is devoted to the passing of Leonard Cohen and his lasting legacy. But he’s not the only one, as we had to pay our respects to the late Leon Russell, as well. But, dwelling on deaths isn’t all we do here, so we threw a 70th birthday party for Ray Wylie Hubbard, talked about a wortwhile fundraiser going on soon, and played some great new music!

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

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Reid Jamieson – Dear Leonard – Dear Leonard: The Cohen Collection – CDN
Lynn Jackson – Tower of Song – Sweet Relief – CDN
Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris – Sisters of Mercy – Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions
Ron Sexsmith – Heart with no Companion – Ron Sexsmith – CDN
The Webb Sisters – If It Be your Will – Comes in Twos
Fred Eaglesmith – Hallelujah – CMT Christmas – CDN
Ane Brun – Ain’t no Cure for Love – Rarities

2:30 – 3:00 pm

The Civil Wars – Dance Me to the End of Love – Barton Hollow (bonus track)
Johnny Cash – Bird on a Wire – Unearthed V
Jennifer Warnes – Song for Bernadette – Famous Blue Raincoat
The Lemonheads – That’s No Way to Say Goodbye (with Liv Tyler) – Varshons
Geoff Berner – Queen Victoria – The Wedding Dance of the Widow Bride – CDN
Concrete Blonde – Everybody Knows – Recollection
Chris Koster – I’m Your Man – 7th Fire Records 7″ Series – CDN

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Old Man Luedecke – Closing Time – The Bard of Montreal – CDN
The Fuse – Getting Quiet Now – Brilliant Sun – CDN – WPG
Hatcher-Briggs – Boy Chief Hill – Getting There from Here – CDN – WPG
Ray Wylie Hubbard – Snake Farm – Snake Farm
Ray Wylie Hubbard – The Messenger – Loco Gringos Lament
Ray Wylie Hubbard – The Rabbit – Snake Farm
Leon Russell – A Hard Rain’s a Gonna Fall – Retrospective

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Jimmy Lafave – Sweet Home Oklahoma – Road Novel
Owen Temple – Prince of Peace – Mountain Home
B.B. King – Hummingbird – Why I Sing the Blues
The Brothers Comatose – Dancing upon your Grave – City Painted Gold
Harrow Fair – Call to Arms – Call to Arms – CDN
Brock Zeman – Percy Jones – The Carnival Is Back in Town – CDN

A slightly abbreviated episode, but one that is jam-packed with memories of concerts past and visions of concerts future, including a conversation with Tony Furtado, who makes a rare Winnipeg appearance on November 11!

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

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Lucinda Williams – Jackson – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Colleen Brown – Stop Draggin’ my Heart Around (w/David Celia) – Seasons Are Circling – CDN
Rueben de Groot – Nine Inch Nails – live recording – CDN
Luther Wright & The Wrongs – The Parking Lot Song – live recording – CDN

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Steve Earle – Fearless Heart (live) – Guitar Town (reissue bonus disc)
John K Samson – Vampire Alberta Blues – Winter Wheat – CDN – WPG
The Weakerthans – Confessions of a Futon Revolutionist – Fallow – CDN – WPG
Tony Furtado – These Chains – These Chains
Tony Furtado – Jo Jo – The Bell
Tony Furtado – Dying Language – The Bell
Tony Furtado – Running Down a Dream – Bare Bones

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Tony Furtado – Broken Bell – The Bell
Tara Williamson – NY/LA – Songs to Keep Us Warm – CDN – WPG
Tara Williamson – The Prairies – Songs to Keep Us Warm – CDN – WPG
Craig Cardiff – Safe Here – Floods & Fires – CDN