It’s Weakerthans week in Winnipeg, as our greatest band is set to kick off 4 shows at different venues across town. While they are somewhat famous and maybe don’t need our help any more, there is no greater songwriter in our city (past or present), so it’s our duty to play a bunch of the greatest songs ever written in and about our town. But, that’s not the only exciting time of year approaching, it’s also Christmas, and we’ve got a batch of Christmas tunes that won’t make you nauseous. Also, some new songs, some winter songs, and some all-around good songs.

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Jim Bryson – Impaler – The Occasionals – CDN
Leeroy Stagger – Snowing in Nashville – Everything Is Real – CDN
Ruth Moody – Cold Outside – The Garden – CDN – WPG
The Head and the Heart – Winter Song – The Head and the Heart
Tanya Davis – Tra-la-la – Clocks and Hearts Keep Going – CDN
Shuyler Jansen – Wedding Band – Voice from the Lake – CDN
Steve Earle and Allison Moorer – After the Fire Is Gone – Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Matt Andersen – O Holy Night – The Spirit of Christmas – CDN
Matt Andersen – Hobo Christmas Train – The Spirit of Christmas – CDN
Oliver Schroer – Beneath the Ice, They Heard Bells… – Stuck on a Cold Steel Pole – CDN
Skydiggers – Good King Wenceslas – The Truth About Us – CDN
Good Lovelies – Maybe this Time – Under the Mistletoe – CDN
Ox – It’s Christmas Time Again – Silent Night and other Cowboy Songs

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Jim Bryson and the Weakerthans – Freeways in the Front Yard – The Falcon Lake Incident – CDN
The Weakerthans – Fallow – Fallow – CDN – WPG
The Weakerthans – None of the Above – Fallow – CDN – WPG
The Weakerthans – Confessions of a Futon Revolutionist (country style) – Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 3 – CDN – WPG
The Wakerthans – Ringing of Revolution – Return of the Read Menace – CDN – WPG

3:30 – 4:00 pm

The Weakerthans – Everything Must Go! – Left & Leaving – CDN – WPG
The Weakerthans – Pamphleteer – Left & Leaving – CDN – WPG
The Weakerthans – Watermark – Left & Leaving – CDN – WPG
The Weakerthans – Plea from a Cat Named Virtute – Reconstruction Site – CDN – WPG
The Weakerthans – A New Name for Everything – Reconstruction Site – CDN – WPG
John K Samson – Reconstruction Site – live recording – CDN – WPG
The Weakerthans – Night Windows – Reunion Tour – CDN –WPG

Pre-recorded this week as I’m off nerding it up at the big Lowest of the Low show in Toronto. Of course I can’t let another week go by without some more Low and without bragging about my part in the reissue of the greatest album of all time. A bunch of tributes to the greats this week (besides the Low), including a new tribute to The Band starring one of the long-time members, plus upcoming tribute shows to Tom Waits and John Lennon, and a whole bunch more!

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Jim Bryson – Sleeping in Toronto – The North Side Benches – CDN
The Lowest of the Low – Under the Carlaw Bridge – Shakespeare My Butt – CDN
The Lowest of the Low – Just About “The Only” Blues – Shakespeare My Butt – CDN
The Lowest of the Low – Henry Needs a New Pair of Shoes – Shakespeare My Butt – CDN
The Sadies – The Shape I’m In – Garth Hudson Presents a Canadian Celebration of The Band – CDN
Blue Rodeo – King Harvest – Garth Hudson Presents a Canadian Celebration of The Band – CDN

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Easily Amused – Walk Away – recorded live on UMFM – CDN – WPG
Easily Amused – Song for Belfast – Simple Stuff – CDN – WPG
Keith & Renee – But I Do – Detour – CDN – WPG
The Wailin’ Jennys – Heaven When I’m Home – recorded live on UMFM – CDN – WPG
Ruth Moody – Travellin’ Shoes – The Garden – CDN – WPG

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Ox – Christmas with the Band – Silent Night and other Cowboy Songs – CDN
Neko Case – Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis – New Coat of Paint
Tom Waits – I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You – Closing Time
Tom Waits – Hold On – Mule Variations
Tom Waits – Long Way Home – Orphans
Scott Nolan Band – Philipino Box Spring Hog – American Hotel – CDN – WPG

3:30 – 4:00 pm

The Brothers Cosmoline – No Reply – Songs of Work & Freedom – CDN
Wyckham Porteous – Please, Please Me – 3 a.m. – CDN
Brandi Carlile – All You Need Is Love – XOBC
Steve Earle – I’m Looking Through You – Train a Comin’
The Co-Dependents – The Ballad of John and Yoko – Live At The Mecca Café – Volume 2 – CDN
Nathaniel Mayer – I Found Out – I Just Want to Be Held
The Blue Shadows – If We Make It Through December – On The Floor Of Heaven – Deluxe Re-issue – CDN
Shannon Lyon – December Song – El Sol – CDN

We’re pre-recorded this week. We’ve got some great new music from the mailbag and beyond. We also take a look ahead at my dream come true weekend, which is happening next weekend in Toronto. That gets us a little nostalgic and we hop in the time machine to relive the 90s.

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Mike Plume – Mine All Mine (My Baby) – recorded live on UMFM – CDN
The Head and the Heart – Down in the Valley – The Head and the Heart
The Tallest Man on Earth – Tangle in this Trampled Wheat – Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird
The Tallest Man on Earth – Little River – Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird
Justin Townes Earle – One More Night in Brooklyn – Harlem River Blues
Russell deCarle – Don’t Ask the Question – Under the Big Big Sky –
Porkbelly Futures – Can’t Find My Way Back to You – The Crooked Road – CDN
Stellar Band of Neighbours – Do You Remember Me – Live at the Legion Hall – CDN

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Tanya Davis – Eulogy for You and Me – Clocks and Hearts Keep Going – CDN
Angela Desveaux – Wandering Eyes – Wandering Eyes – CDN
Jenny and Jonny – Animal – I’m Having Fun Now
The Details – The Original Mark – The Original Mark EP – CDN – WPG
Jen Lane – Today I Lost My Mind – For the Night – CDN

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Jim Bryson & The Weakerthans – Kissing Cousins – The Falcon Lake Incident – CDN
Jim Bryson – Without Piano – The Occasionals – CDN
Jim Bryson – Elizabeth – The North Side Benches – CDN
Jim Bryson – The Wishes Pile Up – Where the Bungalows Roam – CDN
The Weakerthans – My Favourite Chords – Left & Leaving – CDN – WPG
The Lowest of the Low – Rosy and Grey – Shakespeare My Butt – CDN
The Lowest of the Low – Letter from Bilbao – Shakespeare My Butt – CDN
The Lowest of the Low – Subversives – Shakespeare My Butt – CDN

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Rheostatics – California Dreamline – Whale Music – CDN
The Watchmen – Crazy Days – McLaren Furnace Room – CDN – WPG
Duck Shot Hunter – All This Time – Yum – CDN – WPG
Skydiggers – Just Before the Rain – Restless – CDN
Thomas Trio and the Red Albino – 142 Thru – Thomas Trio and the Red Albino – CDN
The Bourbon Tabernacle Choir – Ain’t It Better to Ignite – 1985-1995 – CDN

Our favourite co-host of all drops in for a visit, as Carter is along for the ride today. Together we kick off the Christmas season, we pay tribute to one of Winnipeg’s best bands of all time, The D. Rangers, who hang up the muckbucket this week, we pay tribute to the winners at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, and look at some upcoming shows and one exciting CD re-release. And, because last week’s miserable show was such a big hit with listeners, we play just a little bit more Sad Bastard Music.

Loudon Wainwright III – Suddenly, It’s Christmas – Career Moves
Paul Kelly – How to Make Gravy – The A to Z Recordings
Merle Haggard – If We Make It Through December – Live At Billy Bob’s Texas: Motorcycle Cowboy
Willie P. Bennett – Driftin’ Snow – Tryin’ to Start Out Clean – CDN
Romi Mayes, The D. Rangers, and David Essig – Fallin’ – Beverly Street – CDN – WPG

2:30 – 3:00

Romi Mayes and the Temporarily Employed – Comin’ Home Soon – The Living Room Sessions – CDN – WPG
Shuyler Jansen – Don’t Ask Why – Today’s Remains – CDN
D. Rangers – Viscosity Breakdown – D. Rangers – CDN – WPG
D. Rangers – We Stay High & Lonesome – We Stay High and Lonesome – CDN – WPG
D. Rangers – Love, Lust and Loneliness – The Paw-Paw Patch – CDN – WPG
John Wort Hannam – Requiem for a Small Town – Queen’s Hotel – CDN
Amelia Curran – The Mistress – Hunter, Hunter – CDN
Dala – Girl from the North Country – Girlsfrom the North Country – CDN

3:00 – 3:30

Rose Cousins – White Daisies – The Send Off – CDN
The Once – What Will You Be Building – The Once – CDN
Jill Barber – In Perfect Time – A Note to Follow So – CDN
Jill Barber – Hard Line – For All Time – CDN
Jill Barber – Never Quit Loving You – Chances – CDN

3:30 – 4:00

David Francey – The Waking Hour – The Waking Hour – CDN
Andy Swan – You Got the Diamonds (I Got the Shaft) – Ottawa – CDN
NQ Arbuckle – Marco Polo – XOK – CDN
Colin Linden – Without the One You Love – Big Mouth – CDN
Willie P Bennett – If You Have to Choose – Hobo’s Taunt – CDN
The Lowest of the Low – Bleed a Little While Tonight – Shakespeare My Butt – CDN
The Lowest of the Low – Kinda the Lonely One – Shakespeare My Butt – CDN

Two hours of Sad Bastard Music, as we play songs of heartache and heartbreak.

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

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Hatcher-Briggs – In my Hour of Darkness – Getting There from Here – CDN – WPG
Luther Wright & The Wrongs – Broken Fuckin’ Heart – Guitar Pickin’ Martyrs – CDN
Luther Wright & The Wrongs – It’s Mighty Dark to Travel – Guitar Pickin’ Martyrs – CDN
Ridley Bent – Buckles & Boots – Buckles & Boots – CDN – WPG
Shannon McNally – Worst Part of a Broken Heart – Geronimo
Kate Maki – Over – Confusion Unlimited – CDN
Kim Richey – Here I Go Again – Kim Richey

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Matthew Ryan – Dam – May Day
Matthew Ryan – Return to Me – Regret over the Wires
Matthew Ryan – Sadlylove – East Autumn Grin
Matthew Ryan – Irrelevant – May Day
Lynn Miles – Trying not to Be so Sad – Love Sweet Love – CDN
Lynn Miles – Never Coming Back – Love Sweet Love – CDN
Lynn Miles – Goodbye – Fall for Beauty – CDN

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Matt Andersen – So Gone Now – Something in Between – CDN
Rose Cousins – I Don’t Care – The Send Off – CDN
Christina Martin – Temporary Hell – Two Hearts – CDN
Leeroy Stagger – Broke and Broken Hearted – Dear Love – CDN
Luke Doucet – Broken One – Broken (and other Rogue States) – CDN
Derek & The Dominoes – Bell Bottom Blues – Layla and other assorted Love Songs
Chris Isaak – Go Walking Down There – Forever Blue

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Richard & Linda Thompson – Don’t Renege on our Love – Shoot out the Lights
Ben Folds Five – Song for the Dumped – Whatever and Ever Amen
Scouting for Girls – Elvis Isn’t Dead – Scouting for Girls
Fred Eaglesmith & The Flying Squirrels – Brand New Boy – Things Is Changin’ – CDN
Slaid Cleaves – Cry – Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – My Heart Is Broken – Jacksonville City Nights
Richard Shindell – Happy Now – Sparrows’ Point
Gram Parsons – Still Feeling Blue – Sacred Hearts And Fallen Angels: The Gram Parsons Anthology

Looking ahead to some great upcoming shows (Hatcher-Briggs CD release, Neilfest, etc.), looking back at some of the music we meant to play on Halloween, and looking around for some music to cheer us up as the weather turns for the worse. We’ve got it all!

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

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Jim Bryson­ – Fleetwood­ – The North Side Benches­ – CDN
The Fuse­ – My Elizabeth­ – Trying Must Count for Something­ – CDN­ – WPG
The Blue Shadows­ – If I Were You­ – On the Floor of Heaven­ – CDN
Wendy Bird­ – Deliver Me­ – Natural Wonder­ – CDN
Hatcher-Briggs­ – The Leavings­ – Getting There from Here­ – CDN­ – WPG
Neil Young­ – Crime in the City (Sixty to Zero Part I) ­ – Freedom­ – CDN

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Neil Young­ – Powderfinger­ – Rust Never Sleeps­ – CDN
Bourbon Tabernacle Choir & Rheostatics­ – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere­ – 1985-1995­ – CDN
Del Barber­ – Miles and Years­ – Love Songs for the Last 20­ – CDN­ – WPG
Shannon Lyon­ – Naive­ – Wandered­ – CDN
Shannon Lyon­ – Barcelona­ – Wandered­ – CDN

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Matthew Ryan­ – Me & My Lover­ – East Autumn Grin
Matthew Ryan­ – Chickering Angel­ – Concussion
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson­ – The Devil’s Inside My Head­ – Rattlin’ Bones
Nathan­ – Lock Your Devils Up­ – Jimson Weed­ – CDN­ – WPG
Shannon McNally­ – Memory of a Ghost­ – Western Ballad
Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles­ – Me and your Ghost­ – The Stars Are Out

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Lucero­ – The Devil And Maggie Chascarrillo­ – 1372 Overton Park
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals­ – If I Am a Stranger­ – Cold Roses
Blackie & The Rodeo Kings­ – 49 Tons­ – Kings of Love­ – CDN
Langhorne Slim­ – Diamonds and Gold­ – Langhorne Slim
Mike Plume Band­ – Something to Say­ – Song & Dance, Man­ – CDN
Buddy Miller­ – 100 Million Little Bombs­ – Poison Love
Ass Ponys­ – Kung Fu Reference­ – Lohio

It’s Halloween, and although (for a change) we had a full show planned with tons of spooky & scary tunes to get the ghosts & goblins ready for the big day, I played a dirty trick on myself, and it definitely wasn’t a treat… I left my ipod and the entire show at home! What happens when a totally technology dependent radio host tries to make up a show on the spot? Now that’s scary! Luckily, Del Barber dropped by to chat about his upcoming shows, and we bestow an annual honour upon him.

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

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Andy Maize – Lovely You – The History of Forgetting – CDN
The Deep Dark Woods – Silver Ships of Andilar – More Townes Van Zandt by the Great Unknown
Chris Mills – Tecumseh Valley – Introducing Townes Van Zandt via the Great Unknown
The Sumner Brothers – Colorado Girl – More Townes Van Zandt by the Great Unknown
Blaze Foley – You’ll Get Yours Aplenty – The Dawg Years (1975-1978)
Blaze Foley – Living in the Woods in a Tree – The Dawg Years (1975-1978)

2:30 – 3:00 pm

John Prine w/Iris DeMent – In Spite of Ourselves – In Person and on Stage
Ryan Adams – Halloweenhead – Easy Tiger
Paul MacLeod – Ghosts – Close and Play – CDN
The Wooden Sky – My Old Ghosts – If I Don’t Come Home You’ll Know I’m Gone – CDN
Sara Bareilles – Not Alone – Kaleidoscope Heart
Matthew Ryan – The End of a Ghost Story – Dear Lover (acoustic version)

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Bobby Bare Jr. – Rock and Roll Halloween – A Storm a Tree My Mother’s Head
Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs – Devil’s in the Jukebox – God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise
Kasey Chambers – Devil on your Back – Little Bird
Matt Andersen – Devil’s Bride – Live from the Phoenix Theatre – CDN
Jeremy Messersmith – A Girl, a Boy, and a Graveyard – The Reluctant Graveyard
Jeremy Messersmith – Deathbed Salesman – The Reluctant Graveyard
Jeremy Messersmith – Lazy Bones – The Reluctant Graveyard

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Sunparlour Players – Robbers Lullaby – Hymns for the Happy – CDN

Del Barber interview

Del Barber – Love Song for the Last 20 – Love Songs for the Last 20 – CDN – WPG

Another week of great upcoming shows to preview, including The Wailin’ Jennys, Josh Ritter, Porkbelly Futures, and Andy Maize & Michael Johnston, among others. We also try to fit in a few more best-of the year contenders.

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

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Martyn Joseph – You’re the Moment – Under Lemonade Skies
NQ Arbuckle – Officer Down – recorded live on UMFM – CDN
NQ Arbuckle – Part Of A Poem By Alden Nowlan Called Ypres: 1915 – XOK – CDN
Christina Martin – Subject to Change – I Can Too – CDN
The Pines – Meadows of Dawn – Tremolo

2:30 – 3:00 pm

The Wailin’ Jennys – Arlington – 40 Days – CDN – WPG
The Wailin’ Jennys – Things that You Know – Firecracker – CDN – WPG
The Wailin’ Jennys – Racing with the Sun – Live at the Mauch Chunk Opera House – CDN – WPG
Darren Day and the Fading Hopes – Rainwalk – This Evening Tonight – CDN – WPG
Josh Ritter – Lantern – So Runs the World Away
Josh Ritter – Right Moves – The Historical Conquests of
Josh Ritter – Wolves – The Animal Years

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Josh Ritter – Kathleen – recorded live on UMFM
Porkbelly Futures – The Crooked Road – The Crooked Road – CDN
Porkbelly Futures – You Gotta Love a Train – Porkbelly Futures – CDN
Andy Maize – Northern Shore – The History of Forgetting – CDN
Andy Maize & Michael Johnston – Home to You – These Are Our Songs – CDN

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Skydiggers – Hello Beautiful Life – City of Sirens – CDN
Michael Johnston w/Andy Maize – The Country North of Peterborough – Curious Heart – CDN
Leeroy Stagger & The Wildflowers – Hard Town – Little Victories – CDN
Brian MacMillan – Shine – Shine – CDN
Mumford & Sons – Little Lion Man – Sigh No More
Drive-By Truckers – Drag the Lake Charlie – The Big To-Do

Even though it’s still a couple months away, it seems like Christmas, because we got a heaping helping of new music in the mail this week, including a box of great new stuff from one of Canada’s best labels, Busted Flat Records. These add to an already impressive list of great new releases this year, but we all know that the releases go into hibernation this time of year. With that in mind, we tried to look at what might be the best release of 2010… and then realized that it was slightly premature. We did, however, manage to look at some great concerts, past and present.

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

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Kings of the Moon – Leaves – Kings of the Moon – CDN – WPG
Royal Wood – So Glad – A Good Enough Day – CDN
Matthew Ryan – Forever Young – Subterranean Homesick Blues: A Tribute to Bob Dylan’s ‘Bringing It All Back Home’
Kim Richey – When the Circus Comes to Town – Wreck Your Wheels
Jack Marks – Michigan Love – Lost Wages – CDN

2:30 – 3:00

Dan Walsh – Smokomotive – Virtuoso – CDN
Lynn Jackson – Boots – Coming Down – CDN
Semko Fontaine Taylor – Anne Marie – Heartaches & Numb3rs – CDN
Jay Semko – Mountain Song – Jay Semko – CDN
Matt Andersen – Round and Round – Live from the Phoenix Theatre – CDN
Kasey Chmabers – Down Here on Earth – Little Bird
Holly Williams – Let Her Go – Here With Me
Stephanie Finch & The Company Men – Sensitive Boys – Cry Tomorrow
Alejandro Escovedo – Anchor – Street Songs of Love

3:00 – 3:30

Peter Katz and the Curious – These Are the Days – More Nights – CDN
Peter Katz – First of the Last to Know – First of the Last to Know – CDN
Andy Maize & Michael Johnston – Stay Awake – These Are Our Songs – CDN
The Damnwells – She Goes Around
The Damnwells – 55 Pictures – One Last Century

3:30 – 4:00

The Damnwells – I’ve Got You – Air Stereo
The Damnwells – I Will Keep the Bad Things from You – Bastards of the Beat
Jim Bryson & The Weakerthans – Decidedly – The Falcon Lake Incident – CDN
Christina Martin – Daisy – I Can Too – CDN
Del Barber – As Far As I Can Tell – Love Songs for the Last 20 – CDN – WPG

It’s Thanksgiving weekend, and we here have plenty to be thankful for, including some cool upcoming shows and some great new music. We’re also thankful for the wonderful music left behind by the late, great Solomon Burke, and after hearing today’s tribute, you’ll be thankful, too.

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

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Loudon Wainwright III – Thanksgiving – Career Moves
Mary Gauthier – Thanksgiving at the Prison – Season of Mercy
Kris Kristofferson – Thank You for a Life – This Old Road
Eilen Jewell – Thanks a Lot – Letters from Saints & Sinners
Solomon Burke – Thank You – Like a Fire
Solomon Burke – Ain’t that Something – Like a Fire
Solomon Burke (w/Gillian Welch) – Valley of Tears – Nashville
Solomon Burke – None of Us Are Free – Don’t Give up on Me

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Kim Richey – Wreck Your Wheels – Wreck Your Wheels
Thad Cockrell – Beauty Has a Name – To Be Loved
Matthew Ryan – The Wilderness – Dear Lover (The Acoustic Version)
Del Barber – Love Song for the Last 20 – Love Songs for the Last 20 – CDN – WPG

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Jim Bryson & The Weakerthans – Constellation – The Falcon Lake Incident – CDN
Jim Bryson & The Weakerthans – Wild Folk – The Falcon Lake Incident – CDN
Lynn Miles – Goodbye – Fall for Beauty – CDN
Karen Savoca – Give Me a Kiss – In the Dirt
Jeremy Messersmith – A Girl, a Boy, and a Graveyard – The Reluctant Graveyard
Patrick Park – Here We Are – Everyone’s in Everyone
Paul MacLeod – A Clear Thought – Bright Eyes Fade – CDN

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Reid Jamieson – Hard to Swallow – Staring Contest – CDN
Dave Bidini – A Short Story about Nick Lowe – Swim Drink Fish Music – CDN
Dave Bidini with The Scribbled Out Man – The Moncton Hellraiser – Swim Drink Fish Music – CDN
Rheostatics – Horses – Melville – CDN
Justin Rutledge – St. Peter – Man Descending – CDN
Royal Wood – Juliet – A Good Enough Day – CDN