CiTR -- The Saturday Edge

A look back at last weekend's Edmonton Folk Festival, plus some new stuff and a brief tribute to Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul Music

This show was pre-recorded in Valemount, en route to the Edmonton Folk Festival

This week's show featured many of the artists playing next weekend's Edmonton Folk Music Festival. I call it the Rolls Royce of Folk Festivals. Probably the best one in Canada, and therefore the best on the planet!

it's the hottest weekend of the Summer, so a bit of nostalgia and a lot of heat thrown in to today's show. Tropical songs, topical songs (hot under the collar), and some self-indulgence for my birthday week too!

This show was pre-recorded to be broadcast during the Mission Folk Music Festival. Featured music by Mission performers, as well as some short interviews with performers at last week's Vancouver Folk Music Festival.

Co-hosted with Linda Bull, this edition came LIVE from the Vancouver Folk Music Festival in the CiTR tent. Thanks to Tristan for making it work! Lots of music from performers at Jericho over the weekend, and at the Mission Folk Festival next week. Plus a LIVE chat with Italian duo Ilaria & Francesco

A Cuckoo song for the 4th day of July, plus Rogue and Folk Fest Previews, and new releases from Angelique Kidjo, The Once, Jeremy Kittel, Michael McGoldrick, and Aussie Blues diva Kara Grainger. Plus a song to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of The Beatles cartoon film Yellow Submarine - which has been remastered and opens at The Park cinema tomorrow

On the eve of Canada Day this show featured lots of Canadains from every province - and Yukon. Also paid homage to Robert Plant, who played a majestic gig last night at the QE. Previews of the Vancouver and Mission Folk Festivals, and lots of Roguery as well!

Lots of harps, then previews of Vancouver Folk Festival and TD International Jazz Festival shows sprinkled amongst new releases and more!

Just got back from an amazing tour of Italy, so I played a lot of Italian music, as well as songs which fit the general theme of the trip. Ran 48 minutes over, giving me a chance to play some new releases and promote some Jazz Fest shows as well.

Lots of music--what else can we say? Enjoy.

Guest host Paul Norton ('Code Blue' - Saturday 3pm to 5pm) goes through some of his picks for what you should see and hear this summer. Lots of other good stuff too. Next week, Arthur and Andrea Berman from 'Pacific Pickin' guest host.

Well, not so special after all. New music from Ry Cooder, Fatoumata Diawara, Kiran Ahluwalia, Toto Bona Lokua, Los Texmaniacs, Grupo Mono Blanco etc. Plus mini-features on Welsh slide guitarist Martin Harley, American songwriter Ellis Paul, and a few Van Folk Fest highlights - and an exclusive track from Paul Simon. Sprinkled the show with a few tunes by Manchester United fans, alas to no avail.

This week is SOCAN reporting week. Can't believe they only monitor us twice a year! They really should monitor Campus and Community Radio FIRST, and commercial radio twice a year, IMHO! :-) So loads of Canadians featured today. Even more than I usually play. There were also mini-features on Paul Simon, Kathy Kallick, Tony McManus, and Pharis & Jason Romero - who all play in Vancouver this week. Pl...

A big Cinco de Mayo celebration, plus previews of Laura Smith, Hornby Blues, and a bunch of new releases including Loreena McKennitt, Birds of Chicago, Dobet Gnahore, Fatoumata Diawara, Lake Street Dive, Leftover Salmon, Calexico, Ben & Anita, David Francey, Van Django, Samantha Martin, Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita, Ndidi O, Tom Russell, and The James Hunter Six.

A tribute to Sandy Denny, who died 40 years ago this week. New sounds from Ben & Anita (Cape Breton), Fortunate Ones (Nfld), The Fugitives (BC), Genticorum (PQ), Pharis & Jason (BC), and a look at the finale of the Rogue's April In Paris gypsy jazz celebration

Brand new music from Congolese singer Bumba Massa, Vancouver gypsy jazz combo Van Django, American songwriter Tom Russell, and Canadian songwriter David Francey, Ontario blues diva Samantha Martin, and many more. Plus features on BC fiddler Kierah Raymond, and a preview of the 12th annual Vancouver festival of gypsy jazz - April In Paris.

From Africa to Cuba to Paris to the Mississippi to the prairies to the great white north to the UK and Ireland on the wings of a few duos and other wonderful rootsy combos.

New music from Africa, previews of April In Paris gypsy jazz, Pharis & Jason Romero's CD launch, some tasty blues, a couple of glorious songs from - and for - the late Sandy Denny. Then some whirling fiddles and pipes and banjos to wrap things up!

New releases, Easter songs, goodbye to Victoria's old blue bridge - and so much more!

New songs for Spring, including daffodils, and a Festival du Bois feature, and lots of new releases too.

St. Patrick's Day feature with some of my all time favourite Irish bands and singers, plus a farewell to legendary uilleann piper Liam O'Flynn, who passed away this week. I featured music from the latest fRoots magazine and sampler CD, and also bade adieu to Stephen Hawking.

Lots of new releases gleaned from the pages of fRoots magazine from the U.K. Plus mini features on Lila Downs, Chris Smither, Annie Lou, Carlos del Junco, and Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas - all performing in town this week.

New releases from Lunasa, Altan, Barbare Dane, The Fretless, Raine Hamilton, Tracy Grammer, I'm With Her, plus an anti-45 song from Steve Poltz, a brief interview and three songs from Tom Russell. And a phone chat with former CiTR DJ Heather Kitching about the launch of her website www.rootsmusic.ca

Looking back at last weekend's Folk Alliance conference in Kansas City, with music from the latest FA compilation CD and lots of songs by some of my favourites and new discoveries from the event. Plus a few selections to round out Black History Month, a few Welsh songs for St. David's Day (March 1st), and some new music from Irish trad band Altan, who play two shows tomorrow night at St. James Hal...