Witchpolice Radio

This week Sam and Ryan hang out on a rooftop (literally a rooftop) in the Exchange District with **[Canadol](http://canadol.bandcamp.com/)** , a singer/guitarist with a strong taste for Soviet folk music and punk rock D.I.Y. attitude. Despite being interrupted by police helicopters, random teenagers, etc. Canadol performs a number of songs live and we all select "blanket" songs, smoke and have a r...

We’re doing something a little differently this week and bringing you a conversation Luke Jacob Thiessen had with iconic Canadian singer-songwriter Hawksley Workman about his new album and the upcoming Interstellar Rodeo festival at the Forks. Luke originally used this interview for a piece he wrote in the Uniter, but we’ve combined the audio with some of Hawksley Workman’s songs to make it more ‘...

Fresh off a big gig at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, blues/country/gospel/punk one-man-band Matt Colpitts, a/k/a The Reverend Rambler continues to ride a wave of local attention and recognition in 2015. He may not be sure where this crazy ride is going, but he definitely knows about his past, and he gets into the history behind the Rambler persona, which includes a band -- the Red River Ramblers --...

The three (!) guitarists in post-rock, instrumental Winnipeg quintet Black Cloud -- Adrian, Brett and Darin -- are on this week's episode. They joined Sam and first-time host Ryan (who previously appeared twice as a guest) to talk "saint" songs, the differences between playing instrumental music and being in a more traditional band, their punk rock roots and more.

It's a late-week bonus episode... and this is a big one. The Messenjah himself, legendary Jamaican singer/songwriter Luciano, had an in-depth phone conversation with Sam about his lengthy career, his conscious message, being a righteous man in a world of tribulation and much more!

This week Sam sat down with **Lexi Brodeur** , owner of independent Winnipeg drum-making biz **[Dead Dog Drums](https://www.facebook.com/deaddogdrums)** , to talk about an aspect of the local music scene that doesn't get talked about much on this show. We also talk "duck" songs, Lexi's other endeavour, the **[Triple Deke Podcast](https://www.facebook.com/tripledekepodcast)** , and much more. If an...

This week's guests, 2/3 of Winnipeg pop-punk power trio Sugarsick, are on the show to promote the group's debut album (which comes out July 17), the difference between rye and bourbon and a lot more. Jared Weiss (guitar/vocals, ex-Port Amoral) and Shea-K 47 (drums, a/k/a Employee of the Month) helped select "marker" songs, reminisce about the good old days of CD compilations and talk about why the...

Jacques and Breandan of local indie rockers Greek Riots are back on the show to promote the band’s new record, Middle Children, get nostalgic about some not-so-guilty pop-punk and emo pleasures and to talk “fairground” songs. Middle Children is being released June 26 at the Park Theatre in Winnipeg.

Big things have been happening for fuzzed-out Winnipeg duo Vampires since their last appearance on the show, including critical acclaim for their EP and some high-profile gigs. Messrs. Dobbs and Powers hung out in the living room of a cavernous mansion to talk “wrench” songs, guilty pleasures, a weird tangent on third-wave ska, the Midnight Review Presents project and more!

This episode marks the triumphant return of folk singer/guitar wizard Carey J. Buss, who last appeared around these parts way back on episode #69. Carey sat down with Sam on the eve of his Answer the Bell album release to talk about "what" songs, classic rock, his new gig as a member of Hearing Trees and a lot more. There's even a random interruption by someone looking for a jacket!

We venture into uncharted territory on this episode in conversation with Artur Winogrodzki of Polish-Canadian dub/reggae/electronic act Hypernashion. Despite the wide range of genres we've featured on this podcast, electronic music has always been kind of a blind spot, and despite host Sam's obsession with reggae, he hasn't previously been introduced to any from Poland. We go deep on reggae's conn...

We ditched the theme word this week to devote 20 minutes at the end of the show to a three-song live performance by this week’s guests, Winnipeg blues-rawk trio The Tims. Blending blues, country, soul, rock, punk and more, The Tims are working on a debut album for a summer release and have been tearing up bars, house shows and more along the way.

Quinton Blair sings convincing country songs because he legitimately lives the life in rural Manitoba. Quinton talks about performing on the rodeo circuit, western songs vs. mainstream country and more. He’s joined by a returning guest (WR093 and WR015), urban cowboy Country Steve. Both fellers perform live and help select “shack” songs.

We had a regular interview episode lined up for this week, but technical difficulties meant the file couldn't be accessed right away, so we put something special together for you in its place. The Witchpolice Mixtape is a collection of all of the live performances on the show dating back to January 2014, in a handy podcast format. It's well over an hour of great, primarily local music! As mentione...

We talk to a lot of musicians on this show, but there are aspects of the music biz that go beyond just the performance on stage. For this episode, Sam talked show posters with graphic designers/illustrators **[Nyco Rudolph](http://nycorudolph.com/)** , **[Tiff Bartel](http://tiffbartel.tumblr.com/) ** and returning guest **[Allan Lorde](http://www.allanlorde.com/) ** (whose previous appearance was...

**Frek Sho** was one of the definitive Canadian rap groups of the 1990s. In this special [two-part](http://www.witchpolice.com/2015/04/wr123-frek-sho-pt-i.html) episode, Rob and Elliott caught up with Frek Sho rappers **Ismaila** and **Micill Shazzam Write** to discuss the group's origins, its recorded catalogue and more. Part two covers the time frame from Frek Sho's first national exposure and t...

**Frek Sho** was one of the definitive Canadian rap groups of the 1990s. In this special two-part episode, Rob and Elliott caught up with Frek Sho rappers **Ismaila** and **Micill Shazzam Write** to discuss the group's origins, its recorded catalogue and more. Part one covers the early days of Frek Sho and Twisted Spirits, Ismaila and Shazzam's recollections of the nascent Winnipeg rap scene, Frek...

Sam hung out with all four members of globe-trotting alternative punk band **[Clipwing](http://www.clipwingmusic.com/) ** in their basement jamspace to talk "zamboni" songs, European tours and more! The fellas are about to release their new _Ashford_ EP, produced by **Propagandhi** frontman (and [past Witchpolice Radio guest](http://www.witchpolice.com/2014/11/witchpolice-radio-episode-100-bangers...

Idrissa Turay (a/k/a Alaska) is a singer originally from Sierra Leone, currently living in Winnipeg. With his band, the PeaceMakers, he plays a unique combination of reggae, calypso and the sounds of his African home country. Idrissa and PeaceMakers drummer Gary Asselin were the guests on this week’s performance-heavy episode.

If you don’t think **[Gruf the Druid](http://www.witchpolice.com/2013/09/witchpolice-radio-episode-42-process.html)** is Winnipeg’s best rapper, you probably have him on your shortlist. Between Frek Sho, Fermented Reptile, Sound Barriers and his acclaimed solo records, Gruf is an iconic figure on the local rap scene. He has also released a new album, _[Surface Area](http://marathonofdope.com/portf...

[**Chivas & Kream**](http://www.chivasandkream.com/) **** return to the podcast to promote their [upcoming CD release show](https://www.facebook.com/events/919357481438406/) (April 4, Park Theatre, Winnipeg) alongside most of the other artists on the bill. Rappers **[Matt Redd](http://mattredd.bandcamp.com/), [KayR](http://www.kayrmusic.com/) ** and **[RhymeLabb](https://www.facebook.com/Rhyme...

This week we're talking "nutrition" songs with **Terrance Williams** and **Josh Bedry** of doom/sludge/hardcore band **[Occvlt Hand](http://www.facebook.com/occvlthand), ** who recently released their debut cassette, _[Devils Work](http://occvlthand.bandcamp.com/releases)._ If you like metal and/or food, this is the podcast episode for you! The fellas talk about eating healthy, occult imagery, tap...

East meets west on this week’s episode, featuring the two founding members of innovative local reggae outfit RasTamils. Franklin Fernando and Martin Valach mine their cultural backgrounds to create a unique roots sound as influenced by Sri Lanka as it is by Jamaica. They’re currently in the midst of a crowdfunding campaign for their debut full-length, “A Dream,” which is slated to come out in summ...

This week, Sam drops in on **[None the Wiser](http://www.nonethewiser.ca/)** singer/guitarist **Eli Matas** to drink non-alcoholic beers, talk “intensity” songs and more! None the Wiser is a folk/funk/psychedelic/rock/party machine with well over a decade of history and a new release called _[Smoke and Mirrors](http://www.nonethewiser.ca/#!music/c21jp) _ (which has glorious cover art, by the way)....

** ** Surf-punks **[The Thrashers](https://www.facebook.com/thrashersrocknroll)** are about to release their sci-fi opus, _[Robot Invaders From the Death Galaxy](http://thethrashers.bandcamp.com/album/robot-invaders-from-the-death-galaxy),_ but first they sat down to talk about “dust” songs, skateboarding, space robots and more! Recorded on location with the portable doohickey.