Citr -- The Saturday Edge

Lamenting the passing of The Band singer songwriter guitarist Robbie Robertson. Also the death of Sixto Rodrigues (Sugarman). Plus a big feature on this weekend's Edmonton Folk Music Festival (44th edition) and a few songs we heard on the long road from Vancouver to Edmonton and which seemed to be a good fit for the show.

Bit of a mish-mash today: everything from Afro-Persian fusion to wild Hungarian fiddles, and from old time fiddle tunes to Celtic romps. Plus a tip of the hat to two inspirational musical spirits: Jerry Garcia and Sinead O'Connor. Also new music from the pages of Songlines magazine and the 10th volume of Celtic Colours LIVE - as well as a preview of next weekend's Edmonton Folk Music Festival!

Sad losses (Coop Radio DJ Roger Gale, Eagles' co-founder Randy Meisner, and the amazing Ms. O'Connor), plus a look back at the Mission Folk Music Festival, looking ahead to Filberg Festival, Canmore Folk Festival, Edmonton Folk Festival, Burnaby Blues & Roots, and Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival. Plus new releases from Molly Tuttle, Bokante, Genticorum, Allison Russell, Jourdan Thibodeaux, and William Prince - and a bit of a birthday self-indulgent flourish for me at the end!

Music by artists from this weekend's Mission Folk Festival, previews of Canmore and Edmonton Folk Fests next month, some new releases, and Jane Birkin R.I.P.

Vancouver Folk Music Festival broadcasting live from the Rogue Folk tent in the park! Sadly, there were some technical diffculties at the start, so the show didn't really commence until 8:22 or so. I didn't think we had saved any of it, but here is the show. Previewing western Canadian festivals - including Vancouver, of course - and near the end there is a fascinating conversation with Joey Burns of Calexico. Enjoy!!

Featuring many of the artists appearing at next weekend's VFMF - where I will be hosting a LIVE radio show for 5 hours next Saturday morning! Also featured the music of brilliant Irish-American multi-instrumentalist Seamus Egan, who brings his new Project to The Rogue this evening. As well as a look ahead to next week's BC singer songwriter double bill with Sarah Jane Socuten and Suzie Ungerleider. Plus new music from the latest issue of UK magazine Songlines. And more!

An all-Canadian show for Canada Day. I don't mind admitting that I love being able to call myself Canadian and to live in this amazingly diverse country and this incredible music town on the left coast. Once again, revisiting the annals of my library of favourite songs I wanted to feature music from every Province and Territory. Almost made it, too!

Trolling through my library to assemble an 85th anniversary of UBC Student Radio show, and a 38th anniversary of THIS show, I came up with a "shortlist" of 850 songs. Here are some more of my faves which missed the cut

Trolling through my library to assemble an 85th anniversary of UBC Student Radio show, and a 38th anniversary of THIS show, I came up with a "shortlist" of around 850 songs. This show represents a bunch of my faves which "missed the cut".

More highlights from recent archive searches necessitated by celebrating 85 years of UBC Radio and 38 Years of The Saturday Edge On Folk in the past couple of weeks. Also some liberal sprinklings of new releases and concert previews.

The day of the big match! Man United v City in the FA Cup Final at 7am. Which posed a problem for me, logistically speaking, as The Saturday Edge On Folk runs from 8am to noon. What to do? Where to go? I decided to pre-record the show and go to The Lamplighter in Gastown with a couple of hundred Reds. Disappointing outcome, though. The show featured some old faves and some brand new faves, with lots of African, Scandinavian, Celtic, and especially Canadian folk and roots music - including features on the two BC bands playing The Rogue next Thursday June 8th: Golden Shoals and Elise Boeur & Adam Iredale-Gray.

85 years!! Incredible. This radio station has been home to renowned broadcasters like Pierre Berton, Lister Sinclair, Wallie Oppal, and Narduwar the Human Serviette! It's amazing to think that I have been on the air at CiTR for almost half those years (1985 to 2023, that's 38 of the 85!) Some tunes dating back to 1937, as well as interviews and songs and tunes from some of my favourite moments at CiTR, including several from Jericho Beach Park when we aired the show from the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Also be a tribute to Tina Turner, and Cream lyricist Pete Brown, as well as new releases from the likes of Eliza Gilkyson, Leftover Salmon, Brighde Chaimbeul, Bela Fleck, Eilen Jewell, and more. Plus a feature on Laura Cortese and a look ahead to this Summer's Edmonton Folk Music Festival, whose lineup was announced this week.

B.C.'s Mission Folk Music Festival - one of my favourite events of the year - just announced the line-up for July 21 - 23, and I featured a lot of music by performers coming to Fraser River Heritage Park. Also a few new releases (Tinariwen - produced by Daniel Lanois, Leftover Salmon, Eilen Jewell, Malawi's Keturah, Natalie Merchant, Denmark's Vesselil, and Scotland's Daimh.) Also featured upcoming shows by Crystal Shawanda, Tamikrest, Laura Cortese, Karan Casey etc., and a few extra cuts that surfaced this week

Music by many of the performers just announced for the Vancouver Folk Music Festival at Jericho Beach Park July 14-16. So good that the festival will actually happen this year, after its demise seemed imminent a few months ago. Kudos to interim AD Fiona Black for assembling such a stellar lineup at short notice! Also a mini-feature on Irish singer Clare Sands, and a bunch of new releases from Eilen Jewell, Leftover Salmon, Tinariwen, Denmark's Vesselil and Hielosa, as well as Natalie Merchant, Bruce Cockburn, Karan Casey, Imar, Shirley Collins etc. Also a few Gordon Lightfoot songs from the man himself and from Tony Rice. Plus a few more favourite artists from the past 38 years hosting this radio show - which could be broadcast again from Jericho Park in July! Yay!!

Saying a fond farewell to Canadian songwriting legend Gordon Lightfoot. Also to Irish folk/rock pioneer John Fean, guitarist with Horslips. Plus a few selections with a Royal flavour, and new releases from Celtic supergroup Imar and bluegrass band Special Consensus - whose new album is all Canadian songs. They play Vancouver's Anza Club on Monday too. Plus concert previews of Karla Mundy (on Sunday!) and L J Mounteney (next Friday)

Tributes to Harry Belafonte (died this week) and Sandy Denny (died 45 years ago this week), plus new rmusic from Michael Jerome Browne, Imar, and Natalie Merchant. Concert previews of Scots trad band Daimh and Get Back-Unplugged, Vancouver band celebrating The Rogue's 36th Anniversary next weekend with their own spin on classic Beatles songs. So a bit of a nostalgia trip down the Rogue history with some favourite musical memories. Also a new anti-gun song from Old Crow Medicine Show, and a whole lot more besides.

Blues from the desert and the ocean and new music to keep our courage and inspire us to keep on grooving and hoping, and defying the odds!

New releases from Tim O'Brien, Songlines magazine, Debashish Bhattacharya, Tinariwen, La Marisoul y Los Texmaniacs, and Turkish folk-rockers Altin Gün; concert previews of The Fretless, Steve Dawson, Hornby Blues, Scots Trad quintet Daimh, Karan Casey etc. More highlights from the recent Canadian Folk Awards, - and more!

Music from every one of the Canadian Folk Music Awards winners at last weekend's 18th annual celebration - which were held in Vancouver for the very first time! Plus concert previews, a couple of Easter bunny selections, and some new releases and old favourites.

Music from some of the nominees at this weekend's 18th Annual Canadian Folk Music Awards - being held in Vancouver: first time ever in B.C. Plus a few April Fools choices, a bunch of new releases from around the world, and a host of local concert previews.