Eight and a half decades on we see the returning spectre of the evils of fascism and the beginnings of imperial expansion. Herr Drumpf is running the fascist playbook - while Pee Pee bows down and our wonderful, peaceful nation is under threat both from without and from within. In the face of these challenges my only means of retaliation is music, music, music! A sort of Canadian "bandstand" of hope and defiance hit the airwaves on Saturday morning!

Songs and tunes which provided highlights of 2024 in Vancouver and beyond, and a look ahead to what's in store here in 2025. With a special emphasis on supporting musicians by buying their merchandise at gigs or from their websites - and a pox on Spotify and the other rip-off merchants who steal their music and make "curated" playlists (cough, splutter!)

Some of my favourite albums of 2024 (and a few from the tail end of 2023) plus some songs for the end of the old year and to welcome in the new one. While things do look awfully grim these days, the music has been - and continues to be - absolutely stellar.

Some of my favourite songs from the last 37 years of these Winter specials, some brand new releases for the Solstice, and a few surprises along the way, too. We bid a sad farewell to Indian percussion master Ustad Zakir Hussain and to NE songwriter Dave Mallett, plus some new releases and heaps of seasonal songs you definitely won't hear in the Malls.

A plethora of new releases from around the globe to kick off the show, and some exciting new Canadiana kept things running in an ultra-cool northern way. Once again I had TEN PAIRS OF TICKETS to give away to see the second preview of the new Bob Dylan bio-pic, A Complete Unknown. A few new songs of winter, lots more Canadians, and some spirited Celtic music to finish up.

New releases from West Africa, Vancouver, Barcelona, Italy, England, Eire, and Scotland. Plus concert previews, a memorial for the 14 women murdered at Ecole Polytechnique in 1989, a couple of Sugaree songs, and a few cuts to herald the incoming Winter and holiday season.

Plenty of new releases on the show today, including Canadian bands Locarno and Aerialists, as well as Cathy Jordan's Crankie Island Song Project, and Crys Matthews' Reclamation. I also had TEN PAIRS of tickets to give away to the exclusive preview showing of the new movie about Bob Dylan - A Complete Unknown. It will be shown at International Village Cinema in Chinatown on Wednesday December 4th at 7pm.

Includes brand new music from the likes of Vancouver's Robyn Lane & The Rhythm Makers, Locarno, Tinariwen, Mauro Durante & Justin Adams, Christy Moore, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, and a wonderful new album by Cathy Jordan of the Irish band Dervish. There is also a feature on the next two bands coming to The Rogue Folk Club: Italian trio Ensemble Sangineto (below) - who were the talk of the town at the Folk Alliance in Kansas City in February, with their unique blend of Celtic and Breton influences and Italian trad songs from all around the "boot" - and Linda McRae & Doug Cox - rootsy, bluesy songs from the left coast and the deep south.

Anger and consternation at the US election led to some protest songs. Loads of new releases, including a feature on the new Christy Moore CD, and a tip of the proverbial to Louis Riel on "his" day, with a tune played by Vancouver's Kathleen Nisbet (of Viper Central) - a direct descendant of the legendary Metis leader. Also, "The Boss" is coming to town next week, so a sprinkling of his songs too.

Inspired by local music columnist Hadani Ditmars' article in the latest issue of Songlines magazine, the show starts with music from guitar bands in Niger, and gravitates to musical luminaries in Mali (inspired by talking to CFMA winner Sophie Lukacs at The Rogue last week). Searching for songs / signs of HOPE in this dismal week, then focusing on some wonderful bands coming to town this month - from Italy, Ontario, Donegal, Scotland, and Quebec