CiTR -- The Saturday Edge

Started the show in Africa, headed to the Middle East, and then crossed Canada with a few side trips to focus on 19th century African-American sailor turned one-legged busker Billy Waters, and Orcadian quartet Gnoss, before the second half of my weekly four hour musical romp allowed me to spin some of my all-time favourite Irish songs and tunes to kick off St Patrick's week.

While oligarchs, sexual predators, gangsters and thugs are destroying the planet, I look out upon a beautiful world. I hear music that inspires and enriches us. I want to share this music far and wide, but it all feels very scary right now. Regime change must surely happen, ASAP, starting with the USA, and Israel. It probably won't happen. Soon, if ever. If we have to go, we will go down singing.

CiTR is holding its annual Fundrive this week, so this was me spruiking away - solo- for four hours, while playing music by many favourites - old and new - from all corners of the known world. I've been hosting this show for over 40 years so choosing "favourites" can be quite time-consuming! I concentrated on performers coming to town or who have performed here recently. And not-so-recently, too! Many premiums are up for grabs from CiTR and from The Rogue Folk Club, too. I hope this "worked"!

A few songs with a Horse theme to mark the Lunar New Year (of The Horse) and some of my all-time favourite music by black artists to mark Black History Month. Then a bunch of local concert previews, and new releases (including the brilliant Canadian string quartet, Medusa). Sadly, a few songs about the darkening of the world as Dementia Donny leads us to the brink of more wars.

It's Valentines' Day, but it's also time celebrate my love of music every day. I hope you share this love / obsession, too! There are some extremely lovable concerts coming to town in the next few weeks and I played plenty of tracks from those performers. Plus some new tracks from around the world (of love) and a few old "flames", too!

Plenty of variety this week, including some Grammy Winners and Nominees, music from a number of new Putumayo Discovery albums, and the latest issue of Songlines Magazine. Also featured new albums from Ireland's Ye Vagabonds, and American bluegrass divas Della Mae, and Sierra Hull. Plus a bunch of local concert previews, and new tracks from Canadian (mostly) Celtic combos Medusa Quartet, and The McDades. Plus a few surprises from the past - and the present.

Music from the latest issue of Songlines Magazine's Top of the World CD; R.I.P. Sly Dunbar, drummer with the legendary reggae riddim section Sly & Robbie; new singles by The Boss, Eric Bibb, The Fugitives, Medusa Quartet, Sophie Lukacs, and Daughters of Donbas; local concert previews galore; new albums by Della Mae, and Irish trad band Ye Vagabonds; and some stunning Ukrainian folk with a modern pulse from Yagody.

Heaps of fiddle music. I am so impressed by the dedication to the craft and amazing creativity of fiddlers the world over! I missed the Folk Alliance in New Orleans this week - way too scary in America right now! Played music by the winners at the Folk Awards night, and also celebrated Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Taj Mahal. This show was a bit of a mish-mash, as was my head after the shocking news of the sudden death of CiTR and Coop Radio DJ Paul Norton, who had also given incredible support to The Rogue as Publicist, as well as working for many years at Festival Distribution, the great record warehouse in the east end - now sadly gone, too. Paul leaves a HUGE hole in the local music scene and at CiTR. The show must go on, as they say, but this week has knocked me for six.

Grateful Dead founder Bobby Weir passed away this week. Sad news. Concert previews, a few new releases, some old faves, and some not-so-subtle digs at the fascists down south. We live in scary times ... (This show was not broadcast LIVE on CiTR. My show was pre-empted, but I had a few things to say! It went out from the Rogue website and is now available as a podcast at CiTR.)

Songs and tunes decrying the rise of fascism. Music from Venezuela, Greenland, Denmark, Canada, Cuba and other countries threatened by the US regime. Complaints and laments about murder in the streets and blood for oil. Plus some great songs and tunes from many corners of the civilized world!