The Red River Ramblers are an Ontario band dedicated to the revival of Manitoba Métis Fiddle music, which brings together the rhythmic spirit of the First Nations peoples, with a blend of both the Scottish and French fiddle traditions. Douglas Richard Sinclair, a Métis musician with roots in the Red River Settlement, joins us on Episode 492 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about the band and their music. We also take a look at more of the latest new releases we've received and this time we listen to new music from 100 Mile House, Grace Potter, Lynne Hanson, Rod Abernethy, Artists for Peace & Justice (feat. Jackson Browne), Rumour Mill and Forest Sun. Check out the full playlist on the website:

Our interview with folk-pop cosmic balladeer Mister K went much further than we were able to share with you on Episode 491 of Folk Roots Radio. Check out the full interview below.

Kevin Roy Kratsch spent five years on the road as country folk singer-songwriter Kevin Roy before re-inventing himself as cosmic balladeer Mister K, and starting work on “In Event Of Moon Disaster”, a folk-pop journey through the highs and lows of a mental health struggle, what Kevin describes as those 'Darker Days'. In Event Of Moon Disaster was created with producer and collaborator Rusty Matyas (The Sheepdogs, The Weakerthans, Imaginary Cities) who opened up about his own struggles with alcoholism prior starting work on the project. The two found support, inspiration, and empowerment while breathing life into these songs; a testament to the strength of healing through music and art. There have been three singles released from the album, so far: “Hundreds Of Dollars”, “Lonely One” and the latest, “Darker Days” – Kevin’s personal story and a song he hopes will be a conversation starter with respect to the importance of discussing mental health. The new single is being released on January 29 to coincide with Bell Let’s Talk Day. The full album will arrive later in 2020. Mister K sat down with Folk Roots Radio at the 2019 Folk Music Ontario conference to chat about the new project. For more information about the music of Mister K, visit heyheymisterk.com.

Music: Mister K “Hundreds of Dollars” and “Lonely One” from “In Event of Moon Disaster” (2020, Self) and “Darker Days” (Live).

On Episode 491 of Folk Roots Radio we chat to Kevin Roy from Manitoba about his new music project as cosmic balladeer Mister K, and upcoming album “In Event of Moon Disaster” – a musical journey through the highs and lows of a mental health struggle. In Event of Moon Disaster is a wonderful album and this is a great interview. We wrap up the hour with more of the new music that we’ve received, and this time around we hear from The Marrieds, William Kuklis, Harrow Fair, Simon Mayor and Jay Aymar. We also include a special tribute to the fabulous Nashville songwriter David Olney, who passed away suddenly last week during an in the round live performance at a showcasing event in Florida. Check out the full playlist on the website: https://folkrootsradio.com/folk-roots-radio-episode-491-feat-mister-k-more-new-releases/

We're giving over the whole of Episode 490 of Folk Roots Radio to a fabulous in-depth conversation with Bill Garrett who sat down us at the 2019 Folk Music Ontario conference to talk about his long career in music and the development of the wonderful boutique folk music record label Borealis Records. We wrap up the conversation with music from Bill Garrett, Bill Garrett & Sue Lothrop, Naming The Twins, Durham County Poets and Shelley Posen. Check out the full playlist on the website:

Noah Derksen is a Canadian singer-songwriter with a wonderfully soulful folk-roots Americana sound and some very strong songs. Also an American citizen, Noah Derksen's new album "America, Dreaming" - which was produced by Murray Pulver (The Bros. Landreth, Joey Landreth, Doc Walker, etc.) in Winnipeg, is a search for identity, reflecting on time spent living and travelling across the United States. "As an American-citizen growing up in Canada, I held an unrealistic depiction of the United States as a land of opportunity and freedom. In years spent living, touring, and working south of the border, I’ve discovered the practical limitations to that opportunity and freedom. America, Dreaming represents an observation of my home and native land south of the 49th parallel; an observation both externally, of how things change with time, and internally, on how I have had to shift my own perspective."

Noah Derksen joined us in the studio to chat about the new album, and while he was with us played three songs from the new album live. For more information, visit https://www.noahderksen.com.

Music: Noah Derksen "Hoping You Would Stay" (Live), "Lonely in America" (Live) and "What Kind of Love is That" (Live).

Ken Dunn is a modern day traveling troubadour giving social and environmental issues a voice in song, while reminding us to keep our loved ones and peace at the forefront of this precious life. Ken's eighth album, "Live in LA" was recorded at an impromptu gig at Kulak’s Woodshed in North Hollywood with proceeds going towards LA Family Housing support for those struggling with homelessness in the greater Los Angeles area. The songs on the album reflect on homelessness, peace, and social challenges as well as love - all things desperately needed in today's world. The song "Tahlequah" tells the story of a mother orca who carried the lifeless body of her young for two weeks before finally releasing the baby to the deep. According to Ken the song reminds us that not only human beings have precious lives, but our planet and all its inhabitants need to be protected and loved. There are now only 75 resident orcas in the Salish Sea near Ken in British Columbia. Ken Dunn joined us in the Folk Roots Radio studio to chat about "Live in LA", and played three songs live for us. For more information about the music of Ken Dunn visit https://kendunnmusic.com.

Music: Ken Dunn "Tahlequah" (Live), "Precious Life" (Live) and "King High Tide" (Live).

Our interview with Keri Latimer from Leaf Rapids went so much further than what we were able to include in Episode 489 of Folk Roots Radio. Check out our full in-depth conversation here.

Keri and her partner Devin Latimer, formerly of Juno Award-winning alt-country quartet Nathan, released "Citizen Alien", their second album as Leaf Rapids in May 2019. Citizen Alien is a wonderful recording, that uses Keri and Devin's own family history to tell stories about the nature of identity and reflect on what it means to belong, in a world where more and more politicians are using populist nationalistic rhetoric to separate the ‘us’ from the ‘them’. According to Keri Latimer, "Every family has stories of people who crossed oceans, who survived, who struggled and tried. People who knew injustice. And though some of those stories now fade into the haze of time, the truth of them remains vivid. On Citizen Alien, the album’s title track, love declared by ancestors leads to separation through the travesty of Canada’s Second World War-era Japanese internment camps; if the same thing happened today, Devin and I would be split up, our children taken away."

Keri Latimer sat down with Folk Roots Radio at the 2019 Folk Music Ontario conference for an in-depth conversation about her music and the new album. For more information about the music of Leaf Rapids, visit https://leafrapids.org.

Music: Leaf Rapids "Dear Sister", "Citizen Alien", Barbershop Shears" and "There They Go" from "Citizen Alien" (2019, Coax Records) CDN.

We included an excerpt from our in-depth interview with Annie Capps (from Annie & Rod Capps) in Episode 488 of Folk Roots Radio. You can now check out the full interview here.

Annie & Rod Capps eighth, self-produced album "When They Fall" is a wonderful collection of songs that really fit every mood - from the light and cheery, to the serious and dramatic. What all these songs have in common is they are very all very well-written, and beautifully sung and played by a fine group of musicians. Joining Annie Capps (vocals, guitar, banjo) and Rod Capps (guitar, viola and harmony vocals) on the album are regular band members Jason Dennie from Thunderwüde (mandolin, mandola and harmony vocals) and Dan Ozzie Andrews (bass) with Michael Shimmin (Joshua Davis, the olllam, May Erlewine) on drums and percussion. Drew Howard also guests on pedal steel and Jenny Bienemann provides some delicate vocal harmonies on the song "Brevity". When They Fall deservedly became one of Our Favourite Albums of 2019.

Annie & Rod have also joined forces with two of their favourite songwriters, Jan Krist & Jim Bizer, and with the addition of Jan's partner Alan Finkbeiner on percussion, they are now Diamonds In the Rust. A full length album from the new combo is expected in 2020. For more information about the music of Annie & Rod Capps, visit https://maynardmusic.com. Photo: Jennifer Prouty.

Music: Annie & Rod Capps "When They Fall", "(That Would Do) Some Good" and "This Little Apple" from "When They Fall" (2019, Yellow Room Records)

We’re bringing something a little different to you on Folk Roots Radio this week. We’re celebrating the music of Kevin K Gagnon, a bass player from Windsor ON who has been active on the local scene since 1978. When I received the press release about "It Is What It Is", Kevin's first solo album - released after 40 years in the music business, I knew I had to bring him into the studio for an in-depth conversation. During his career, Kevin K Gagnon has pretty much played every bar, club and concert venue throughout the Windsor/Essex area, and recorded in just about every local studio. “It Is What It Is” is a collection of mostly instrumental works, written for electric guitar as well as bass - Kevin plays both on the album. Back in the 80s, Kevin toured with his band “Destiny”, and he has played with Joe Konas (The Gods), the late Windsor blues great Michael Bruce and many others. He has also offered his talents for countless local charity events over the years and currently performs live with local Windsor band, The Formula. It Is What It Is includes the recently recorded “A Blues Memory”, in memory of Michael Bruce, and a brand new song entitled “One Or The Other” featuring guitarist/vocalist Jeff Oppen. Kevin Gagnon is a recipient of The Windsor/Essex County Music Appreciation Award and a Hall of Fame inductee.

Music: Kevin K Gagnon “A Blues Memory”, “Minstrel Cramp”, “Today and Forever”, “One Or The Other” and “A Walk In The Park” from “It Is What It Is” (2019, Self).

We're pleased to bring you our full interview with New Jersey based singer-songwriter Sharon Goldman.

Sharon Goldman has built a fine reputation as a songwriter with a wonderful string of albums culminating in KOL ISHA (A Woman’s Voice) from 2016 which focused on her own experience growing up in an orthodox Jewish family on Long Island. Her latest 12-song album "Every Trip Around The Sun", produced with Allison Tartalia, was released in July 2019 to more critical acclaim. The new recording features a fabulous selection of songs - some topical, some romantic, some nostalgic and some inspirational - all of them well-crafted and engaging. Every Trip Around The Sun was included on our long list of Our Favourite Albums of 2019. Check them all out HERE. For more information about the music of Sharon Goldman visit https://www.sharongoldmanmusic.com. Music: Sharon Goldman with "A Garden", "Am I There Yet", "Sunset At The Border" and "Penny With The Waves" from "Every Trip Around The Sun" (2019, Self).