Halifax based singer-songwriter Leanne Hoffman has just released a fabulous new album "What Remains". Her debut as a solo performer, the new album was produced by Erin Costelo who also co-wrote a couple of the songs on the new recording. Leanne joins us on Episode 449 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about her music, alongside four tracks from the new album. We also check out new releases from Steve Murphy, Tim Moxam, Mattie Leon, Lucas Choi Zimbel, April Verch and Pretty Archie. Check out the full playlist on the website.

Khalid Yassein from Toronto’s folk-pop band Wild Rivers is our special guest on Episode 448 of Folk Roots Radio. After two album releases and a couple of singles, the Toronto-based band are really gaining traction, and have already developed a loyal fan base. They’ve just been touring Western Canada with Matt Andersen and his band, and this summer, they’ll be playing the wonderful Hillside Festival (July 12-14), at beautiful Guelph Lake, just outside Guelph ON. We check out their latest single "Moving Target", plus two tracks from their 2018 E.P. "Eighty Eight". We also take a look at more of the new releases we’ve received and this time around we check out new music from Merival, Geneviève Racette, Our Native Daughters, Irish Mythen, RUNA, Michelle Rumball, Manx Marriner Mainline, Bryan McPherson and Onion Honey. Check out the full playlist on the website.

Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage came together as a duo after a chance meeting at their local folk club, the Black Fen Folk Club, in Cambridge, England. Their music is deceptively simple, just two beautiful voices with accompaniment from mountain dulcimer, dobro and guitar - intimate duets around a single microphone, that draw you in and open you up. Since arriving as a duo on the folk scene in 2016, they have released two critically acclaimed studio albums, "Before the Sun" (2016) and "Awake" (2018), both recorded in Toronto with highly regarded producer David Travers-Smith. They've just released a new single "Hidden Things", the first of three written on the road and inspired by their relationship to the spirit of place. For more information, visit http://hannahbenmusic.com. Music: Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage "Way Over Yonder In A Minor Key", "A Thousand New Moons" and "7" from "Awake" (2018, Sungrazing Records / Proper) and "Hidden Things" (single) (2019, Sungrazing Records / Proper).

"My songwriting is a form of alchemy. And once I open it up, magic happens." That's Steve Poltz discussing his songwriting during our interview about his great new album "Shine On". The now Nashville based singer-songwriter released Shine On earlier this year. Featuring 10 new songs, including co-writes with Scot Sax, Molly Tuttle and Anthony Da Costa, the new album is replete with Steve Poltz whimsy and quirky humour but also includes some beautiful songs. Steve Poltz is currently on tour in Eastern Canada. For more information and tour dates, visit http://poltz.com.

Toronto's Pete Eastmure joins us on Episode 447 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his latest album "Keep Your Love Steady", a pedal steel drenched vintage Americana recording with a wonderful Texas swing that is sure to bring a smile to your face and get your toes tapping. We also check our new music from Geneviève Racette, Abigail Lapell, Còig, RUNA, Richard Garvey, The Co-Conspirators, Ken Dunn and Kete Bowers. Check out the full playlist on the website: http://folkrootsradio.com/folk-roots-radio-episode-447-feat-pete-eastmure-more-new-releases/

We're giving over the whole of Episode 446 of Folk Roots Radio to an in-depth conversation with singer-songwriter, severe weather scientist and social activist Dave Sills, who has just released a wonderful debut album, "Fifty". Dave Sills was a musical guest on my Guelph focused show Royal City Rag several times over the years. Dave joined us in the Folk Roots Radio studio to chat about the weather, storm-chasing, climate change and making his first album at the age of fifty – alongside a selection of tracks from the new album. Check out the full playlist on the website: http://folkrootsradio.com/folk-roots-radio-episode-446-in-conversation-with-dave-sills/

Troubadour singer-songwriter Bobby Dove is back on tour in Ontario this Spring. Bobby released her debut full-length album “Thunderchild” in October 2016. Thunderchild takes us back to the golden age of country music, and features a mix of broody ballads, honky-tonkin two steps and reflections on the what-ifs of life. Bobby joined us in the studio at Folk Music Ontario to chat about her music and play a couple of songs live.

Tour dates: Peterborough (May 19), Toronto (May 23), Orillia (May 24), Maynooth (May 25) and Uxbridge (May 26). For more information, visit http://bobbydove.com.

Whiskey Jack have been making music together for over 40 years. In the 1980's, they were featured weekly on the The 'Ol' Back Porch' of the CBC's Tommy Hunter Show. In 1993 they joined Stompin' Tom in the studio to make the album "Dr. Stompin' Tom... Eh?" before becoming his tour band. Since Stompin' Tom's death in 2013, they have been keeping his songs and legacy alive with a tribute show "Stories & Songs of Stompin' Tom". Whiskey Jack band leader and banjo player Duncan Fremlin joined us on Folk Roots Radio to chat about the show, his new biography of his days on the road with Tom, and a new album "Rhymes and Good Times with Stompin' Tom".

Americana singer-songwriter Gillian Nicola joins us on Episode 445 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about her first full-length album “Dried Flowers”. It’s an excellent album, and, though we’re a bit biased, a great interview. We hope you’ll check it out. We also a look at more of the latest new releases, including new music from Pretty Archie, Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys, Whiskey Jack, Tomato Tomato, Allison Lupton and Sofia Talvik. Check out the full playlist on the website: http://folkrootsradio.com/folk-roots-radio-episode-445-feat-gillian-nicola-more-new-releases/

Hamilton based multi-instrumentalist Dave McEathron, the former frontman and principal songwriter of Toronto roots rockers - the much loved and sadly departed The Warped 45s, joins us on Episode 444 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about his wonderful full-length solo album "Abandoned Companions" which is accompanied by an equally wonderful band E.P., appropriately entitled "The Abandoned Companions Companion Piece". It was a wonderful and insightful conversation - definitely worth sticking around for. We also take a look at more of the new releases we’ve received, and this time around we’re including music from Pete Seeger, Al Lerman, Lee Palmer and Michael Jerome Browne. Check out the full playlist on the website: http://folkrootsradio.com/folk-roots-radio-episode-444-feat-dave-mceathron-more-new-releases/