The guests are Ian Beaty and Colin Brumelle Singers and songwriters leading the soul and R&B sounds of Honeybear, the Band. New album I Was Wrong.   Vancouver-based based but they're creating music that could easily have come from Memphis, New Orleans or Muscle Shoals.   See and hear it for yourself:   Aug 5 Harmony Arts Fest West Van Aug 7  The Drake Canmore Aug 8 Ironwood Calgary Aug 9 Wapiti Fest  Fernie Aug 29 Fox Cabaret  Vancouver Sept 12 Barnside Harvest Fest Ladner Oct 8 Centennial Theatre North Van     www.honeybear.band     Honeybear, the Band Playing you vintage soul, blues and roots music from Vancouver BC www.honeybear.band

NEON COWGIRL  "The Neon Cowgirl-towering over Broadway like the patron saint of heartbreak in downtown Nashville as she smiles coyly over her shoulder in red cowboy boots-watched me grow up. Basking in her glow, I walked wide-eyed into the Ryman Auditorium as a 16 year-old, clutching my ticket. Later that night, dreaming of standing on that stage,  I drifted off to sleep in the bunk of our home on wheels at the KOA next to the Opry. When I was 18, she saw me flipping through Loretta Lynn CDs in Ernest Tubb Record Shop after performing the breakfast and lunch shows on the General Jackson showboat with my parents and brothers in our family band, The Neilsons. At 25, she watched me running all over town, meeting up with other songwriters-writing, writing, writing-before I had to fly back home to Canada again. At 30, I returned as a newlywed on my honeymoon, flying in from New Zealand where I'd moved for love, holding hands with my new husband in Hatch Show Print, introducing him to her like a family member. A decade passed without her as I built a life on the other side of the world and raised 2 babies. My heart raced as I returned to her once again, to showcase at Americanafest, playing to 12 people at 3rd and Lindsley. 5 years and many showcases later, I swear she smiled right at me as I stopped to point her out to my two children as we walked past her, through the doors of the Ryman to finally perform for the first time. NEON COWGIRL represents a lifelong dream of chasing Nashville and country music. I’ve loved her my whole life, even when she breaks my heart over and over again."   This weeks guest = Tami Neilson - through much hard work,  fierce determination and drive has begun to make all her dreams come true. She is blessed with a voice that's been described as "a fire breathing R&B belter" by Rolling Stone. Tami has now played the Ryman, sung a duet with her hero Willie Nelson. Travelled the highways and cities of the USA and Canada in an RV  with her NZ family,  so they could experience where she came from and the places on the planet she was singing about. Her latest adventure was opening for Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan as part of the Outlaw Music Festival.  Dreams DO come true. She's done all this while dealing with health issues and her brother Jay's recovery from major surgery. 

It's Festival Season. One of the very best times of the year. Sun, relaxed lifestyle, friends, family and FESTIVALS. Jazz, blues, rock, roots, pop, French. Everything !! Especially Folk! There are many folk festivals where you'll see and hear all of those artists. The barriers are well down. If it's music and engaging,  then it all fits.   "An artistic director is a leader in arts organizations who shapes and guides the creative vision" . This is the second year we've had an Artistic Director Cage Match. All four AD's exchanging comments and suggestions about who's coming and who not to miss. The state of the music business 2025. They've all been shaping their rosters for the past year. At times, going after the same hot artists. The success of each festival rests on their shoulders. When they're all in the same room, so to speak, it's best to just has to ask a question and get out of the way.   Returning Guests are   Chris Frayer - Winnipeg Folk Festival (celebrating 50 years) July 10-13 Fiona Black Vancouver Folk Festival July 18-20 Kerry Clark Calgary Folk Festival July 24-27 Jenna Klein-Waller Canmore Folk Festival Aug 2-4   winnipegfolkfestival.ca thefestival.bc.ca calgaryfolkfest.com canmorefolkfestival.com

Mark Lo  (Director/Producer) has worked in film and TV for more than 20 years. First, as a music agent and supervisor, collaborating with composers and artists to bring music to picture and then as an Executive Music Producer Mark recently produced and directed the feature music documentary Count Me In. A  celebration of drummers and their unique ability to drive generations of music.     I love being a drummer. Everyone thinks you’re dumb. What they don’t realise is that if it weren’t for you, their band would suck. – Dave Grohl Eat drums! Eat cymbals! – Animal   Drumming was the only thing I was ever good at. John Bonham   Count Me In is a celebration of the role of the drummer in popular music.  Mark Lo’s British-made doc dates back to the even darker days of 2021.  It’s drummers talking about other drummers and appreciating great drumming, and if that works for you, then hear the drummer and get wicked.   The documentary includes interviews with the late Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Stewart Copeland (The Police), Roger Taylor (Queen), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), Cindy Blackman Santana (Lenny Kravitz, Santana) and Jim Keltner (The Traveling Wilburys) and many others. They all seem to talk about Keith Moon (The Who), John Bonham (Led Zep), and Neil Peart (Rush).   Watching Ringo Starr, Charlie Watts, John Bonham, Ginger Baker, or Keith Moon play for the first time is amazing. Of course, many of those legends were inspired themselves by the great American jazz drummers like Max Roach, Buddy Rich, and Gene Krupa. Still, watching Nicko McBrain from Iron Maiden give a detailed account of the differences in style between Starr and Watts is remarkable.   Enjoy the drumology session on the Mulligan Stew Podcast.  Turn it Up and Count Me In.

Mike's new album is called The Sound of Muscle Shoals.   He's waited almost 20 years to round up the next generation of Swampers and record at the world-famous FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals. Wow - was it worth the wait?  Mike Farris lives and sings The Sound of Muscle Shoals. The sound is a mix of blues, soul and country. The NY Times called it Indigenous American Music. The same sound that came from Etta, Aretha, Boz, Paul Simon, Wilson Pickett, Neil Young, Percy Sledge, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, The Staple Singers and many more. Long before heading for FAME studios, Mike had to clean up his life, and he talks about hitting rock bottom. That's when his wife said, "We're going to do something different this time.  We'll start by talking about the why's. Why, when you start getting successful,  you self-destruct?" Mike said, "That scared the hell out of me."   Mike is many years clean now, and he's riding the Slow Train to Muscle Shoals.  Enjoy The Sound of Mike Farris!!

60 years later, we welcome Colin Blunstone - Lead singer of The Zombies   How is it possible that an English band that was part of the British Invasion of the early '60s is still being played and referenced in 2025? The band was The Zombies. The two leaders were songwriter and singer Rod Argent and lead singer Colin Blunstone. They had three world hits. A fourth hit the charts after they had broken up. Many years later, they were inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland.   I always loved the sound of the Zombies—a singular mix of rock, blues and very cool jazz. In a sea of sameness, Colin's vocals were unmistakable. Great harmonies lifted each song and the arrangements were unlike anyone else in "The Invasion". Now, along comes Hung Up on a Dream,  a documentary capturing their careers and lives. Directed by Robert Schwartzman. Both will be joining us in the second hour.

Dan Mangan released his 7th album, Natural Light, last Friday.   A year ago, Dan Mangan asked the players in his road band to join him at a cottage to demo the songs for Natural Light.   These players would likely not be in studio when he rerecorded the songs.   However, after recording the first song  - It Might Be Raining - they looked at each other, laughing. It was pure magic. The room worked, the band worked and the songs really worked  They did two songs the next day and  2 more the third day. Four songs the 4th day.    The demos in the cottage became the album Natural Light.   Our interview covers a lot of ground. Dan opened up about his highs and lows. At one point, he was not being able to find a label that believed in his music.   He made a decision not to let anyone mess with his dreams,  so he started his own label. Dan says, This is the very best music he's ever made.   He brings tales of acceptance and rejection. Of finding a balance between his dreams and his family.   It Might Be Raining - was written for his children in preparation for the world he/we were leaving them. The songs bring Hope. I believe Natural Light to be one of the albums of the year.

We met over coffee on the streets of Victoria to talk about Songs from The Gang - A Celebration of Joel Plaskett.  A #1 LP on the CKUA Top 30. His music friends recorded covers of his songs and kept it a secret for a year. Anyone who knows the music business will admit that is a minor miracle. Joel's Gang included Sloan, Alan Doyle, The Sheepdogs, Matt Andersen,  Jenn Grant, etc. Joel's stories just spilled out - one after the other.

Most music fans know Kevin Hearn as the pianist and songwriter for Barenaked Ladies. Few would know that Kevin was the band leader for Lou Reed for 7 emotional years.  Or that he fought a battle with leukemia for many years, even while touring with BNL.   Gord Downie knew all those stories when he asked Kevin Hearn and Kevin Drew to help him prepare for live performances of his final music project - Secret Path! Because he had just been down his own darkened  path , Kevin Hearn was able to bring comfort and  strength to the recording of Gord's final songs.  Kevin takes us though those moments including Gord's last words to him, about his friendship with Lou Reed and then takes us on another journey - this time to Jamaica.   Kevin's new solo album is called Portland Parish. Recorded in three locations. A small jungle cottage, the legendary Trident Hotel and the long-abandoned Trident Castle.  Kevin plays originals, covers (Lou Reed and Sun Ra Arkestra) on a collection of creaking pianos weathered by time and nature. If you listen closely, you can hear chirping frogs and dogs barking in the distance. Several of the pianos were damaged and barely playable.  Kevin says, "The idea was to seek out semi-abandoned pianos in spaces said to be haunted and improvise."

We're featuring Wine Educator and Event Creator Kurtis Kolt .  Top Drop 2025,  his sensational small wine fest runs next week in Vancouver and Calgary.       Wine Educator, judge and Event Co-Ordinator Kurtis Kolt. His thoughts on 2025 Washington Grown/Crafted in BC Wines His impressive  Top Drop Events this coming week  in Vancouver and Calgary.   Kurtis Kolt is a Vancouver-based wine & hospitality consultant who writes about wine, presents seminars, hosts events, judges' competitions, works with restaurants on their wine programs, and so on. Kurtis has been  running restaurants around Vancouver, eventually receiving the 'Sommelier of the Year' award at the 2010 Vancouver International Wine Festival. KK is also the co-founder of Top Drop, a series of terroir-focused trade and consumer festival-style events, dubbed  "the nerdiest, most awesome wine festival in Canada."      TOP DROP In Vancouver May 13 and Calgary May 15. Kurtis books very select wineries (and their winemakers)  Check out the participants - https://vancouver.topdrop.ca/en/exhibitors   Dubbed “The One Wine Tasting of the Year You Shouldn’t Miss,” by Western Living magazine, Top Drop Vancouver and Top Drop Calgary‘s Main Events return with continued focus on sustainably-farmed, handcrafted wines offering a distinct sense of place, without heavy-handed winemaking trickery to get in the way.     His latest project is Free Spirit!, a celebration of the world of non-alc wine, beer, and spirits!   Kurtis joins us on Tasting Room Radio to also talk about the Grown in Washington - Crafted in BC 2025 Wines,  now being seen on BC shelves.   www.topdrop.ca www.winebc.com www.kurtiskolt.com @Kurtis Kolt