A very special literary romp to round off the year! This "bookish" episode features the well-read, candid, and occasionally irreverent members of "Buckner's Bookies", a ladies-only book club that meets every few weeks around a dinner table, to talk books, culture, food, politics, and—of course—trashy TV.

Sex, drugs, rock n' roll, hostages, immigration, crime, New York in the 70s, Saga Boys, opera, and accordions. Mix all that with some southern gothic blues, and you have yourself a rollicking-yet-thoughtful exploration into six hand-picked, music-themed books that will make you "Hot for Teacher", or perhaps dreaming of becoming a "Paperback Writer". Or, you might just find yourself craving some Buddy Holly or Lisa Loeb-style reading glasses to round off your festive holiday outfit.

The Books:
Scar Tissue (Anthony Kiedis) - reviewed by Dianne Buckner
Accordion Crimes (Annie Proulx) - reviewed by Tracie Tighe
Just Kids (Patti Smith) - reviewed by Gaelyne Leslie
Saga Boy (Antonio Michael Downing) - reviewed by Sue Burkhardt
Bel Canto (Ann Patchett) - reviewed by Helen Dewar
Don’t Tell Anybody The Secrets I Told You: A Memoir (Lucinda Williams) - reviewed by Jane Gowan

Notes from Our Friends:
Headlong Hearts
Crawford Street Skin Care (use the code "MUSICBUDDY" to get 20% off your first order!)
Guest appearance by Dave Ullrich of Zunior.com

Music in this episode:

"Higher Ground" - The Red Hot Chili Peppers (Greatest Hits, 2003)

"Crush Some Egg Nogs " - Annelise Noronha (Christmas in the County, 2018)

"Heaven on Earth" - Dave Clark & Friends  (Single, 2024; all proceeds to the Red Cross - purchase here)

"Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight": 1. Adagio sostenuto" - performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy (1983)

"Get Right!" - John Orpheus (Get Right!, 2024)

"I Like Christmas" - The Violet Archers (I Like Christmas, 2024)

"Metal Firecracker" - Lucinda Williams (Car Wheels On a Gravel Road, 1998)

Support the show

Please help us keep the pod rocking and rolling with a donation. Any amount helps!

MUSIC BUDDY IS:
Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor) ; Tim Vesely (co-producer)

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk

STAY IN TOUCH
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Twitter: @janegowan
TikTok: @musicbuddypod

This podcast is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.

After spending over 20 years writing, recording and performing his unique, lush and literate style of alt country Canadiana, Juno award-winning singer-songwriter Justin Rutledge is shifting his focus, every-so-slightly. He’s not moving away from music per se, but rather, walking peacefully alongside, with his young family in tow, and a home in the country to inspire and calm his poetic spirit.

Please enjoy this conversation with one of Canada’s most treasured craftsmen of song.

More about Justin at  justinrutledge.com

THE MUSIC BUDDY SESSION: "A PENNY FOR THE BAND" by Justin Rutledge
Performed by Justin Rutledge, Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely
Recorded and mixed by Tim Vesely at The Woodshed Studio, Toronto

Songs in this episode (all songs performed by Justin Rutledge, except “You and I” performed by The Violet Archers):
"Jellybean" (Islands, 2021)
"As It Was" (Single, 2023)
"Out of the Woods" (Valleyheart, 2013)
"You And I" (Sunshine At Night, 2008)
"Angry Young Man" (Something Easy, 2023)
"London" (Something Easy, 2023)
"Kapuskasing Coffee" (Valleyheart, 2013)
"Too Sober to Sleep" (No Never Alone, 2004)
"Courage (For Hugh McLennan)" (Daredevil, 2014)
"Head for the Hills" (Something Easy, 2023)

Support the show

Please help us keep the pod rocking and rolling with a donation. Any amount helps!

MUSIC BUDDY IS:
Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor) ; Tim Vesely (co-producer)

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk

STAY IN TOUCH
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Twitter: @janegowan
TikTok: @musicbuddypod

This podcast is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.

Guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer Tim Bovaconti knew he wanted to be a musician from a very young age. When he was just a mere lad, a fateful meeting with family friend Greg Keelor (Blue Rodeo) lit a spark that fuelled his musical passion. The flame continues to burn brightly today. 

Bovaconti has travelled the world as a working musician. He’s performed and recorded with artists such as Burton Cummings, Ron Sexsmith, Kim Stockwood, Jerry Leger, Julian Taylor, Andy Kim, Ray Davies, and Leonard Cohen. 

A seasoned sideman, Tim also fronts his own band, and has 3 albums to his name. His 4th album is called Again, and will be released at Hugh’s Room in Toronto on Sunday, Nov 17 (See below for ticket info.). 

Fresh off the bus from an extensive U.S. tour, a road-weary-but-still-energetic Tim joins host Jane Gowan at The Woodshed Studio to share some magical and memorable moments from his storied career to date. 

More about Tim
timbovaconti.com
Album Release Show for Again. Get tickets here

THE MUSIC BUDDY SESSION: "GROW" by Tim Bovaconti
Performed by Tim Bovaconti, Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely
Recorded and mixed by Tim Vesely at The Woodshed Studio, Toronto

Songs in this episode (in order of appearance)
"Again" - Tim Bovaconti (Again, 2024)
"Keep Moving" - Tim Bovaconti (Again, 2024)
"More" - Tim Bovaconti (Again, 2024)
"An Elephant Insect" - Shonen Knife (Heavy Songs, 2002)
"As It Was" - Tim Bovaconti (Again, 2024)
"Prove Your Love" - Tim Bovaconti (Again, 2024)

Support the show

Please help us keep the pod rocking and rolling with a donation. Any amount helps!

MUSIC BUDDY IS:
Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor) ; Tim Vesely (co-producer)

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk

STAY IN TOUCH
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Twitter: @janegowan
TikTok: @musicbuddypod

This podcast is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.

"...love well, live long, run with it before it's gone..." That line is from the song "Baby's on a Bike", by today's guests, Ontarians. As Craig Smith (the band's co-founder) says, "that kind of sums it up". 

Ontarians is roots rock from the heart of the Canadian Shield. Their attitude towards making music is joyful, collaborative, and organic. Hailing from Collingwood, ON, and Sault Ste. Marie, ON, co-founders Craig Smith and Frank Deresti started the group in 2018. The band's sophomore album—More How It Is—was released in September. In today's conversation, you'll hear about their approach to creating songs, swimming in lakes, herding cats, raising daughters, and avoiding encounters with bears.

THE MUSIC BUDDY SESSION: "BABY'S ON A BIKE" by Ontarians
Performed live off the floor at The Woodshed Studio by: Craig Smith, Frank Deresti, Jay Case, and Chris Johns
Recorded and Mixed by Tim Vesely

All the tracks used in this episode are from More How it Is (Ontarians, 2024).
In order of appearance:
"Start Over"
"Yardsale"
"Maybe This is Something"
"Trippin'"
"Breadcrumbs"

More about Ontarians at ontariansofficial.ca
More about Craig Smith at craigsnbacon.com
More about Frank Deresti at frankderesti.ca
More about the Four Winds Music Festival

Support the show

Please help us keep the pod rocking and rolling with a donation. Any amount helps!

MUSIC BUDDY IS:
Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor) ; Tim Vesely (co-producer)

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk

STAY IN TOUCH
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Twitter: @janegowan
TikTok: @musicbuddypod

This podcast is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.

No Dress Rehearsal is a 4-part documentary about one of Canada's most-loved rock bands - The Tragically Hip. The film premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Sept 5, and has been screening at Film Festivals around the country. It is now available to stream on Amazon Prime. 

The Tragically Hip rose to rock stardom in the late 80s and early 90s. They toured and recorded relentlessly, and by the late 90s, they were practically a household name. To the great delight of their fans, they showed no signs of stopping. Ever. Then, in 2015, the band’s iconic lead singer—Gord Downie—was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer. He passed away in October, 2017, and a nation mourned the loss of a musical icon, cultural mentor, and cherished storyteller.

The film highlights the endurance of the musical bond, and the mutual love and respect that developed over 30+ years that the band created, recorded, and toured together. The loss of Gord Downie dealt a massive blow, but through the empathetic lens of the film's director Mike Downie (Gord's brother), the remaining members of the band—Paul Langlois, Rob Baker, Gord Sinclair, and Johnny Fay—have found a way to tell the story of Gord and The Hip in their own words. The documentary features rare archival footage, plus candid interviews with band members, family, friends, and colleagues. It is a heartfelt and honest portrayal of life, loss, and love. Above all, it’s about the power of music, and the ways in which Gord Downie was able to captivate, motivate, and inspire. 

In this interview, host Jane Gowan speaks with Director Mike Downie and drummer Johnny Fay about the film, the band, and their beloved departed brother and bandmate, Gord. 

More Info
The Tragically Hip
No Dress Rehearsal (on Amazon Prime)
The Downie & Wenjack Fund

Music samples in this episode:
"Ahead By A Century" - The Tragically Hip (Trouble At The Henhouse, 1996)
"Fiddler's Green" - The Tragically Hip (Road Apples, 1991)
"Little Bones" - The Tragically Hip (Road Apples, 1991)
"About This Map" - The Tragically Hip (Now For Plan A, 2012)
"Are We Family" - The Tragically Hip (In Between Evolution, 2004)
"Looking For A Place To Happen" - The Tragically Hip (Fully Completely, 1992)
"My Music At Work" - The Tragically Hip (Music @ Work, 2000)
"It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken'" - The Tragically Hip (In Violet Light, 2002)
"The Stranger" - Gord Downie (Secret Path, 2016)
"The Lonely End of

Support the show

Please help us keep the pod rocking and rolling with a donation. Any amount helps!

MUSIC BUDDY IS:
Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor) ; Tim Vesely (co-producer)

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk

STAY IN TOUCH
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Twitter: @janegowan
TikTok: @musicbuddypod

This podcast is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.

A continuation of Episode 49 with Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, this is a special live-off-the-floor recording session of Jim's song "Anywhere Else But Home" from his new solo album All The World Fades Away.

Recorded by Tim Vesely at Blue Rodeo's Woodshed Studio.

The band:
Jim Cuddy: acoustic guitar, vocals
Andy Maize: vocals
Anne Lindsay: fiddle
Jane Gowan: accordion
Tim Vesely: bass

more info:
jimcuddy.com
bluerodeo.com
anne-lindsay.com
skydiggers.com
thevioletarchers.com

A co-production by Music Buddy and Employee of the Myth

Support the show

Please help us keep the pod rocking and rolling with a donation. Any amount helps!

MUSIC BUDDY IS:
Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor) ; Tim Vesely (co-producer)

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk

STAY IN TOUCH
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Twitter: @janegowan
TikTok: @musicbuddypod

This podcast is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.

This episode is a special co-production between Music Buddy and the Skydiggers' podcast, Employee of the Myth

"Blue Rodeo were at the vanguard of creating a national movement of roots music...that really captured peoples' imaginations in the late 80s early 90s, and continues to this day" — Andy Maize

"The thing about community is that there are a lot of opportunities to give...[The] Christmas show from Skydiggers always feels like a gift... like [they're] doing this as an offering...Their band has never really let me down. I listen to every record and I think 'good on ya boys, you did again'. That show is like that too - one thing after another that's given to the audience, and it's not about their career, it's about this offering at a very important time of year"— Jim Cuddy

Loyalty, gratitude, and a belief in living: These are some of the things that motivate and inspire musician, singer, and songwriter Jim Cuddy. His new album All The World Fades Away (June, 2024) is—in his words—a "fictionalized memoir". It's a collection of personal and poignant songs infused with appreciation of life, love, family, and friendship. 

Please enjoy this special conversation with guest Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo. Featuring Andy Maize, Jane Gowan, Joel Stewart, and Tim Vesely.

Thank you to Susan de Cartier and Judith Coombe at Starfish Entertainment for helping to facilitate this interview. 

Music samples in this episode:
"Learn to Live Alone" - Jim Cuddy (All The World Fades Away, 2024)
"Second Son" - Jim Cuddy (All In Time, 1998)
"Everyday Angels" - Jim Cuddy (All The World Fades Away, 2024)
"Will I Be Waiting" - Jim Cuddy (The Light That Guides You Home, 2006)
"Arizona Dust" - Jim Cuddy (The Things We Left Behind, 2009)
"Bad Timing" - Blue Rodeo (Five Days in July, 1993)
"Torn" - Jim Cuddy (All The World Fades Away, 2024)

More about Jim Cuddy at jimcuddy.com
More about Blue Rodeo at bluerodeo.com
More about Skydiggers at skydiggers.com

Support the show

Please help us keep the pod rocking and rolling with a donation. Any amount helps!

MUSIC BUDDY IS:
Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor) ; Tim Vesely (co-producer)

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk

STAY IN TOUCH
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Twitter: @janegowan
TikTok: @musicbuddypod

This podcast is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.

One city, two Cellars, seven decades, and thirty vibrant jazz personalities. Journeys to the Bandstand: Thirty Jazz Lives in Vancouver is the debut book by author and veteran music journalist Chris Wong (Vancouver Sun, Georgia Straight, Vancouver Courier). It is an in-depth and rich account of the remarkable life stories of several key protagonists in Vancouver’s jazz and improv scene.

From lesser-known icons such as trumpeter John Dawe, to revolutionary shape shifters such as pianist Al Neil, to essential leaders in today's scene such as bassist Jodi Proznick, Wong chronicles this carefully-curated selection of intriguing lives with a gentle compassion, a steadfast respect for the truth, and a deep love and understanding of the art form itself.

The book describes the inspiration, passion, and the lure of a life dedicated to music, but also the emotional, economic, and physical toll that can often accompany such a choice. While chronicling the professional trajectories of his chosen subjects, Wong also shines a light on a city with a rich jazz culture, a supportive community, and a fascinating musical history.

Music samples in this episode:
"Jordu" by Duke Jordan - The Al Neil Quintet (Al Neil - The Cellar Years: Archival Recordings from 1957)
"Modal" - The Al Neil Trio (Retrospective 1965-68)
"Sax Freeabin" - Hugh Fraser & VEJI (Canadian Stage Band Festival, 1981)
"Listen" - Jodi Proznik (Sun Songs, 2017)
"The Shoes of the Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers" - Charles Mingus (Let My Children Hear Music, 1972)
"Home Cookin'" by Horace Silver - Cory Weeds (Home Cookin' , 2023)
"Song for My Father" - The Horace Silver Quintet (Song for My Father, 1964)
"The Key of Love" - Hugh Fraser (Bonehenge, 2005)

LINKS:
Chris Wong, Author
A Trane with Nou Dadoun (Vancouver Coop Radio)
Cellar Music Group (Cory Weeds)
Live at The Cellar: Vancouver’s Iconic Jazz Club and the Canadian Co-operative Jazz Scene in the 1950s and ‘60s, by Marian Jago (UBC Press, 2018)

Support the show

Please help us keep the pod rocking and rolling with a donation. Any amount helps!

MUSIC BUDDY IS:
Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor) ; Tim Vesely (co-producer)

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk

STAY IN TOUCH
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Twitter: @janegowan
TikTok: @musicbuddypod

This podcast is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.

Is there anything better than listening to your favourite band while sitting outside in the sun with friends, family, and fellow music-lovers? Very few experiences can top the feeling you get from soaking up fresh air and soundwaves simultaneously. So, as summer approaches, we bring you "Festival Season" - a special 3-part series on music festivals.

Music festivals appear to pop up out of nowhere - in a city park, in the green space beside a lake, or on a farm next to a river. All of a sudden, a field becomes a dance floor for a main stage; or a leafy forest grove transforms into an intimate music workshop. It seems instantaneous, but a festival takes months—and sometimes years—to plan and produce. Staff and volunteers work tirelessly to bring music fans the most entertaining, uplifting, safe, and memorable experience possible.

In this series, we talk to a few of the wonderful people that work around the clock to bring us these magical events.

Part 3 - KEVIN GOODMAN: Tall Pines Music & Arts Festival
As the CEO of Front Row Centre Music & Entertainment Marketing, Kevin Goodman brings passion, enthusiasm and a boat load of experience to his current endeavours in the music world. He has a talent for facilitating the connections that allow the dream to become a reality, creating an unforgettable summer festival experience for musicians and fans alike. 15 bands, live art, food trucks, local vendors, kids' zone, beachfront, canoeing, and much more: that's what you'll find at the Tall Pines Music Festival,  July 19 & 20 in Gull Lake Park, Muskoka. 

Learn more:
Tall Pines Festival
Front Row Centre Marketing
Born & Raised Concert Series
Mind Aid

Music Samples in this episode:
"Take Your Time" - Chloë Doucet (Single, 2024)
"Find New Ways" - Dan Mangan (Single, 2024)
"Algonquin" - The Real Shade (Horizon Diaries, 2018)

Support the show

Please help us keep the pod rocking and rolling with a donation. Any amount helps!

MUSIC BUDDY IS:
Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor) ; Tim Vesely (co-producer)

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk

STAY IN TOUCH
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Twitter: @janegowan
TikTok: @musicbuddypod

This podcast is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.

Is there anything better than listening to your favourite band while sitting outside in the sun with friends, family, and fellow music-lovers? Very few experiences can top the feeling you get from soaking up fresh air and soundwaves simultaneously. So, as summer approaches, we bring you "Festival Season" - a special 3-part series on music festivals.

Music festivals appear to pop up out of nowhere - in a city park, in the green space beside a lake, or on a farm next to a river. All of a sudden, a field becomes a dance floor for a main stage; or a leafy forest grove transforms into an intimate music workshop. It seems instantaneous, but a festival takes months—and sometimes years—to plan and produce. Staff and volunteers work tirelessly to bring music fans the most entertaining, uplifting, safe, and memorable experience possible.

In this series, we talk to a few of the wonderful people that work around the clock to bring us these magical events.

Part 2 - ARIANA DALIE & CRAIG SMITH: Four Winds Festival
 Ariana and Craig are "The Happiness Mafia", a live music event and production company, that—in addition to presenting concerts throughout the year—is responsible for creating the Four Winds Music Festival. Four Winds takes place July 12-14 at the Riverstone Retreat in Durham, Ontario. This is the festival’s second year, and the lineup is a lovingly-curated offering of roots-rock, folk, singer-songwriter, world music and bluegrass. 
In this episode Ariana and Craig talk about how a phone call home from Antarctica started them on their current path, and how their passion for music plus their individual strengths enable them to create a shared dream: presenting year-round concerts, plus a 3-day summer festival on 136 acres of green space in Southern Ontario. 

More info:
Four Winds Music Fest
The Happiness Mafia
The Ontarians

Music samples in this episode:
"Trippin'" - Ontarians (More How  It Is, upcoming release July 9, 2024)
"Hey Moon (A Campfire Song)" - Joel Plaskett (Single, 2023)
"Juan Charrasqueado" - Quique Escamilla (Encomienda, 2019)
"Lucky To Find" - Jolie Smith (2024)
"Time" - Ontarians (The Greatest Short Story Never Told, 2021)

Support the show

Please help us keep the pod rocking and rolling with a donation. Any amount helps!

MUSIC BUDDY IS:
Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor) ; Tim Vesely (co-producer)

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk

STAY IN TOUCH
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Twitter: @janegowan
TikTok: @musicbuddypod

This podcast is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.