My City My Scene

Today we travel to the Country of Senegal, in Africa, to speak with Senegalese music champion, Mamadou Fall.

The Senegalese music I have heard is similar to the people I have met from there. It’s fun, lively and complex. CNN once said that Senegal was inextricably linked to a musical sound. This style of music, Mbalax, has sacred origins and contains elements of reggae, hip hop and soul.

This episode features music from Youssou N'Dour and Cherifou, from Senegal, and Akon, from the United States. 

On this week’s show, we travel to Canada to speak with musician, festival founder, and renaissance man Guilhem Martinez. I first met Guilhem in Florida and, after speaking to each other for a bit, we discovered we may have previously crossed paths earlier in Scotland at Dundee’s Book Yer Ane Fest. Guilhem, casually mentioned he helped to produce a similar festival in Canada that I should come play sometime. I later discovered it was the highly lauded Pouzza Fest that I’d been hearing about for years. 

In this episode we discuss Pouzza Fests’ humble beginnings and how, unassumingly, Guilhem helped turn it into one of the most highly respected festivals in the punk community. We also talk about the difference between French and English speaking punk bands and learn more about Montreal. 

Today we hear music from Yesterday's Ring and NOBRO from Canada and Jeff Rosenstock from New York City. 

Welcome to this week’s episode of My City, My Scene. Today we travel to the tiny town of Spangenberg, Germany to speak with punk rocker, and one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, Armin Evildiver. Armin’s hometown, which he’ll tell you more about later, is a tiny, quaint and somewhat hidden town in the middle of Germany. When I tell other Germans about my travels there, few of them have actually ever heard of it. The people there though, are welcoming and hospitable. While I would eventually visit Armin here, the first time I met him was in the middle of The Bermuda Triangle aboard Flogging Molly’s Salty Dog Cruise, in 2016. 

We talk to Armin about folk punk, German hardcore and what he really thinks of Miami Beach. 

This episode features Die Schnitter and Rykers from Germany and Strung Out from the United States. 

Today we travel to the city of Cairo, Egypt to speak with Arabic music scholar Essam El Haggar. 

In a previous episode, Edinburghs’ Billy Liar talked about how his travels to the United States made him understand how much  shorter America’s historical timeline was compared to the United Kingdom’s. 

As we look back on Cairo’s past, its ancient and epic timeline makes the aforementioned countries look like newborn babies. Founded in 2000 BC, it's known for wonders of the world like the pyramids and The Sphinx, but Cairo now is a bustling and culturally rich city, boasting a population of over 30 million people. 

Today, Essam tells us about Egyptian history and discusses Arabic music and instruments. 

The artists we play today are Umm Kulthum and Cairokee, from Egypt, and Paul McCartney, originally from England. 

Today we travel down to Juárez, Mexico to speak with electronic music connoisseur, Steff Garcia.

Here, Steff tells us all about her love of electronic music from all over Mexico and beyond. She also discusses the importance of discovering a music scene in a city synonymous with danger. 

We talked with Steff about the importance of music during times of uncertainty and the solace she found at raves and underground dance clubs.

The artists we shared with you today were Murcof and Jiony from Mexico and Massive Attack from Bristol, England. 

A podcast about connection, culture, community and, most of all, MUSIC!

Today we will travel all the way to Edinburgh, Scotland to talk to my friend Billy Liar. Billy is not only a music fan, but a phenomenal musician himself. He is well traveled in that regard, playing shows all over the UK, Europe, The United States and elsewhere. 

Billy grew up and spent his formative years in Edinburgh, but has also lived in Glasgow, Germany and currently lives in Dundee, which is about an hour north of Edinburgh. 

I find it fitting that my first guest  is from Edinburgh because Scotland is the only other country, besides the United States that I’ve ever lived in. My family and I transplanted there, when I was a kid, while my dad attended graduate school at Harriet Watt University. I don’t remember much of it, but, regardless Scotland has always held a very special place in my heart. 

The artists we share with you today are Mastersystem and Faith Elliot from Scotland and Joe McMahon from the United States.