Citr -- The Saturday Edge

A tribute to the wonderful Irish singer Moya Brennan (Clannad) who died this week. Also music from some of the winners at last weekend's Canadian Folk Music Awards, a few songs for Earth Day and Visaki, new music from young Irish blues singer Muireann Bradley, new singles by NS duo Mama's Broke, Canadian guitar wizard Don Ross, and the amazing Bette Midler, plus some stunning music from Senegal, Hungary, Bulgaria, Asturias and Castilla, and features on Eire's Dervish, Quebec's Le Vent Du Nord, and NL's Rum Ragged, and The Ennis Sisters. Lots more besides!

Canadian Folk Music Awards nominees and a big chunk of artists performing at the 49th annual VFMF in July. (Line-up just announced this week!) Also a few performers coming to the Mission Folk Festival the following weekend, and heaps of new releases from Songlines magazine etc., and previews of local concerts scheduled for the next few days / weeks.

Music by some of the winners of last week's Canadian Blues Music Awards in Toronto, and three Juno winners from the previous weekend as well. Started with some funky new North & West African music and other new releases from Putumayo Discovery - and more. Plenty of Vancouver concert previews as the show folk-rocked on! A few old faves snuck in along the way, too.

Started with a feast of North African, Cuban and Mexican music. Then played music by most of the nominees for The Canadian Blues Music Awards (to be awarded on Monday March 30th), also features on Morgan Toney (Mi'k Maq fiddler / songwriter from Cape Breton) and the incredible Medusa Quartet from Ontario, who celebrate the launch of their second CD with a gig at The Rogue next Thursday. Lots more new releases and concert previews, too - many of them Canadian.

Started with a whole array of music from the beleaguered island nation of Cuba. I can't do much about solving their power cuts or breaking the blockade from our imperialist neighbours to the south, but if enough people listen to this music and enjoy it, maybe something will stir somewhere out there, wheresoever the airwaves from CiTR can get through. Maybe that something will help or inspire a Cuban. Or a music enthusiast. Or a would-be traveller. Or a supply ship captain from a smart nation like Mexico, or Canada ... Then paid tribute to the remarkable Irish trad singer Dolores Keane, who passed away last Monday. Added a few tracks from a bunch of upcoming local concert performers, and tunes from a wide range of new releases - including a new album from Tom Russell.

Started the show in Africa, headed to the Middle East, and then crossed Canada with a few side trips to focus on 19th century African-American sailor turned one-legged busker Billy Waters, and Orcadian quartet Gnoss, before the second half of my weekly four hour musical romp allowed me to spin some of my all-time favourite Irish songs and tunes to kick off St Patrick's week.

While oligarchs, sexual predators, gangsters and thugs are destroying the planet, I look out upon a beautiful world. I hear music that inspires and enriches us. I want to share this music far and wide, but it all feels very scary right now. Regime change must surely happen, ASAP, starting with the USA, and Israel. It probably won't happen. Soon, if ever. If we have to go, we will go down singing.

CiTR is holding its annual Fundrive this week, so this was me spruiking away - solo- for four hours, while playing music by many favourites - old and new - from all corners of the known world. I've been hosting this show for over 40 years so choosing "favourites" can be quite time-consuming! I concentrated on performers coming to town or who have performed here recently. And not-so-recently, too! Many premiums are up for grabs from CiTR and from The Rogue Folk Club, too. I hope this "worked"!

A few songs with a Horse theme to mark the Lunar New Year (of The Horse) and some of my all-time favourite music by black artists to mark Black History Month. Then a bunch of local concert previews, and new releases (including the brilliant Canadian string quartet, Medusa). Sadly, a few songs about the darkening of the world as Dementia Donny leads us to the brink of more wars.

It's Valentines' Day, but it's also time celebrate my love of music every day. I hope you share this love / obsession, too! There are some extremely lovable concerts coming to town in the next few weeks and I played plenty of tracks from those performers. Plus some new tracks from around the world (of love) and a few old "flames", too!

Plenty of variety this week, including some Grammy Winners and Nominees, music from a number of new Putumayo Discovery albums, and the latest issue of Songlines Magazine. Also featured new albums from Ireland's Ye Vagabonds, and American bluegrass divas Della Mae, and Sierra Hull. Plus a bunch of local concert previews, and new tracks from Canadian (mostly) Celtic combos Medusa Quartet, and The McDades. Plus a few surprises from the past - and the present.

Music from the latest issue of Songlines Magazine's Top of the World CD; R.I.P. Sly Dunbar, drummer with the legendary reggae riddim section Sly & Robbie; new singles by The Boss, Eric Bibb, The Fugitives, Medusa Quartet, Sophie Lukacs, and Daughters of Donbas; local concert previews galore; new albums by Della Mae, and Irish trad band Ye Vagabonds; and some stunning Ukrainian folk with a modern pulse from Yagody.

Heaps of fiddle music. I am so impressed by the dedication to the craft and amazing creativity of fiddlers the world over! I missed the Folk Alliance in New Orleans this week - way too scary in America right now! Played music by the winners at the Folk Awards night, and also celebrated Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Taj Mahal. This show was a bit of a mish-mash, as was my head after the shocking news of the sudden death of CiTR and Coop Radio DJ Paul Norton, who had also given incredible support to The Rogue as Publicist, as well as working for many years at Festival Distribution, the great record warehouse in the east end - now sadly gone, too. Paul leaves a HUGE hole in the local music scene and at CiTR. The show must go on, as they say, but this week has knocked me for six.

Grateful Dead founder Bobby Weir passed away this week. Sad news. Concert previews, a few new releases, some old faves, and some not-so-subtle digs at the fascists down south. We live in scary times ... (This show was not broadcast LIVE on CiTR. My show was pre-empted, but I had a few things to say! It went out from the Rogue website and is now available as a podcast at CiTR.)

Songs and tunes decrying the rise of fascism. Music from Venezuela, Greenland, Denmark, Canada, Cuba and other countries threatened by the US regime. Complaints and laments about murder in the streets and blood for oil. Plus some great songs and tunes from many corners of the civilized world!

New music from Fraser & Haas, Vasen, Maria Muldaur and more. A look back at favourite recordings and concerts of 2025. A fond - and extended - look back at my favourite festival of 2025 (Tonder, in Denmark last August), and a look ahead at 2026 with concert previews and more new releases. For the full version of the final song, go to the podcast of the show. Trust me, it's worth it!

Some of my favourites in a wide range of genres from a great musical year, plus sad R.I.P.s to English bluesman Mick Abrams and English melodeon legend Rod Stradling. Also a few songs for Boxing Day, The 12 Days of Christmas, and New Year's Eve.

Seasonal favourites old and new sprinkled amongst new releases from around the world. Plus a sad RIP to Texas songwriter Joe Ely. Previews of Cool Yule (the final Rogue show of 2025) and the first two shows in Jan uary (J.P. Cormier, Fraser & Haas), and, of course, my trademark 40th annual mash-up for Christmas Day (The Pogues, Monty Python, Steeleye Span etc.)

New music from Africa to start the show, featuring Putumayo's excellent latest release - Desert Blues. Lots more from across the "dark continent", then music from Iran, Romania, and Cuba before paying respect to Raul Malo, who died this week. Great lead singer with The Mavericks. Some stirring instrumentals from across Canada, some wonderful new topical songs, and then another RIP - this time to Quebec's amazing bass player / composer Simon Lepage (Les Grands Hurleurs) - followed by some great new Quebecois trad. The big Celtic finale featured some powerful tunes and a few poignant songs.

Memphis guitarist and Stax Recrds co-founder Steve Cropper died this week. Such a big influence on music - especially my favourite roots music of the sixties. Also paid tribute to reggae pioneer Jimmy Cliff, and Scottish songwriter / educator Adam McNaughton with a couple of songs towards the end of the show (including the condensed "Hamlet". The whole play in 4 minutes to the tune of The Mason's Apron!). Also a Get Well Soon to English troubadour Rory McLeaod, who is recovering from a heart attack. I included lots of new, mostly Canadian, music as well, and local concert previews, of course.