Steve's Blog
Friday December 28, 2007

Hi everyone

Radio Rogue - New Playlist

I just created a new playlist on Radio Rogue. It comprises selections from my favourite 50 CDs of 2007, a few seasonal songs to mark the end of the year, a few plough songs, and a large selection of music from performers we will present in the first 4 months of 2008. There are well over 200 songs and over 16 hours of music without repeats. You can access Radio Rogue by clicking on radio.roguefolk.bc.ca:8000/listen.m3u When prompted, enter the following Username: Radio Rogue Password: Roots Radio! (include the spaces, exclamation mark and capitalization)

Annual Musical Potluck

We are celebrating the 20th Year of The Rogue with a party for Volunteers and Friends on Sunday January 6th from 4pm onwards. It will be a musical potluck, so bring a dish to share, and bring the whole family and your instruments and voices, too. We hope to have a performance of Molly Dancing, and there should be a good jam session too. If you would like to attend, RSVP by replying to this message and we'll send details of the location etc.

Rogue Folk Review

The next issue of the Rogue Folk Review will be mailed out on Monday January 7th. Please call Wilma Devito on 60-734-4808 if you would like to help out at the mailing party.

Laura Love concert, January 12th

The first concert of 2008 is on Saturday January 12th at 8pm at St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue (which was called "The Best Antidote to GM Place" in today's Vancouver Sun's Best Music of 2007) The concert features Laura Love and her fine trio (with Barbara Lamb on fiddle and Jen Todd on guitar and vocals). Laura is from Seattle, and is a powerful singer and bassist who lays down a solid groove that makes her shows fun and very danceable. Her latest CD, NeGrass, explores the African roots of American music. It was produced by Barbara Lamb, who will join her in this special concert of bluegrass, Afro-Celtic and folk music with very strong roots. www.lauralove.net. Concert details

Ollabelle / Martha Scanlan, January 15th

The following Tuesday we present the Vancouver debut of the stunning American quintet Ollabelle. The show is also at St. James Hall at 8pm. Ollabelle consists of 5 singers from varied backgrounds and geographical locations, who met up to make music in New York City, and created a scene that helped lift the gloom in downtown Manhattan after 9/11. Woodstock-bred Amy Helm (yes, that Helm) came from a long history singing in blues combos. Byron Isaacs had worked as bassist with a variety of artists while pursuing his own songwriting efforts. Tony Leone had an extensive resume as a jazz drummer. Fiona McBain had moved to New York from Sydney, Australia and had begun to win attention as a solo singer/songwriter. Canadian-born Glenn Patscha had long been active in the New Orleans music scene. "A collection of songs of hard times, loss, compassion and hope" is how Fiona McBain describes Riverside Battle Songs, Ollabelle's second album and Verve Forecast debut. The 13-song set finds the New York quintet building upon the foundation of its self-titled 2004 debut, drawing from a deep well of gospel, blues, bluegrass, and country influences to create timelessly resonant music that honors the integrity of its sources while remaining effortlessly contemporary. www.ollabelle.net.

Impressive U.S. singer/songwriter Martha Scanlan is the special guest on this show. The haunting quality of Martha's voice, unique perspective and poetic imagery of her songs helped to gain national acclaim for the innovative old-time string band, Reeltime Travelers. In their six years of touring they played some of America's most prestigious venues and festivals from the Grand Old Opry to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Her first solo project, "The West Was Burning", is one of my favourite CDs of 2007, both for musical content and presentation. www.marthascanlan.com

Tickets for these shows, and for Chris Smither, who plays St. James on January 31st, are on sale online and also at Highlife Records, Rufus' Guitar Shop, and you can also reserve tickets on our Hotline 604-736-3022. Concert details

Radio Shows this Week

This weekend I have two radio shows which will feature music from my Top CDs of 2007. On Saturday, tune in to The Edge On Folk on CITR fm 101.9 from 8am to 12 noon. It's also available live on the internet on www.citr.ca and podcasts will be available later that day for download from CITR's website and the iTunes Music Store. Feel free to call in with your requests and dedications on 604-822-2487.

The following morning, around 8:25am, I'll be Sheryl McKay's special guest on CBC Radio One's North By Northwest. I'll squeeze in my Top 5 or 6 Songs of the Year and a few anecdotes before the 9 o'clock news.

Have a great weekend, everyone. Enjoy these 12 days of Christmas and here's wishing you a very happy and prosperous New Year - with plenty of Rogue Folk shows to keep your spirits up!