hello

It’s fair to say that Christmas is the most traditional season of the year.

Mulligan Stew has its own tradition we’d like to share with you.

It all started at CBC Vancouver in the late 70s with Producer Susan Englebert.

I was hosting a weekly show called The Great Canadian Goldrush and Susan brought together several of our artist friends to sing Christmas songs and tell Christmas tales.

Shari Ulrich, Roy Forbes, Terry Frewer were all part of those shows.

The show became a tradition – year after year.

Then life happened.  Our friend Susan lost a battle with cancer, Goldrush was canceled and we all moved on.

It wasn’t until I signed on with Roundhouse Radio in Vancouver that the idea of Christmas in the Round started to take shape.

Finally, I had a great mix.

Artists who believed in the power of music and the good it could create.

A real working studio..plus a lobby that doubled as a stage. Perfect!!

This is now Year Three of Christmas in the Round.

Shari Ulrich is still part of the group.

( Roy Forbes joined us last year)

This year the lineup is strong. Everyone on the stage had an amazing year. Recording, touring, co-writing and making new friends.

Barney Bentall – had just come off the road with Cariboo Express. Released a fine new album Cosmic Dreamer and  had just toured with  his Cariboo Express.  Also had toured with  Blue Rodeo. FYI –  Barney and The Express have now raised over $1M for food banks.

Shari Ulrich – on the road with Barney, playing with other artists, forming a trio with her daughter Julia and fellow Cariboo Expresser  Kirby Barber, who’s also with us this year.

(Julia recorded and mixed this hour)

Jim Byrnes-  with a well-earned reputation as a singular performer, who proudly shows his St Louis roots in every song.

Bill Henderson – Leader, writer, vocalist, and guitarist of Chilliwack. Mentor to many of today’s new artists. Producer, songwriter and picker.

Craig Northey – Original member of  Odds. Invaluable session man, co-writer, and part of perhaps the best backing band in the Country. Also solid member of the Steven Page Trio.

You may notice in the group photo that Craig is  leaning on a crutch. That’s because he BROKE his ankle playing hockey 2 weeks before this session and he still came to play.

He’s a gamer. A lifer.

Geoff Hicks – Plays drums with EVERYONE – Colin James, Barney, never mind..it’s way too many to mention

Rob Becker – Ditto. Need a great bass player? Start in the B’s with Becker.  Plays with Barney a lot.

It was important to0 include an oroiginal member of Christmas Jam Roy FGorbes., From year One – here’s Roy and on Lap Steel guitar Shaun Verreault from Wide Mouth Mason..with two closing songs.

They all have Christmas songs and stories and a tradition to carry on.

Many thanks to Corey Wood, John DeVries, Cory Price, Julia Graff, Monique McQueen, Alex Rodgerson, Don Shafer, Margaret Garrison, Dave Dhillon, Gabe Reinarz, Julian Anton, Scott Elliott and Duke, Natalie Pitt.

Many thanks to our singers and pickers

And as always Corey Wood and MEG – The Home Team

This show is dedicated to the memory of Susan Englebert

PLAYLIST:

PLAYLIST:

hello

Dec 17^th was never going to be just another Stew.

It’s the first of two Christmas shows.  The Christmas vibe is always different for so many reasons. Some want nothing to do with it. Many embrace it fully. I’m an All In guy.

Thankfully some find a way to give back and make a difference. Food Banks, shelters, packages left on doorsteps, etc.

I grew up in North Vancouver where my Father was a Game Warden.

His close friends were police officers and firefighters.

So I’ve always had a connection to that location and community.

I saw a posting go by a week ago and it shone a light for me.

I hope it does the same for you.

It’s important everyone knows that they can help the people of Ukraine through a brutal Winter and War.

I’ve interviewed the two organizers about this heartwarming humanitarian event and the complete interview can be heard on Mulligan Stew Podcast and my YouTube Channel. THANK YOU

North Shore Fire Departments Launch Project Frozen: Winter Clothing & Blanket Blitz for Ukraine In a Canadian first, all three North Shore fire departments have teamed up in a two-week collection blitz to send a mountain of winter clothing and blankets to Ukraine. This winter in Ukraine will be the bleakest in anyone’s lifetime. No power, no heat, no light, or intermittent at best, for much of the country, which is bigger than Canada. Project Frozen, led by the District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (DNVFRS) and Defend Ukraine Foundation (DUF), hopes to collect 3,000 winter jackets and blankets, and $15,000 for shipping, by December 20. This is an ambitious project: Jared Reynolds and Brent Mudry hope to fill a 40-foot sea container with 20 pallets of winter gear, each 40′ x 48″ x 8 feet high

Tax-deductive donations to fund shipping can be made through either: – District of North Vancouver Firefighters Charitable Society: www.dnvfirecharity.ca (PayPal, credit card, cheque – mark “Ukraine”) – Defend Ukraine Foundation www.defendukrainefoundation.ca (cheque or wire)

My guests at the  top of hour two are Firefighter Jared Reynolds and Retired Investigator Brent Mudry.(paternal grandparents from Ukraine)

We can help this humanitarian effort:  clothing for a Ukraine Winter

by donating to

DNVFire Charity.ca

DefendUkrainefoundation.ca

Thank you

The Christmas Stew Part One had goody bags of music. Including suggestions from last week’s audience.

From Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Norah Jones, Tom Petty, Ramsay Lewis, new Celeigh Cardinal, Whitehorse, New Mariel, and T Buckley (The Buckletts)

Blue Rodeo, Jack Johnson, Sam Bush, Ellis Marsalis, Amy Winehouse, Allison Russell, Dave Mathews Band, and two Bill Sample tracks (We Three Kings),

PLAYLIST:

hello

The Start of The Christmas Cone

Here’s what December and Mulligan Stew have in common.

We’re both like an ice cream cone.

Dec 1 we’re the tiny tip at the bottom but as the days come and go we get bigger and bigger until we become the delight  at the very top. Just-Like-A Cone!!

December is a season that really comes alive with music. Not the cheesy Christmas songs that get beaten into submission every year but the ones that cause reflection, kindness, and comfort.

It’s just the start of “a tingly feeling”

Here’s the tip of our Christmas Cone…

It starts with two live tracks

Bob Dylan and The Band  – All Along The Watchtower

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – An American Girl

Can you feel it….?

And then right back into an extended Duets Special – this time the songs requested by last week’s audience.

Taj Mahal  and Los Lobos

Jenn Grant and Kim Harris

Buddy and Julie Miller

Van Morrison and Georgie Fame

Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks

Sonny and Cher

Tina and Adams

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

Ray Charles and BB King

We throw in some Tedeschi Trucks/Leon Bridges, Harrison Kennedy, Rhiannon Giddens, Stones, James Brown, The Beatles (Rubber Soul), Blue Rodeo, Angela Strehli, Delbert McClinton, and Faces.

And we finish with a remembrance of Christine McVie and Frank Zappa.

TDM and Frank Zappa

Have a great December. Going to be a hell of an ice cream cone

PLAYLIST: