EP 170 | Vince Ditrich – The Liquor Vicar

August 21, 2021

hello

Vince Ditrich has been a pal for many years. Lives in the neighbourhood but we spend 20 years bumping into each other. Me as a broadcaster and VJ. Vince as the drummer of legendary Celtic/punk band Spirit of the West. SOTW is no more. They lost their leader, the brilliant John Mann to Alzheimer’s. Here’s to you John.

Vince has been writing for years – with an on line column called Random Note Generator. Now comes his first of three books about Tony Vicar. Failed rock star and his crazy circle of friends and enemies.

Enjoy!

Liquor Vicar takes place in a fictional town on Vancouver Island called “Tyee Lagoon”.

Tony Vicar, a life-long local and wannabe rock-star, well past his shelf life for achieving any success, and not particularly musically talented anyway.

He is reduced to DJing rural weddings and for an extra hundred bucks throws in an Elvis impersonation. He becomes dark and cynical at the state of his life and career, but at his worst moment meets Jacqueline O’Neil, known by all as Jacquie O.

He gets a job working at ‘Liquor’, the only liquor store in Tyee Lagoon, owned and operated by a crusty character nicknamed Ross Poutine. Poutine’s trademark mangled grammar and mysterious goat-like odour give him a unique identity in the town.

After a rotten dinner date, the curmudgeonly Vicar and his bubbly date Jacquie come across a terrible car wreck on the road home. Vicar gives aid and everyone present seems to think he has miraculously brought one of the victims back to life. Word gets out about Vicar’s miraculous roadside ministrations and almost immediately he becomes a celebrity; after a little national and international attention his fame skyrockets, leaving him confused and questioning everything about his life. He never saw himself getting famous for THIS reason! It’s the first of three Liquor Vicar books.

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EP 169 | Dan Mangan

August 13, 2021

hello

The final interview from the 2021 Calgary folk music festival.

Dan Mangan – artist, entrepreneur, father, husband, and surprisingly a great middle-distance swimming champion.

Two time Juno winner

Dan’s most recent album was More or Less. (2018)

After many years of small venue performances, Dan co-founded Side Door Access with Laura Simpson.

“We believe artists deserve more control and fewer gatekeepers, and that an empowered arts community will produce the most interesting, diverse and daring ecosystem of expression”

What started out as a local support system for artists (and audience) was completely re-arranged to bring music to all of us during the pandemic. Everyone involved at Side Door was swept along by a flood of requests and opportunities. Including Dan Mangan.

Now he’s seeing light at the end of the Covid tunnel and can start to pick up the remnants of his music and performing career.

When we talked a couple of weeks ago, Dan was getting ready to engage in his first public performance in many months at the Calgary Folk Music Festival.

Dan and I cover some of the above and more. You can look forward to a steady flow of songs and albums to come from Dan in the next year and a half.

This is the complete interview.

Thank you Dan!

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EP 168 | Tom Wilson

August 7, 2021

hello

Tom Wilson. A true rock and roll Rennaisance Man

Rocker. Roots shapeshifter. A folkie and a punk.

Singer, songwriter, author, and Mohawk Warrior.

This time around we talk about getting back on the road after the Pandemic. The many projects he set in motion once he was locked down.

The most interesting thought Tom shares is that he’s “ not that guy anymore”

Writing different songs that will take him in a new direction.

Will we follow? Let’s find out.

And a lovely human being.

Tom Wilson is our guest this week. The complete interview.

EP 167 | William Prince

July 30, 2021

hello

If you happen to be out of the country or sleeping or bowling with your co-workers you may have missed the first of four outstanding Mulligan Stew Podcasts last weekend.

The first was Frazey Ford. Still to come Dan Mangan and Tom Wilson. This week our guest is William Prince.

You may have discovered William via his first album Earthly Days (2015) or the follow-up

.(2020)

His career was just leaving earth’s orbit when the pandemic struck.

William talks about how his songs take shape, his love of Johnny Cash, Country Charlie Pride, Kris Kristofferson, and the words of his Father about “how you speak – is how people will treat you”

And trust me – when I ask William Prince (Peguis Nation) – about the shame in Canada surrounding the Residential School deaths on children pulled from their families, Williams Words will ring through your heart and your head.

Ladies and Gentlemen – a speaker of the truth. William Prince

EP 166 | Frazey Ford

July 23, 2021

hello

Frazey Ford.

In a music business filled to the brim with coulda, shoulda and woulda’s – Frazey Ford is the real deal.

Her latest album is U kin B the Sun

Behind a singular voice..as comfortable on a folk festival stage in Calgary as a jazz festival stage in London (2 nights) ..she is a joy to hear and behold.

Frazey has overcome.

Family dynamics, bullying and abuse, the recent loss of 2 family members, and a male-dominated music business.

The first of four outstanding podcasts – we begin this journey with Frazey Ford.

Next week William Prince

EP 165 | Greg Keelor-Jim Cuddy Mashup

July 16, 2021

hello

It’s not often that we double back on a previous interview.

There has to be something interesting that makes them candidates.

What we have here are two separate interviews with the co-founders of Hall of Fame/Juno winning band Blue Rodeo, plus Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy both have solo careers on the go.

I talked to Greg in March and Jim 3 weeks ago.

I decided to cut the two interviews together to see how the responses and stories matched.

Have a listen. It’s an interesting mashup.

Blue Rodeo plays the Calgary Stampede Saturday, July 17

And The Jim Cuddy Band play the Calgary Folk Festival Summer Serenades on Prince’s Island Park Friday, July 23

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EP 164 | Jim Cuddy-Good News

July 10, 2021

hello

Jim Cuddy was standing at the door of his Toronto house waiting for the cab that would take him to Saskatchewan and the 2020 Junos when the phone rang and he discovered it was canceled because of Covid.

Instead, he headed to his small country home and started writing. Then slowly gathered his Jim Cuddy Band – one at a time – and created tracks for his next solo album. His Blue Rodeo partner Greg Keeler then called and got things rolling on a new Blue Rodeo album. Greg would send his songs to Jim and the band. They would replace or add instruments, vocals, etc and send back. Greg did the same for Jim. Normally they’re all in the same room when they record. Jim says – you can’t tell the difference. “It was remarkable”

When I asked about Canada Day and the conflicting thoughts on that day about residential schools, indigenous rights, and other cultures, Jim gave a beautiful honest response.

Jim says the new Blue Rodeo album has a “zip in it’s step”(January) Greg wrote lots of tunes. Lots of energy.

And what Jim really liked was having the time to sculpt his songs. They felt more clearly defined. “No throw-away lyrics”

And yes he admits to changing.

And having time to watch the seasons change was wonderful – “I had to stop leaning forward and relax.”

Blue Rodeo plays the Calgary Stampede on July 18

Jim Cuddy Band plays the Calgary Folk Festival – Summer Serenades – on Prince’s Island Park on July 23^rd.

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EP 163 | Steve Marriner Interview

July 3, 2021

hello

Steve Marriner is our special guest this week on Mulligan Stew.

We all know Steve from the award-winning Monkey Junk and the very popular Manx Marriner Mainline.

He’s a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and newly minted mixer. . Hope Dies Last is his second solo album. His first was in 2006.

(He’s been just a tad busy)

Hope Dies Last has 15 musicians in the credits..so it’s a true group effort. And signals great things ahead in his solo career.

If you remember our Greg Keelor solo album Episode #152 it was Greg who raved about working with guitarist Jimmy Bowskill. (Sheepdogs. Jim Cuddy)

Steve worked tirelessly with the very same Jimmy Bowskill to get these songs sounding just right.

He’s written songs of pain and heartache, hitting rock bottom and working your way UP. (check out Enough)

Through his songs and albums, production and mixing what we’re hearing here is the the future of Canadian blues/roots/Americana music. Have a listen and let the stories flow.

Thanks to David GoGo for the hang.

EP 162 | Leeroy Stagger

June 26, 2021

hello

This week’s very special interview guest is Leeroy Stagger bringing with him new music from his forthcoming album Dystopian Weekends. Leeroy lets us know that unlike the last two albums he made for wider audiences. This one he made for him. Leeroy also talks about hosting Dirty Windshields on CKUA. It got him through the lockdown. Dystopian Weekends captures the sound of early Byrds, Clapton, Laurel Canyon.

Two stand-out songs – Buffy’s song Greedy Guts and Black Teenagers.

That last song deals with the headlines this very weekend. The Floyd George Murder.

Full disclosure – I jumped the gun on the release date. It’s not coming out until October 1 but as Leeroy says “the whole model of what is an album release has changed. Given Covid, lockdown, and technical innovations it’s a whole new format. So, run with it.”

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EP 161 | Romi Mayes – Curbside Concerts

June 18, 2021

hello

This weeks guest is singer/songwriter Romi Mayes (Winnipeg)

But she’s not introducing a tour or a new album. In 2021, she’s the Senior Producer for Curbside Concerts.

A company started in 2020 by Matt Masters and Amanda Burgener. They could both see, because of Covid, that artists in Canada were going to have a hard time working, gathering together, and paying the bills. Also, music fans were going to lose their live music.

So they created Curbside Concerts. A safe way for musicians and audiences to get together during these many months.

You chose the artist, date & time. One of their producers will work with you to make it all happen.

The stage (if required), microphones, battery-powered speakers, and anything else needed will show up with your artist.

Want some names?

Paul Pigat. Joe Nolan. Petunia (solo). Jay Semko (N Pikes) JD Edwards (Small Glories) Ridley Bent.

All safety standards are met and everyone enjoys the music.

Curbside has been a success. Now in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and BC

Over 100 artists have signed up. Concerts big and small have taken place.

Audiences have gone away with memories to last a lifetime.

Curbside Concerts have been nominated for four Western Canadian Music Awards.

Impact on

-Live Music

-Artist Development

-Music Marketing

-Community Excellence

We welcome the Senior Producer for Curbside Concerts – excellent singer/songwriter Romi Mayes.

If you’re an artist or want to be a Host – Romi has all the info.

www.curbsideconcerts.ca

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