Mulligan Stew Podcast

EP 249 | Steve Dawson

hello

A native of Vancouver but currently residing in Nashville, where he works as a solo artist, sideman, and record producer,  Steve has forged an impressive career full of highlights and awards, including:

  • 7 Juno Awards as artist/producer, 18 times nominated
  • 3 times named “Producer Of The Year” at the Western Canadian Music Awards
  • 4 times named “Producer Of The Year” at the Canadian Folk Music Awards
  • Recipient of many other awards including Maple Blues Awards, Grand Prix De Jazz De Montreal, Blues Blast Awards, and many Western Canadian Music Awards and Canadian Folk Awards as an artist and producer

Steve’s multi-faceted career has brought him to countless international festivals, working on the stage and in the studio with an extensive cast of musicians, including John Hammond, Sonny Landreth, Van Dyke Parks, David Hidalgo, Colin James, Jim Byrnes, Jill Barber, Dave Alvin, Joe Henry, Tim O’Brien, Fats Kaplin, Colin James, The McCrary Sisters, Matt Chamberlain, Del Rey, Birds of Chicago, Allison Russell, Long John Baldry, Bruce Cockburn, Kelly Joe Phelps, Linda McRae, CR Avery, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Geoff Muldaur, Scott Amendola, Danny Barnes, The Deep Dark Woods, Colin Linden, Big Dave McLean, and many others.

Steve’s studio, The Henhouse, located in Nashville (and previously in Vancouver)  has hosted countless artists and been the home to over 80 releases. With a beautifully warm and organic setting to stay and record, it promises to become a destination for many more to come.

His groundbreaking work with Jesse Zubot in Zubot and Dawson kicked things off in 1998, leading to 2 albums with Toronto jazz stalwarts Andrew Downing and Kevin Turcotte in the award-winning Great Uncles of the Revolution. Steve’s solo recording output started with 2001’s award-winning acoustic “Bug Parade”, he next explored blues and Hawaiian influences in depth with “We Belong To The Gold Coast” in 2005. 2008 saw the release of 2 albums – “Telescope” which was the culmination of studies with Greg Leisz and featured music written for the pedal steel guitar, and “Waiting For The Lights To Come Up”, a collection of new songs. He followed that with 2011’s acclaimed “Nightshade”, which Acoustic Guitar magazine named to it’s Top-10 guitar albums of the year. 2014’s “Rattlesnake Cage” – was an award-winning exploration of solo acoustic and slide guitar. Dawson’s 2018 release “Lucky Hand” is a mesmerizing collection of original fingerstyle and slide guitar instrumentals, 5 of which feature Dawson reuniting with his old cohort Jesse Zubot, who arranged incredible string quartet parts to flow with the music. Recorded live off the floor it brings together the American Primitive style Steve has often explored and cutting-edge strings to create music, unlike anything you’ve heard before. Birds of Chicago, Allison Russell, Matt Anderson, etc.  Steve is also host and producer of the podcast Music Makers and Soul Shakers. 135 episodes in 6 years.

amcjmdudhjrtists from all over the world, and continues to work as a side-person and freelance musician both on stage and in the studio. Steve is also the creator of the well-loved Music Makers and Soul Shakers podcast, which has been going for over 6 years and 135 episodes.

He spent the last few years pre-pandemic on the road playing guitar, steel and dobro with Allison Russell’s band Birds of Chicago, and Canadian powerhouse Matt Andersen. He has produced, engineered and mixed over 100 albums for many artists from all over the world, and continues to work as a side-person and freelance musician both on stage and in the studio. Steve is also the creator of the well-loved Music Makers and Soul Shakers podcast

In 2022/2023, Steve released 3 albums throughout the year – “Gone, Long Gone” is the first. From gentle fingerstyle folk tunes to blazing, funky Americana grooves, to Hawaiian-style slide guitar instrumentals, this album covers a lot of sonic territory.

The second album, “Phantom Threshold” came out on August 12, 2022, and is an all-instrumental sonic trip featuring the Telescope Three – Jay Bellerose on drums, Jeremy Holmes on bass, and Chris Gestrin on keyboards. All driven by the melodies and improvisations of Steve’s pedal steel guitar.

Now comes the promised third album Eyes Closed, Dreaming.  It’s filled with Albertan friend  Matt Patershuk co-writes and well-chosen covers. Bobby Charles Small Town Talk, Ian Tyson’s  Long time to get old, Cowboy Jack Clements Guess things happen that way and the classic Singing the Blues.

Lots to talk about with long-time friend Steve Dawson.

Steve’s current tour dates

April 20  Dream Cafe  Penticton

April 21 Rogue Folk Club Vancouver

April 22 Bozzini’s Chilliwack

April 28  First Church of Christ Scientist Victoria

May 3 The Basement Saskatoon

May 4 The Aviary Edmonton

May 5 Festival Hall Calgary

EP 248 | An Interview with Dan Mangan

hello

Our Special Guest on Episode 248  is Dan Mangan.

Yes, he was just a co-host on The Juno Couch.

We had already done this interview before the Couch was a thing.

And we didn’t really get to talk during our Juno special because we were busy with all our other guests.

The focus here is Dan’s new album Being Somewhere.

This interview is the complete conversation.

Dan also openly reveals the vocal health issues he’s been dealing with.

I managed to put all of the stress in my body, into my jaw. I’m dealing with it now. There’s a softer touch to the vocal delivery”

 

Complete interview on Mulligan Stew Podcast and the Terry David Mulligan YouTube channel.

www.danmangan.com

EP 247 | The Juno Couch Recap

hello

Juno Couch:  a luxurious seating area where artists may gather during Juno Weekend and exchange opinions, questions and minor insults. All for the entertainment of music fans everywhere. Music can also be played from the stage conveniently located right next to the Couches.

Just for the record, the Juno Couch only happens when the awards are hosted in Alberta. It’s been co-hosted by Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo – except for this year.

Year one was in the bar lobby of the Hotel MacDonald, Year two was in a restaurant at the base of the Calgary Tower and Year Three was on the streets of Calgary.

Just over a week ago, Edmonton hosted the Junos Awards. Right across the street from the Juno home base was CKUA Radio.

A perfect home for the Juno Couch because we already had two couches and a performance area.

Jim Cuddy was playing Juno Cup hockey to raise funds for Music Counts—Canada’s music education charity.

Jim made a guest appearance from the rink via The Net.

My co-hosts this year were Tom Wilson (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings) and Dan Mangan.

Guests include

  • Angelique Francis
  • Digging Roots
  • Shawn Hall (The Harp and Axe)
  • Jon Dore
  • Shakura S’Aida
  • The Weather Station
  • Marc Jordan and Amy Sky
  • CKUA Hosts
  • Holger Petersen
  • Cam Hayden
  • Kate Stevens
  • Marek Tyler
  • Grant Stovel
  • Kerry Clarke

This podcast is an edited combination of guest comments over the two-hour show. Best exchanges on the day!

Please enjoy!

And thank you all.

Guests, crew,  staff, volunteers, Vintage West, Rigoletto.

EP 246 | Oscar picks from Movie Television

hello

The Oscar Awards are always one of the stand-out events of any year!

This year is no exception.  It is, after all,  the year following

The Slap!!

The Oscars take place Sunday, March 12 Live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

For many delightful years, I was the co-host and then the  host of Movie Television for CityTV.

The key to the success of MT across Canada and around the World was the support staff. We talked film 24-7.

That’s what I wanted to recapture with this Episode of The  Mulligan Stew Podcast.

Film fans and film friends just riffing thoughts and calling out the possible winner of various awards.

Actor/Actress

Supporting actor/actress

Director

Screenplays

Adapted Screenplay

Film of the year

 

Our guests and my dear friends are –

Lorraine Clark – Associate Producer

Alfred Tonna – Post Production Director & Segment Producer.

Dan Duford – Producer.

 

Between we four, we have visited 100’s of film sets capturing the inside story of the film and 1000’s of media junket interviews with the stars.

 

Have a listen and see if you agree.

and check out the Video Version of this Oscar session. On terrydavidmulligan YouTube Channel

 

EP 245 | David Landreth Interview

hello

There’s really no such thing as an overnight success!

Dreams can be experienced but it takes the work of time to find the crossroads between dreams and reality.

The Bros. Landreth dreamt of making music, just like their Dad Wally in Winnipeg.

Wally wanted that too because he kept spinning vinyl at home,  like a music teacher. But no schlock..only the good stuff.

Little Feat, The Eagles, Neil Young, CS&Nash, and Bonnie Raitt.

 

Years later the Brothers are playing at the Winnipeg Folk Festival when they were approached by the headliner – none other than Bonnie Raitt.

She asked if they would send her songs to record because they reminded her of her friend Lowell George from Little Feat.

David and Joey Landreth wrote and rejected many songs. They felt they weren’t up to Bonnie’s standards but eventually – again years later – they sent a song they had recorded  called…     Made up mind.

Just so happens it’s the same song Bonnie heard them play and she said – that’s the song.

Two years later the boys hear from friends in Nashville that Bonnie is recording that song and then she makes it the first single off of Just Like That.

Both album and song go on to win Grammys this year and The Bros. Landreth have become “a thing”.

Because in the music world such  stories are told again and again and just to get the story straight, here’s a discussion with David Landreth about those Grammy moments and the rest of the story.  Well done boys.  FYI Bros. Landreth will get to thank Bonnie personally when they play the Byron Bay Festival in Australia April 6-10

Congrats Wally!!

What a win for Bonnie and great music.

EP 244 | Interview with Booker T Rock and Roll Hall of Famer

hello

Legendary artist/producer/songwriter Booker T Jones takes us through his life and music on The Stew and Podcast and YouTube.

Leading the house band at Stax records in Memphis.

Working with Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Rufus Thomas, and Wilson Pickett. Also Bob Dylan, and Neil Young, backing Otis at the Monterey Pop Festival and leading his own band Booker T and the MG’s.  His thoughts on the most memorable person he met and his induction into The  Rock Hall of Fame.

Lots of stories and music to go with it.

Booker leads a 10-piece Stax Revue Band on stage at Jack Singer Hall Saturday, Feb 25.

 

EP 243 | Terry Wickham-The state of Folk Music Festivals in Western Canada

hello

Terry Wickham, long-time Producer of Edmonton Folk Fest responds to the possible demise of the Vancouver Folk Fest and how it may affect other Festivals.

He also talks about the state of today’s touring industry. Off stage and on.

Let’s face it, music production and essential business are changing rapidly.

Costs are skyrocketing.

Artists are finding new and creative ways to make a living and extend their careers. Will your favorite festival still be up and running by the Summer? Have a listen.

Is there anyone or anything that can save Vancouver Folk Festival?

Maybe it’s you.

EP 242 | WHITEHORSE-Tales from New Album ‘Im not Crying You’re Crying’

hello

Jimmy would be so proud!

His Mom and Dad are guesting on the  Mulligan Stew Podcast.

Jimmy is the 10-year-old son of Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet of Whitehorse. Jimmy likes the music his Mom and Dad make so much that he’s sitting in on drums during house rehearsals.

Luke and Melissa have just released their 8th album I’m not crying You’re crying.

What started as a possible lockdown country covers project quickly turned into writing their own songs, as though they were writing and singing in the 70s. In Nashville.

What’s best about this album is they sound like they’ve been writing and singing country all their musical life. Which is what they did.

When they met and started Whitehorse it was as a country band. So, they’ve come full circle. Through the blues and back into country.

This podcast tells the tales of those years and their relationship.

It’s a winner and so are Jimmy’s parental unit.

www.whitehorsemusic.ca

EP 241 | Jann Arden from the Archives-We Revisit Calgary Junos and Feeding My Mother

hello

Two Words – Jann Arden.

Long time friend. A completely singular artist.

In concert she’ll have you laughing so hard it will be through tears.

Then she sings – man does she sing – and you’ll find yourself freely flowing more tears.

I have been blessed to have had a close-up focus on Jann’s  career and her very full life.

(including early on, busking in a doorway in cold and wet Gastown, Vancouver and getting sucker punched by a pedestrian for singing Christmas Carols. Years later,  she’s creating her next hit album and looking down from The Warehouse studios, she can see that exact doorway.)

For over 35 years Jann and I have crossed paths and occasionally stopped to talk with a microphone or camera between us.

While I was busy telling music and film stories Jann was nominated for 19 Junos ,  winning 8.  She won MuchMusic awards and now is on Canada’s Walk of Fame.

Jann’s  been acting, hosting, judging, recording, and touring with her small group and with orchestras large and small.

Basically, with the support and guidance of manager Bruce Allen, Jann Arden has become a Canadian Super Star.

These two interviews are from our archives.

The first is from April 2016 – at the Junos in Calgary where she was co-hosting.

I attended a press conference and she was completely surrounded by the media ..so I went off to the corner and found the only two chairs in the room, with a small table.

I set up my field recorder and waited.

When she was done, Bruce walked Jann over and we had a chat. Here’s the exchange of ideas and thoughts.

Juno Interview-Terry David Mulligan, Corey Wood, and Jann Arden

The second interview is from Dec 2017…Jann’s on tour and I wanted to talk to her about her book Feeding My Mother: Comfort and laughter in the kitchen as my Mom lives with memory loss. 

Together, Jann  and her Mom were  a force. Her Mom was losing a battle to memory loss and Jann was doing her best to comfort, feed  and love her best friend.

This interview has stayed with me for the last 5 years. Heartbreaking and revealing,

Thank You Jann.

 

NEXT WEEK – Whitehorse

EP 240 | Shawn Edwards on the 2023 Critics Choice Awards

hello

It’s movie award season…

One after the other nominations and awards are presented to films,  actors, musicians, art direction, directors, and veterans of the industry.

The next awards gathering is this Sunday, Jan 14 in LA.

It’s the Critics Choice Awards on The CW and streamed on the Net. 7-10 Eastern – slight delay on the West Coast. Hosted by Chelsea Handler

These awards have weight and meaning as they’re voted on by the critics who screen hundreds of films annually.

Choosing one critic to guest is as tough as voting but there’s none better than Shawn Edwards on  News 4 Kansas City.

He’s one of the founders of Critics Choice and the driving force behind The annual Celebration of Black Cinema and TV.

Enjoy the ride It’s a film cage match.

www.criticschoice.com

https://www.instagram.com/sedwardskc/?hl=en