Monday Special Blend
Monday September 20th, 2021 with Jumpin' Joel Flash & Kim Valentine
It’s Wellness and Animations and Songs from the Heart and Local Music on the Monday Special Blend!
A preview of the winners of the 2021 Folk Music Ontario Songs From the Heart Awards! The 2021 FMO awards ceremony goes down this Saturday!
An interview with animator Terril Calder! Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics is playing at the Ottawa International Animation Festival, and we yik yakked all about it!
And then an interview with Beatris Lasu of Women in Colour Remake Wellness! Kim & Biatris yik yakked Yoga and launching something new in a pandemic!
TUNES from Kenny Hayes, Jessica Pearson & The East Wind, Graham Lindsey, Mattie Leon, G.R. Gritt, The Relative Minors, Dione Taylor, Eve Goldberg & Max Webster!
Showpiece by co-host/show artist Kim Valentine!
Astonish Me Max Webster - Mutiny up my Sleeve |
Water Dione Taylor - Spirits in the Water |
How Many Times Dione Taylor - Spirits in the Water |
Steeped in roots, blues and Americana, Dione’s unmistakable “Prairie Blues” sound, impressive vocal range and sharply honed song writing chops shine through on original songs featuring both intellectual depth and emotional eloquence. According to the Yuchi Indian Tribe there is a powerful legend of the Tanasi River or “Singing River” in Tennessee. Inside the waterway lives a woman who sings songs to protect those who hear her. Inspired by this mythical folklore, Dione took an insightful road trip to Nashville Tennessee and found inspiration for her fourth and most profound studio album, “Spirits in the Water.” Drawing from musical influences such as Son House, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Lead Belly and Robert Johnson, this musical odyssey explores the deep sacred, healing journey back to the self.
“‘Spirits in the Water’ is a journey through song about the energy and vibe that flows through water. Legendary stories and family history travel through us, flow into the waters and down the bloodline,” explains the Regina, Saskatchewan born singer. “If the water speaks, and if we are still and listen then what fascinating stories do we hear? Perhaps, tales of eternal happiness, brutal hardship, murder, unspeakable love and beautiful pain are buried in the muddy waters.” https://dionetaylor.com/ WINNER - 2021 Folk Music Ontario Recording Artist of the Year! Sponsored by ACTRA RACS https://folkmusicontario.bandzoogle.com/2021-awards#recording-artist-of-the-year FMO Award Weekend Sept.25-26, 2021 FMO 2021 Virtual Conference Sept.27-Oct.1, 2021 Tickets are PWYC: https://folkmusicontario.bandzoogle.com/home |
Quiet Years G.R. Gritt - Ancestors |
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AN INTERVIEW with animator Terril Calder! Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics is playing at the Ottawa Internal Animation Festival, and we yik yakked all about it! Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics dives deeply into the innate contrast between the Seven Deadly Sins (Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Pride and Envy) and the Seven Sacred Teachings (Love, Respect, Wisdom, Courage, Truth, Honesty and Humility), as embodied in the life of a precocious Métis baby. Brought to life by Terril Calder’s darkly beautiful stop-motion animation, her inner turmoil of abuse is laid bare with unflinching honesty. Convinced she’s soiled and destined for Hell, Baby Girl receives teachings that fill her with strength and pride, and affirm a path towards healing. Calder’s tour-de-force unearths a hauntingly familiar yet hopeful world that illuminates the bias of colonial systems. About the film: https://mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/meneath/ Terril website: http://www.terrilcalder.com/home.html Playing at The Ottawa Animation Festival! Online Sept 22-Oct 3, 2021 https://www.animationfestival.ca/ =========================================================================== |
Notre Dame G.R. Gritt - Ancestors |
G.R. Gritt pulls effortlessly from the past to create soulful futurisms with their new sound that elegantly weaves the melodies using vocals, guitar and new electronic elements. They create both intimate and anthemic music that would fit in a folk club, a dance club and anywhere in between. G.R. Gritt is a JUNO Award winning, Two-Spirit, Transgender, Francophone, Anishinaabe/Métis artist and after living many years in Yellowknife, they have returned to Sudbury/Robinson Huron Treaty territory where they grew up. This homecoming coincides with a journey that they feel better represents them. With these changes came a new voice both physically and in the growing magnetism of their songwriting.
The Northern cities G.R Gritt has lived in forced them every winter through snow and harsh temperatures to make a choice between isolation and seeking community as a source of warmth. Their music serves as one of these beacons of connection for all who come near it. Welcoming yet truthful, they reclaim space through songs that show that intersectional identity is expansive and not to be divided into parts. By exploring the emotional and cultural core of their heritage as a non-binary, queer, Indigenous artist they create new space and encourage others to do the same. https://www.grgritt.com WINNER - 2021 Folk Music Ontario Songs From the Heart Award - Political “Quiet Years” - https://folkmusicontario.bandzoogle.com/2021-awards#songs-from-the-heart-awards FMO Award Weekend Sept.25-26, 2021 FMO 2021 Virtual Conference Sept.27-Oct.1, 2021 Tickets are PWYC: https://folkmusicontario.bandzoogle.com/home |
Fractions Graham Lindsey feat. Carole Bestvater, Jesse Périard & Leonard Podolak - The Next Best Thing |
Mike & The Monarchs Graham Lindsey feat. Joe Phillips - The Next Best Thing |
Graham Lindsey is a multi-instrumentalist and composer, writing inventive and varied tunes. His compositions don’t follow the traditional Irish, Scottish or other Celtic styles, and the subtle differences bring a unique feel and rhythm to each tune. Graham was nominated for his 2019 album “TradHead” by the Canadian Folk Music Awards in the Instrumental Solo Artist category (2020).
A total of six of Graham’s compositions have been played on the Carillon (the 53 bells) in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Canada’s Capital, Ottawa. Three were played through the summer of 2017 as part of the recital series on the Carillon. This was followed-up in 2019 by a performance of a fourth tune, “The Carillonneur”, dedicated to Dominion Carillonneur, Dr. Andrea McCrady who arranges many of the tunes she plays, and performs them daily, live! Two more tunes will ring from the bells in 2020! Graham’s compositions have also brought him to Sweden in January of 2017, where he was the “Guest Artist of the Year” at the Folk at Heart showcase festival, and he returned in 2018, 2019 and 2020 to collaborate internationally with different Swedish musicians. https://grahamlindsey.com/ WINNER - 2021 Folk Music Ontario Songs From the Heart Award - Instrumental “Fractions” - https://folkmusicontario.bandzoogle.com/2021-awards#songs-from-the-heart-awards FMO Award Weekend Sept.25-26, 2021 FMO 2021 Virtual Conference Sept.27-Oct.1, 2021 Tickets are PWYC: https://folkmusicontario.bandzoogle.com/home |
Ready My Heart Jessica Pearson & The East Wind - s/t |
Laundry Song Jessica Pearson & The East Wind - s/t |
Jessica Pearson is a Canadian born storyteller with a voice like melting honey on a summer's eve. Accompanied by Maddy O’Regan on the fiddle, they bring to life tales of the past and express the beauty and heartbreak of the world today.
Their new single 'Ready My Heart' has reached over 55,000 streams on Spotify with new singles coming out every month in 2021.Playing over 80 shows a year in Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom, they have been writing songs and collecting stories from all over the world. Their music blends folk, roots and East Coast bluegrass to create a unique sound of their own. Jessica Pearson and the East Wind will take you on a journey with their dynamic live shows and entertaining story telling. https://www.jessicapearsoneastwind.com/ WINNER - 2021 Folk Music Ontario Songs From the Heart Award - Roots “Ready My Heart” - https://folkmusicontario.bandzoogle.com/2021-awards#songs-from-the-heart-awards FMO Award Weekend Sept.25-26, 2021 FMO 2021 Virtual Conference Sept.27-Oct.1, 2021 Tickets are PWYC: https://folkmusicontario.bandzoogle.com/home |
Hallelujah (I Found You) Mattie Leon - In Natural Light |
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AN INTERVIEW with Biatris Lasu of Women in Colour Remake Wellness! Kim & Biatris yik yakked Yoga and launching something new in a pandemic! My name is Biatris , I am a black yoga teacher based in Ottawa, Ontario. I created Women of Color Remake Wellness from the need to create a space for us by us. As a yoga student, teacher, and an advocate for health and wellness, I realized a disturbing flaw in the health and wellness community in Ottawa: a stunning lack of representation of BIPOC women. Health and wellness practices are the main catalyst for my healing from a number of issues that I was dealing with and continue to deal with in my daily life. However, in many health and wellnesses spaces there is a lack of representation - rarely do we see women of colour leading the discussion, being a part of the discussion or the founders. As a black woman who has been a part of the health and wellness community, I’ve often felt at times marginalized within these spaces - which is the last place anyone wants to feel that way. Although exercising self-care is incredibly important for all women, many BIPOC women often feel excluded from the wellness space, which is dominated by women who don’t share the same cultural traumas, health concerns, body types and more. While those who have taken the step to be active in these spaces, there are fewer opportunities to feel seen or be a part of the discussion. The goal of Women of Color Remake Wellness is to bridge this gap – to create a space where women of colour can feel seen and be a part of the health and wellness discussion. I wanted to create a space that did not exist before, where women of colour are drawn to come together to share health and wellness practices, and most importantly to inspire each other. There is so much power in seeing other women who look like you and can identify and empathize with your lived experience as a woman of colour in these spaces. I believe that no two definitions of well-being are the same and will always work to ensure that health and wellness or self care is for Every Body. https://www.womenofcolorremakewellness.com/ =========================================================================== |
All the Time Mattie Leon - In Natural Light |
Mattie Leon is a singer/songwriter hailing from Hamilton. A craftsman with a guitar, Mattie refuses to leave the past behind. His sensibilities are informed by the songwriting of the sixties and seventies. His voice, whether soaring or soulful, is his own. The result is a fresh take on a classic form; familiar but unmistakably new.
Mattie is no stranger to the road. He's brought his music to stages across Canada, from the Atlantic to Pacific coasts. At his side is Mike Leon, Mattie's drummer and longtime collaborator. Together, they've become a captivating example of the unique thing that happens when siblings perform together. https://mattieleon.com/home WINNER - 2021 Folk Music Ontario Songs From the Heart Award - Singer/Songwriter “All the Time” - https://folkmusicontario.bandzoogle.com/2021-awards#songs-from-the-heart-awards FMO Award Weekend Sept.25-26, 2021 FMO 2021 Virtual Conference Sept.27-Oct.1, 2021 Tickets are PWYC: https://folkmusicontario.bandzoogle.com/home |
Tell Me Where You Want Me Kenny Hayes - s/t |
Shower You Off Me Kenny Hayes - s/t |
Kenny Hayes is an award-winning singer-songwriter and actor who is adding new colours and new stories to indie pop/folk music with each song.
https://soundcloud.com/kennyhayesmusic |
A Successful Career as a Dog The Relative Minors - s/t |
F-U-N Spell Fun The Relative Minors - s/t |
The Relative Minors is a rock band for children based in Cambridge, Ontario. They are a five-piece, electric guitar- and piano-driven rock n’ roll band which performs energetic and witty songs for kids of all ages. Drawing inspiration from everything from The Beatles to The Muppets to The Wiggles, The Relative Minors offer a fresh take on the Children’s Music genre by combining catchy and clever lyrics with sophisticated instrumentation and an enduring respect for their audience. The Relative Minors believe in the power of play and imagination, and they hope to inspire a generation of young people to keep learning, keep playing and keep those toes tapping.
https://therelativeminors.ca/ WINNER - 2021 Folk Music Ontario Songs From the Heart Award - Children’s “A Successful Career as a Dog” - https://folkmusicontario.bandzoogle.com/2021-awards#songs-from-the-heart-awards FMO Award Weekend Sept.25-26, 2021 FMO 2021 Virtual Conference Sept.27-Oct.1, 2021 Tickets are PWYC: https://folkmusicontario.bandzoogle.com/home |
Something About a Sunday Eve Goldberg - Crossing the Water |
Mama's Opry Eve Goldberg - Crossing the Water |
Eve Goldberg grew up steeped in folk music and was pulled into the Ontario folk community by her mom Sue Goldberg. She has released three solo albums and several with the duo Gathering Sparks. Her instrumental “Watermelon Sorbet” was used as the opening theme for CBC radio’s national show “Richardson’s Roundup.” She was a three-time finalist for the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award, nominated for the CFMA for Vocal Group of the Year in 2014 (with Gathering Sparks), and winner of FMO’s “Songs From the Heart” (with Gathering Sparks). Her song “Old Tin Cup” appears in the Rise Again songbook, a sequel to Rise Up Singing. In 2007 her song “Streets of Burma” was used by Amnesty International Canada as part of their human rights campaign in Burma/Myanmar.
In addition to performing, Eve worked as the first office manager at Borealis Records. She helped organize The Woods Music and Dance Camp for over 25 years, was a founding board member of Common Thread Community Chorus (Toronto) and also helped start the non-profit organization ArtsCan Circle as well as The Haliburton Winter Folk Camp. She has served on the board of the OCFF/FMO and recently served three years as President of AFM Local 1000, the travelling musician’s union. WINNER - 2021 Folk Music Ontario Estelle Klein Award https://folkmusicontario.bandzoogle.com/2021-awards#estelle-klein-award FMO Award Weekend Sept.25-26, 2021 FMO 2021 Virtual Conference Sept.27-Oct.1, 2021 Tickets are PWYC: https://folkmusicontario.bandzoogle.com/home |