|
On this page is a list of guests I've had the great pleasure to talk with in the studio, since my first Touchstone program aired on Saturday July 13, 1985. Most are folk music performers.
As more guests come to mind, I will add their name. If you came on the show as a guest and your name is not below, please let me know!
Not shown below are performers interviewed outside the studio in Canada, and in London, Edinburgh and Chicago -- because I wouldn't be able to remember them all. But talking with Archie Fisher in Lunenburg and Garnet Rogers in downtown Halifax are memorable.
Guests 1985-2011 (in the studio)
(Guests 2005-2011 are shown on the right)
A
Charlie A'Court
Chloe Albert (AB)
Duane Andrews (Nfld)
Stephen Antle (ECMA Events Chair)
Yarko Antonevych (ON)
Bob Ardern
Ardyth & Jennifer
Faye Armsworthy
Darren Arsenault
Tim Arsenault (journalist)
B
Jill Barber
Jeannie Beks
Betty Belmore
Katrina Bishop
Bob Bossin (BC)
Don Brownrigg
Dr. Cyril Byrne (Irish Studies professor)
C
Cindy Campbell (poet)
Craig Cardiff (PQ)
Stan Carew (in-between CBC host)
Dave Carmichael
Margo Carruthers
Al Chaddock (artist)
Bruce Chapman (music retail manager)
Leslie Choyce (author)
Terry Choyce (CKDU show host)
David Chiasson
Marie Christ
Clearing by Noon
Peter Coffman (Oliver Schroer's friend)
Allan Collins (profiled Eric Anderson)
Emma Cook (ON)
Stephen Cooke (journalist)
Glenn Coolen (uilleann piper)
Kev Corbett
Thomas Cormier
Rose Cousins
Francoise Cote (Deep Roots Music Festival)
Dennis Cox (first host of Touchstone)
Tony Cox (South African)
Clary Croft
Scott Croucher (folk music distributor)
Susan Crowe
Mark Currie
D
Heather Dale (ON)
Dave Bros.
Kate Delmage (cinema co-founder)
Melanie Doane (ON)
Brian Doherty
Teresa Doyle (PEI)
Willie Drennan
Maria Dunn (AB)
E
Russell Easy (Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival)
Kevin Evans
Evans & Doherty
F
Rachel Faro (USA)
David Flemming (Maritime Museum director)
Sayeed Foroughi
Richard Fortier
Chris Foster (England)
David Francey
Judy Fraser
G
Lennie Gallant
Cheryl Gaudet
Rick Gautreau
Peter Glenister (long-time listener)
Rob Gordon
David Greenberg (ON)
Sandy Greenberg
H
Jim Hanlon
Harbour Folk Society (25th anniversary)
Wendy Hart (MB) CKUW radio host
Jim Henman
James Hill
Roger Howse
Ron Hynes (Nfld)
I
Marilyn Inch (NB)
J
Lindsay Jane (BC)
Bill Jardine
David Jennings (CKDU show host)
Jasmine Jones
Ted Jordan (USA)
Harald Jungst (Germany - musician & radio broadcaster)
K
Connie Kaldor (PQ)
James Keelaghan (AB)
Kevin Keith (Ginger's owner)
Walter Kemp (CKDU show host)
Kindred Spirit
J Knutson (BC)
Erika Kulnys
L
Joe Landry (book-binder)
Lazy Jacks
Tom Lewis (BC)
Tom Lyon (USA)
M
Al MacDonald
Rod MacDonald (USA)
Sandy Macdonald (journalist)
Tony MacDonald (BC)
Ronnie MacEachern
Kendra MacGillivray
Lloyd MacHardy
Catherine MacLellan
Scott MacMillan
Marcus Merrin
Ed McCurdy
Ian McKinnon of Rawlins Cross
Chopper McKinnon (ON) Ottawa - CKCU folk radio host
Dan McKinnon
Murray McLaughlan (ON)
Rory McLeod (UK)
Cyril McPhee
Ruth Minnikin
Modabo (NB)
Vince Morash
Jaimie Moreira (folklorist & previous host of Touchstone)
Pamela Morgan (NL)
Joe Murray (local eccentric)
Patricia Murray
N
Naming The Twins
O
Bobby O'Donovan
Mary O'Hara (ON)
Old Man Luedecke
Don Osburn
P
Ron Doug Parks
Jay Perry (exhibit curator)
Pint & Dale (USA)
Jim Pittman
Bill Plaskett
Joel Plaskett
Phil Potvin
R
Jimmy Rankin
Rob Ritchie (ON)
Kevin Roach
Nancy Roach
Ryan Roberts
Garnet Rogers (ON)
Rompin' Ronnie (MB) CKUW radio host
Don Ross (ON)
Leon Rosselson (UK)
S
David Schlosberg (folkdancer)
Bob Smith (USA - traveler)
Laura Smith
Robbie Smith
Bob Snider (ON)
Spirit of the West (BC)
Bill Stevenson
Gordon Stobbe
David Stone
Roger Stone
Mary Story
Jimmy Sweeney
Tommy Sweeney
David Swick (journalist)
Bob Switzer (record store owner)
T
Frank Taylor (NB)
Trevor Tchir (AB)
V
Valdy (BC)
Rose Vaughan
Del Vezeau (ON)
W
Kim Wempe (SK)
Julian West
Andrew White (NZ)
Jenny Whiteley (ON)
Tanya Wolstenholme (MIANS)
Jennifer Wyatt
Away from the studio, I've enjoyed interviews at folk and busker festivals, in clubs, various places in England and Scotland in '89, and while in Chicago in the late 90's.
I might have forgotten the names of some guests on the show. I can only hope before senility sets in, that if I bang my head or fall down, their names will come back to me.
But I'm not asking you to swing a baseball bat at my skull. The habit of tripping over my own feet however, is becoming more regular than I should admit.
|
Coming Up: Future guests will be mentioned here.!
2012 Guests
Jan 28: Steven Bowers
 Steven is a Newfoundland singer/songwriter who has lived in Labrador and for the last few years in Halifax, He's currently in Alberta as his wife finishes her studies, but has returned for the 'In the Dead of Winter Festival' as a performer. He made selections from his newest CD called 'Beothuk's Words' and talked about his music.
2011 Guests
Nov 26: Meghan Clark
Meghan is a Dal student and hosts a folk show on Tuesday mornings from 10:30 - noon, called 'Why Folk, Why Not', and it's worth a listen! In the second hour, she chose some of the music that she would play on her program.
Sept 24: Julia Landry, Jon Stone and Cindy Campbell
(...representing Metro's Harbour Folk Society, Rose and Kettle Concert Sessions and What The Folk!). They described the history, and activities of their group for the current Season, with some musical choices.
Sept 17: Ian Foster
 Singer/songwriter from St. John's, who has a new CD out. He will drove up to Halifax for the chat from Petite Riviere, on his way to Glace Bay -- having gigs in both places. He played the Rose and Kettle Tearoom in Cole Harbour on Thu Sep 22.
Sept 10: Bonnie Ste-Croix
 From Gaspe and living in Halifax, Bonnie has recorded one song in every Province and Territory of Canada for her Canadian Girl album. There was a CD release at the Company House, Halifax on Sat Sept 17, at the start of a Coast-to-Coast tour.
July 30: Marilyn Keddy & Louis Robitaille ...two of the organizers of the 26th Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, will be informing us as to what music you can enjoy there next weekend! (Aug 4-7)
July 16: Norma MacDonald
 New Waterford's talented singer/songwriter Norma MacDonald was in the group Highland Heights. She's just released her third solo CD 'Morning You Wake', produced by Halifax multi-instrumentalist Phil Sedore (Amelia Curran, Catherine MacLellan). Her previous release 'the forest for the trees' was nominated in 2009 for a Nova Scotia Music Award and an ECMA for Female Solo Recording of the Year.
She's just finished a cross-country tour and her next gig is Mon July 18 at The Company House -- an Annie Lennox Tribute in support of Angels and Heroes Theatre Company, featuring Ryan McGrath, Christina Martin, Tanya Davis and more! Part of Halifax Pride Week celebrations.
Jun 18: Bob Ardern
 Bob is a fine guitarist and singer/songwriter. He was born in England and moved to Lunenburg after living many years in Ontario. We selected from his two CD's of songs and one of guitar instrumentals. That night he was the featured performer at the Harbour Folk Society's Kitchen Party at the Rose and Kettle Tearoom in Cole Harbour.
Jun 11: Wendy Hart & Rockin' Ronnie Lindsay
They both do radio programs on CKUW FM at the University of Winnipeg. Wendy hosts 'Simply Sunday' and Ronnie hosts 'Bluesday' and they both shared their interest in the music they like and present and Wendy selected music from some Winnipeg performers.
They were in Halifax for the 30th annual 'National Campus and Community Radio Conference', hosted by CKDU, June 6-10.
Apr 16: Maria Dunn
Alberta singer/songwriter Maria Dunn played two weeks of house concerts on a Maritime tour, and having played Mahone Bay the night before, journeyed to Halifax to be on the show and then headed to South Farmington for her last gig.
Nominee - 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards
Honourable Mention - 2009 USA Songwriting Competition
Nominee - 2002 Juno Awards
Jan 15: Naming The Twins
 Naming the Twins (Robbie Smith and Kath Glauser), besides being guests, were also the featured performers at the Harbour Folk Society's Kitchen Party at the Rose and Kettle Tearoom, Cole Harbour Heritage Farm, that night.
They've performed at a couple of Rose & Kettle sessions there, but this is their first HFS Kitchen Party. Their website.
Their new CD, Sweet Transitions, was produced by Paul Mills who has worked with Stan Rogers, Tanglefoot and Ron Hynes, among many others. It was a welcome return to Touchstone for Robbie, who graced the show many years ago.
2010 Guests
Dec 18:
In the second hour, Roger Stone and Darryl Landry offered pointers -- to novices as well as seasoned performers -- in the preparation of demos. They reviewed the key ingredients required for putting songs in the hand of artists who are recording hits in the hi-tech studios of Nashville and L.A.
Roger and Darryl selected songs from CD's by artists who write for the love of the art, and some whose job is to write hits for today's stars.
Dec 4: Kim Wempe
 Saskatchewan singer/songwriter Kim Wempe has lived in Halifax and Antigonish, and now lives just outside the more easterly university town.
Her new release is 'Painting With Tides'. She was named Galaxie Rising Star of the Year at the ECMA in March.
Nov 13: Ian McKinnon of Rawlins Cross
 Formed in St. John’s in the late 1980's, Rawlins Cross were at the vanguard of the fusion of Celtic traditional music with the rhythms of rock, pop and worldbeat. In 2008, they reunited after a hiatus and released Anthology, a compilation of its best recorded songs. Since then the band has been performing across Canada and is booking the 2011 Festival season in support of their new release, Heart Head Hands -- their first full album in 12 years.
SPECIAL:
Nov 6: Songs & Words of Remembrance
Oct 9: Evans & Doherty
 Years ago they were guests on consecutive shows, but in celebration of their 25 years together and in my 25th year of Touchstone -- I was pleased to welcome back and TOGETHER this time, Halifax-based Irish musicians Kevin Evans and Brian Doherty. The music was from their celebratory 2 CD compilation 'Evans & Doherty ~ 25 Years', released earlier this year.
Sep 18: Ron Hynes
 From Newfoundland, Ron is one of Canada's best and most respecterd singer/songwriters. Our chat included selections from his soon-to-be-released 'Stealing Genius' CD on Borealis and comment on Bill MacGillivray's new doc film about him, 'The Man of a Thousand Songs', which premiered recently at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Atlantic Film Festival.
Aug 28: Dave Stone
It's one week away and Dave Stone will once again, tell us all about the 2nd Halifax Harbour Sea Music Festival in Halifax, Sept 4-5.
Jul 31: Russell Easy
Russell had lots of info about the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival (Aug 5-8), and he chose music from some of the performers who played there.
Jul 3: Dave Stone & Jon Stone
 Dave and Jon talked about the plans underway for the inaugural Halifax Harbour Sea Music Festival, to run the weekend of Sept 4-5. Shanty-type songs and so much more.
Festival website
Dave's website
Jun 26: Chloe Albert & Emma Cook
 Chloe Albert (from Alberta) and Emma (born in Ontario) have a number of gigs in this area -- Stayner's Wharf, The Carleton and Company House among others, before performing at StanFest.
Chloe won the New/Emerging Artist of the Year award at the Canadian Folk Music Awards in 2008 for her first release 'Dedicated State'.
Jun 5: Rose Cousins
 She is a talented singer/songwriter from PEI, has multiple awards and nominations for her music on the East Coast, has toured across Canada and in the US, and is in demand for her harmony singing.
Her newest CD is called 'the send off' (she likes lower-case), and she selected a number of songs from it.
May 22: Peter Coffman
Peter has a photographic exhibit on Nova Scotia churches at the Dal Art Gallery and he walked the Camino with Oliver Schroer. He leaves Halifax for a professorship at Carleton U. in Ottawa soon, so all the best!
Apr 17: Roger Howse
The bluesman's new CD '...long time comin' was released this week at Bearly's, so it was time to bring him in for a chat and to hear the tunes.
2009 Guests
Nov 28: James Hill
 He's a ukulele virtuoso, and with Anne Davison, won a Canadian Folk Music Award last weekend, for their release 'True Love Don't Weep'. James comes from B.C., but now lives in this province and is a friend of and lives close to, ukulele pioneer and music teacher Chalmers Doane.
SPECIAL:
Nov 15 -- Songs of Remembrance
Oct 17: Dave Stone
David described the performers and planning for the 'Maritime Sea Shanty and Song Festival' at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, to be held the next day -- which would be a sample of the big event to take place in a year or two.
Aug 29: Kev Corbett
 ...a local singer/songwriter, who's just released his second CD called 'Son of a Rudderless Boat'. He's been drummer with acadian band Blou and toured Europe, played solo all over the place, received a great response at the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival recently, and is a much-in-demand backup musician on many instruments!!!
Aug 1: Russell Easy
Find out about the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, Aug 9-9. Russell is on the Selection Committee that selects the musicians at the 'Festival.
SPECIAL:
May 9: Tribute to Pete Seeger
 ...on his 90th birthday, rebroadcast from 'Democracy Now' on CKDU last Monday, but originating in New York City.
May 2: Thomas Cormier
 ...(of Razzmatazz for Kids). Part 2 of Tom's selection of Cajun music (Part 1 was on Apr 18, when he selected musicians from the early days of recorded music).
Mar 28: Roger Stone
 Former lead-singer and songwriter for the band Breakin' Tradition, Roger is from Cape Breton and a fine banjo player, singer/songwriter and musician, who has more than 25 years experience in performing and teaching rock, folk, country, bluegrass and blues. He chose his own selections of music in the second hour.
Feb 28 and Mar 14: Bill Plaskett
 England-born Bill chose his own favourite selections from recordings, spread across two programs. He will be touring across Canada this Spring on some gigs with his son, Joel — even Massey Hall in Toronto (where I saw the Band and Cream).
Feb 14: Craig Cardiff
 Craig is a singer/songwriter from Wakefield in Quebec. He played Ginger's Tavern this weekend. This would have been his third visit to Touchstone, but he didn't show up, saying later that he was sick.
Feb 7: Peter Coffman
 Five years ago, Peter, Oliver Schroer and their wives, walked 1,000 kilometres along the Camino de Santiago from France to Northern Spain.
The conversation Schroer had with host Mary Hynes of CBC Radio's 'Tapestry' about the walk, won a Gabriel award.
Peter took photographs while on the walk and Oliver recorded himself while playing his fiddle at various locations on the way.
Peter has an exhibition of his photographs taken on the pilgrimage, at the Viewpoint Gallery on Barrington St. and he gave a talk at
King's College last Wednesday.
Oliver Schroer released the CD 'Camino' of his live playing on the pilgrimage. He had played the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival with James Keelaghan and Don Ross (Harbord Trio). He sadly died last year of leukemia.
Peter talked about his photography and the pilgrimage and made selections from Oliver Schroer's 'Camino' and 'Hymns and Hers'
CD's. We finished our chat an hour after the show was supposed to finish, because the next programmer was absent!
2008 guests
Dec 6: The music of Eric Andersen
 ...with guest Alan Collins, who now lives in Dartmouth and came here from Toronto three years ago. Alan has been a friend of Eric's for over 30 years.
Nov 29: Dave Stone
Dave presented the 9th Annual Halifax Explosion Concert, called "December 6 - 1917 in Word and Song". It featured Dave Stone and Friends, in support of programs at APSEA (formerly the Sir Frederick Fraser School for the Blind). The show was on Sunday Dec. 7 at O'Carroll's Irish Pub on Upper Water Street at Duke. All proceeds were donated. The show ran about two hours. Dave chose music from many songs he's written and recorded about the 'Explosion, performed by himself and his musical friends.
Nov 22: Don Brownrigg
...told us about his gig tonight with The Olympic Symphonium (from Fredericton) in Halifax. They are having a CD release! (The group were stranded in NB because of a snow storm, and the gig was rescheduled for Fri Dec 12.)
Nov 1: Clary Croft
 Clary gave information about the Canadian Society for Traditional Music Conference (CSTM) at St. Mary's University (Nov 13-16).
www.yorku.ca/cstm/conferences.htm
The Helen Creighton Folklore Society were the local hosts of the event and Clary gave the keynote welcoming address.
July 26: Shelah Allen
Shelah told us who will be featured this year at the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival -- in two weeks!
May 10: Lindsay Jane
 Singer/songwriter who opened for Charlie A'Court on his Maritime tour. Her Halifax gig was at Stayner's Wharf in Halifax on May 13.
Apr 19: Old Man Luedecke
 His new CD 'Proof of Love' had its release on Apr 26 at St. George's Round Church in Halifax. He chose some cuts from it and played a bit of banjo!
Apr 12: Jenny Whiteley
 Jenny played some gigs in Nova Scotia and came on the show the morning after playing Ginger's in Halifax. She selected some cuts from her CD's - the first two won Juno's!
Mar 15: A Tribute to Tommy Makem
 with local Irish-born musicians Brian Doherty and Jimmy Sweeney (Jimmy is a nephew of Tommy's)
Jan 26: Dan McKinnon
He described his tour in Australia last November, played some Aussie music and previewed some music from his newest release.
2007 guests
Dec 8: Jennifer Wyatt
...of Ardyth & Jennifer - a local duo of harpists & singers
Dec 1: David Stone
Dave has written and recorded quite a few songs about the Halifax Explosion (Dec 6, 1917), and he organised two events on this anniversary, in support of the music program at APSEA.
Nov 24: Craig Cardiff & Heather Kelday
Craig lives in Wakefield, Quebec and plays Ginger's tonight and Sunday night. He played the Pearl in Lunenburg last night and is supporting his first studio album for a long time.
Nov 10: Tony Cox
Tony is a fine South African fingerstyle guitarist and on a Maritime Tour.
Oct 7: Garnet Rogers
Garnet played Ginger's on Friday eve and came on the show the next morn.
After my chat with Garnet, he met Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden & Tom Wilson, who were guests on the next show!
Sep 22: Catherine MacLellan
 Daughter of Gene (Snowbird) MacLellan, her 2nd release has just been picked up by True North Records. She plays Ginger's tonight.
Aug 25: Lazy Jacks from PEI
Released new CD this week
Aug 4: Russell Easy
Find out about the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, Aug 9-12
July 28: Dave Chaisson & Phil Potvin
Find out about the 4th Annual Atlantic Harmonica Festival at Lake Charlotte on Aug 18
July 21: Heather Dale & Ben Deschamps
 From Toronto, Heather and Ben were touring the Maritimes and performed at the Harbour Folk Society's gig at Cole Harbour Heritage Farm that night
June 23: David Francey & Craig Werth
 They both played the Alderney Landing Theatre in Dartmouth that night
May 5: Connie Kaldor
 Juno winner Connie was in concert that same night for 'In a Woman's Life', presented by the Aeolian Singers and Susan Crowe, at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Dalhousie Arts Centre.
Mar 10: Mark Currie
 The group's 2nd celtic/world CD was launched today. Mark Currie, who is in the group, played his didgeridoo.
 web
Feb 10: Stephen Antle
Stephen is Event Chair for the ECMA Awards and Conference, Feb 15-18 in Halifax. He chose music from some of the nominees and gave information about the many events.
ecma web
Feb 3: Don Brownrigg + friends
Don is one of the organizers of the 2nd 'In the Dead of Winter Music Festival', Feb 7-11 in Halifax. He's a rootsy singer/songwriter and one of the performers too. Joining him will be Sean Kemp, an experimental violinist, and singer/songwriter Pamela Underwater.
festival web
Jan 27: Kevin Roach web
ECMA nominee for instrumentalist of the year.
Jan 20: Craig Cardiff web
(Craig is from Wakefield, Quebec and on an east coast tour)
2006 guests
Dec 9: Roger Howse web
(A Newfoundlander and great player of the blues)
Nov 25: Ruth Minnikin web
(Recently released her CD 'Folk Art')
Nov 18: Rob Ritchie (Ont) web
(from Ontario, was in Tanglefoot, 3 gigs in Nova Scotia)
Nov 11: Remembrance Day special
Oct 21: Erika Kulnys web
(Recently released her first CD)
Sep 23: Jill Barber web
(Recently released her first full-length CD)
Sep 9: Francoise Cote web
(Programming Coordinator for the Deep Roots Music Festival in Wolfville)
Sep 2: Rose Cousins web
(Just released her first full-length CD)
Aug 5: Julian West web
(Introduced a new website that promotes Canadian house concerts).
July 29: Russell Easy web
(Programming Committee Chair of the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival)
June 24: Cindy Campbell
(One of the organizers of the Storytelling Conference in Halifax)
May 27: Trevor Tchir web
(From Edmonton and on a cross-country tour)
May 20: Dave Schlosberg
(President of the Folkdancers Association of Nova Scotia - who chose folk dance music that is played during local folk dances)
May 6: Clearing by Noon web
(Three Halifax women who have just released a CD of Peace Songs)
Apr 22: Al Macdonald
(A Nova Scotian singer-songwriter who has just released a CD of songs about a chairmaker)
Apr 15: Heather Dale web
(On phone from Saint John; Toronto singer-songwriter who is touring her new CD in the Maritimes)
Mar 11: Dan McKinnon web
(Halifax singer-songwriter selected songs from his most recent CD)
Feb 11: Ruth Minnikin web
(Halifax singer-songwriter chose selections from her previous releases)
Jan 28: Dave Carmichael web
(Halifax singer-songwriter chose selections from his new CD)
2005 guests
Dec 17: David Stone
Dec 10: Old Man Luedecke
Nov 12: 'Hour of Peace' (Local anti-war speakers)
Oct 1: Clearing By Noon
Jul 30: Harbour Folk Society (25th anniversary)
Jun 18: Gordon Stobbe web
May 21: Joel & Bill Plaskett web
Mar 26: Andrew White web
Don Ross and Del Vezeau
Jan 22: Bob Switzer web
Jan 15: Heather Dale web
Rory was a guest on Jul 31, 2004
|