I’ve been waiting for new music from Winnipeg’s Madeleine Roger for four years.

That’s how long it's been since I discovered her voice, playing and gifted songwriting.

Maddy took a solo career detour through the stellar chops of The Fretless.

They needed an exceptional vocalist who understood and was comfortable with, classical music.

Madeleine needed a different “band” to shine with. Perfect!

So here we are in early September and both artists are releasing new albums.

Madeleine has just released NERVE a new album filled with tales of lost love and found freedoms.

Produced by Josh Kaufman (Anais Mitchell, Bonnie Light Horseman)  Recorded in four days. They threw away the headphones and sat 8 feet apart..making music.

There are actually four extra songs waiting to be released.

I am here to state – in my opinion -   an exceptional new star has risen – her name is Madeleine Roger.

Enjoy the complete interview and the music included.

www.madeleineroger.com

The last time I had the privilege of interviewing Rhiannon Giddens it was in 2017 at Edmonton Folk Fest.

In the next five years, she became a World star.

For example:

In October 2017, Giddens was named one of the 2017 class of MacArthur "Genius" Fellows.

In 2017 and 2018, Giddens appeared in the fifth and sixth seasons of the CMT's 

In January 2018, Giddens co-produced Songs of Our Native Daughters for Smithsonian Folkways.

in early 2018, the Nashville Ballet announced that Rhiannon Giddens has been commissioned to write the music for Lucy Negro, Redux. In 2019, Giddens released two studio albums: Songs of Our Native Daughters  and There Is No Other with Italian musician Francesco Turrisi

Giddens earned an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for her lasting impact on the UNCG community and her work in music. In 2023, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music from Princeton University

In other words, the last 5-6 years have been a delightful blur.

Thus my first question was …what do you remember of the last 5 years?

If anyone is going to change music in her lifetime – it's Rhiannon Giddens!!

Enjoy.

For years, there have been multiple wine competitions no matter what country or region.

The BC wine industry is no exception.

The latest wine awards are The BC Top 50 wines and Wine of the Year as part of the 2024 Okanagan Spring Wine Festival, which is on now.

Friday night the results were announced at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre and then hundreds descended on the trade floor to do their own judging.

Kimberly Hundertmark, the GM of The Wine Fests said on Tasting Room Radio last week that wineries were asked to send their very best releases.

We have two guests and dear friends on this Podcast. Both are wine stars and both were  judges at  this event

DJ Kearney.  A Global wine authority, educator and Director of Wine at Terminal City Club. Black Belt.

Rhys Pender – Master of Wine. Co-owner of Little Farm Wine in Cawston and owner of Wine Plus. World's greatest fisherman.

I’ve had the distinct pleasure to host and produce Tasting Room Radio for 17 years.

Most weeks we consider featuring some of those stories on the podcast but music, arts and music history seem to carry the day.

These two interviews deserve to be featured because they tell the story of the current state of the BC wine industry.

The Okanagan has been burned by summer fires and choked by summer smoke, blocked by road closures at the peak of the summer season, deep frozen by two successive winters and disappointingly shunned by liquor governing bodies in Alberta.

All the while the BC wine industry is making better and better wines. So it all feels like three steps forward and two back

Kimberly Hundertmark, the GM of Okanagan Wine Festivals brings great news. Right now, they are kicking off the Spring Wine Festival all over the Okanagan Valley. It’s an amazing collection of events. Huge gatherings like 2024 BC Top 50 and the Wine of the Year. The TASTE series, carefully curated in locations North and South, the Naramata Bench this Sunday, June 2 and the District Wine Village in Oliver Sat-Sun June 8/9 and Saturday, June 8th at the Summer Sips at Spirit Ridge Osoyoos. Kimberly brings all the news and tips for making plans.

The complete list of events can be found at  www.thewinefestivals.com

John Skinner is the co-owner/co-founder of Painted Rock Estate Winery, on the Skaha Bench in Okanagan Falls.

If you go to their website www.paintedrock.ca have a look at the wines and also the awards those wines have won over the years.

Pages and pages of awards and outstanding reviews.

John’s comments about his wines and two new releases – Rose and Chardonnay can be found on Tasting Room Radio. www.tastingroomradio.com

These comments by John are about the state of the BC wine industry – the good and not-so-good.

Above all, it’s John’s belief in BC Wine. He shows leadership and well-thought-out decision-making.

If you’re interested in supporting the BC wine industry – and I truly hope you are – then John brings clarity and commitment to all of us.

John Skinner reminds us that most of these wineries are owned by small farming families.

“support the little wineries first. Find your favourites and support them when you can”

Wonderful article from Charles P. Pierce   Esquire Magazine May 25

Let's get the whole gang together: Davey Moore, Hattie Carroll, Hollis Brown, Einstein disguised as Robin Hood, the motorcycle black Madonna two-wheeled gypsy queen, Ma Rainey, and Beethoven, John the Baptist, the Commander In Chief, Louis The King, Napoleon in rags, Lucille, Johanna, Sweet Marie, John Wesley Harding, St. Augustine, the joker, the thief, Big Jim, Lily, Rosemary, and most of all, the Jack of Hearts, Rubin Carter, Isis, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Blackjack Davey, Charlie Patton. All of them. Play me a song, Mr. Wolfman Jack, because if you want to remember, you better write down the names.

Bob Dylan turned 83 on Friday. All of him did. All of them did. All the personae, the entire kaleidoscope of masks, the false fronts and head fakes, and, finally, the last, and in many ways, best of them all. The travelling storyteller, the seanchai as the people in the old country would call him. Out on the endless tour, up the endless highway. I think of him and I think of Turlough O'Carolan, the legendary blind Irish harper who would travel the countryside, composing his songs on the spot for whomever would give him food and drink. Go back further. Go back to Homer. Sing to him, O muse. When Dylan dropped "Murder Most Foul," virtually out of a clear blue sky, blessing us with it as consolation for the years when America had gone so terribly wrong, it was Homer of whom I thought, poet and historian both, protector of the shadowland between myth and reality, chronicler of what Greil Marcus called "the old, weird America," a phrase I wish I'd written.

He'll be around all summer, travelling with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp and a whole clutch of other artists in something called the Outlaw Music Festival Tour. It's a high-priced extravaganza but, in a very real way, he's just on the road, heading for another joint. Move along, brother Bob. The highway, as you taught us, is for gamblers, and we take what we have gathered from coincidence.

Here’s a collection of comments and reflections from Dylan's artistic partners and others just sharing the same spaces with Bob. Interviews I’ve done over the years to be added to when Dylan turns 85.

Interviews with

David Bowie

Robbie Robertson

Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks

The Avett Brothers

Barney Bentall and Steve Dawson

Greg Keelor (Blue Rodeo)

And Colin Linden (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings)

Wine and Dine – Tofino June i/2.

The second story takes place next weekend June 1 and 2 in one of Earth’s most beautiful places -  Tofino,  British Columbia. The western edge of Canada on Vancouver island. The community includes surfing, golfing, fishing, underwater adventures and an unusual gathering of chefs. It is where they come to learn how to create seafood dishes and cook with what the forest and oceans give them – and surf their minds out.

It's the second annual Wine and Dine gathering on the front lawns of Best Western Plus Tin Wis Resort.

All of the details can be found at  www.tofinowinedine.com 

Our guests are the organizers and founders  of Tofino Wine & dine

Ronnie Lee and Ryan Orr.

We know Ottawa-born Sue Foley from the blues albums she’s created and released. Plus Multiple blues awards on both sides of the border.
Her new album is One Guitar Woman. A tribute to the female pioneers of guitar.

This was/is a very personal journey for Sue. She’s studied the many women who played guitar before her and left their legacy to study and pass on.
Female singers and players like Memphis Minnie, Elizabeth Cotten, Maybelle Carter, Sister Rosetta Tharp, Geeshe Wiley,  Lydia Mendoza etc.
Many tales and tunes are connected to the album.

Four-time Blues Foundation Traditional Female Artist award winner, Sue Foley’s new album One Guitar Woman is a heartfelt tribute to the female pioneers of the guitar - including Memphis Minnie, Lydia Mendoza, Maybelle Carter, Ida Presti, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The album showcases the dexterity of Foley’s acoustic nylon string guitar skills as she expands on her blues playing into other genres like Piedmont fingerpicking, traditional country, the Carter Scratch,  flamenco and classical.

“From the time I decided to be a professional guitar player, I’ve always looked for female role models. These are the women who were expressing themselves through the instrument as far back as the 1920’s, at the inception of radio and recorded music. They are the trailblazers and visionaries whose footsteps I walk in,” 

Sue  Foley.

When Ron Carter's name comes up, one of the first things people write or say is – he’s played bass and cello on over 2500 albums.

That’s impressive and awe-inspiring. Totally agree.

When I hear the name Ron Carter I think of the bassist who played in Miles Davis’ second band, alongside Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams & George Coleman.

“The List” of bands and recordings would include Wayne Shorter, Blue Note recordings with Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, and 100’s of others.

I talked to Ron about his recordings in popular music.  Roberta Flack, Eddie Harris, Aretha, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Erykah Badu, A tribe called Quest, Phoebe Snow, The Rascals, Gil Scott-Heron, Carlos Santana.

Ron has taught music for many years at esteemed colleges and schools, his current documentary is Finding the Right Notes, also the name of his bio book.

Ron Carter turns 87 years old today – Saturday, May 4 !!  we wish him WELL.

Enjoy the conversation – I sure did.

Afie Jurvanen – more famously known as Bahamas!

A fascinating artist and human. Never satisfied to remain in the same groove or attitude. What’s constant is his ability to create memorable songs,  surrounded by sonic texture that is his territory alone.

You know it's him as soon as you hear the song.

He’ll be doing summer festivals and supporting his album Bootcut -  a heavily inspired classic Country record which has recently seen his catalogue surpass a billion streams. He was awarded a pile of gold/platinum/double platinum singles while attending the JUNOs this year. . Rolling Stone covered Bootcut saying that a Canadian indie rock kid made one of Nashville’s most Country records of the year: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/bahamas-bootcut-country-music-album-nashville-1234826097/

Oh..and he was featured on The Bachelor and released an album on Valentine's day called Repackaged Love Songs.

And best of all,  he’s guesting on Mulligan Stew Saturday 4 Pacific / 5 Mtn  at CKUA RADIO  ckua.com

This is what Podcasts were created for.

Long, extended conversations between guests and hosts.

Deep dives into opinions on music, film, food, wine, books, travel, history etc.

One of the biggest and brightest podcasts today belongs to our guest Nardwuar, The Human Serviette!

Millions of people all over the World can’t seem to wait for his next interview with hip-hoppers, rappers, punks and metal artists.

Countless fans everywhere dress up as Nardwuar, every Halloween.

Have a visit to his website  www.nardwuar.com

What he brings to the interviews are personal facts and rumours that only the artist would know. Pulling out posters, photos, handwritten notes and albums that only the artist would remember. Minds are blown. Records are played. Lifetime friends are made!!

Our first Podcast – co-produced by Elliott Garnier – Was 6 years ago. Nardwuar was the very first guest!!

On the occasion of Episode #300, we welcome back the original – the one and only – Nardwuar – The Human Serviette!!!

Sandra Oldfield is one of the leading voices for and in the Okanagan Wine Industry.

Was team leader and winemaking leader at Tinhorn Creek in the South Okanagan.

Now, she and her husband Kenn lead a popular consulting firm called Elysian Projects. Sandra is also one of the leaders in BC Tourism.

She’s a highly respected spokesperson for the wine community in BC.

No one hired her, she just is.

Sandra is also a world-class troublemaker and people love her for that.

She speaks her mind but does it from knowledge and passion for who and what she’s standing up for.

Several years ago the Liquor Control bureaucrats would not allow wine fans to buy BC wine in BC and drive it back home to Alberta.

I drove a case of wine across the BC/Alberta border but was not detained.

Sandra ordered a shotgun from the prairies to show that a gun could be sent across borders but not wine. We’ve been friends ever since.

Now the same Alberta Liquor agency is telling BC Wineries that they cannot send their wines to wine club members in Alberta and if they do, all their wines will be pulled from store shelves in that province.

This is all happening just as many of the small BC farmers who grow the grapes are staggered from the almost complete loss of vineyards and fruit in the Okanagan from two Winter cold snaps that killed many many vines.

I found Sandra in Victoria on Vancouver Island and sat down for a frank talk about the state of her industry and possible solutions for all involved.

He also has revealed a video she shot with her husband Kenn. Boxes arriving from Alberta were sent directly to her house in BC.

Sandra will explain what that says about the playing field here.

Delighted to welcome Shotgun Sandra Oldfield

Grant Lawrence (The Smugglers, CBC Podcast, multiple best-selling books) is on the road with his Stories and Song LIve.

Grant and Joel Plaskett, Ashleigh Ball, played Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney by the Sea north of Victoria Thursday night.

Friday on Galiano Island and Saturday in Maple  Ridge with his love  Jill Barber added.

We met at The Five and Dime Diner across from the venue and talked for 20 or so minutes about EVERYTHING.

He told the story of two teens,  Grant and Nardwuar knocking on my front door Halloween night to ask questions about their favourite bands. I did the best I could and sent them along with extra promo records. Grant still has his.

 We've been friends for 36 years. That’s the kind of podcast this will be.  Corey Woods (Associate Producer) shot it on video as well..so it's also on terrydavidmulligan YouTube channel.

Colin's 21st album is called Chasing the Sun.   Today,   Aug 17 is his Birthday. Happy Day Colin

Co-produced by Colin Linden in his Pinhead Studios in Nashville.

Colin's coming to the  Mulligan Stew Podcast with the complete story of how he and his friends wrote and created these outstanding songs.

Colin singing a Lucinda Williams song, Protection, with Lucinda in the studio doing harmony. Two tracks with blues harp legend Charlie Musselwhite, co-writing memorable songs with Tom Wilson, Terra Lightfoot, Thompson Wilson, Jesse Obrien and others. A great rhythm section of Darryl Jones (Stones) Charley Drayton (Keith Richards).

A splendid cover of Paul Butterfield's classic  In My Own Dream. Also vocals by  The McCrary Sisters and Ruby Amanfu

Colin Linden leading the all-star band and co-writing with Colin James.

It's their 6th album together.

Colin and I have been doing interviews for a long time but there are still events and moments in his life that need retelling.

For example, when the two Colins’  met on the Canadian Prairies Colin James was 13 and Colin Linden was 17. Both were into playing the blues.

A short time later Colin, still a teenager, got to play for Stevie Ray Vaughn. Stevie helped him take the next steps in his career.

This is the complete Interview.

 His 2021 album Open Road won the JUNO Award for Best Blues Album and was nominated for Blues Foundation Best Blues Rock Album in 2023.

Catching the Sun may very well get the best reception yet.

Every once in a while there’s a week that goes by that is blessed with great conversations.
Somewhere down that road, I decided that instead of choosing one interview over the other, why not have them both share the podcast.
March 2, 2008, was the day gifted singer/songwriter and truly remarkable man Jeff Healey lost his battle with cancer.
We had a great long-distance friendship. Every time we reconnected, we fell into an easy chatter that always ended up in laughter. Good man.
I was gutted by his loss. Still am.
Roger Costa is the co-administrator/archivist of The Estate of Jeff Healey.
He’s currently  leading the production team shooting the documentary
See the Light: The Jeff Healey Story.

That film and my interview with Roger will come later this year or early 2025.
In the meantime, I wanted to remember Jeff on March 2 with someone who knows him well. Roger Costa.


Harry Hertscheg is a regular listener to this Podcast. He listens to it while biking through busy Vancouver traffic to and from work.
Work is being executive director of the hugely successful VanWineFest which is just wrapping up. 
Almost 20,000 wine fans have attended seminars, winemakers dinners and large and small tastings.
The feature region is Italy. 71 Italian wineries sent their best.
Next year the feature region is the USA.
Here’s a conversation with the completely engaging and informative Harry Hertscheg.
Enjoy the ride Harry.

Corby brings new, acoustic, live off the floor music in his new album El Viejo (The Old One) in memory and tribute to his pal Ian Tyson.

Corby says that this album may be his best yet.

He brings memories of Ian and also how his audiences are different depending on where he’s playing,

For El Viejo Corb and the Hurtin’ Albertans played live, letting the songs reveal themselves. It was all captured by CKUA Alumni Scott Franchuck.

Corby describes it as “organic”.

We talked about his name “is that the name of the band?”

Touched on  his time with The Smalls and how this music connects to those days. “half urban/indy and half cowboys/ranchers”

We touched on Hearts on Fire Michael Barclay’s book on “6 years that changed Canadian music” which in its promo mentioned cowboys who used to play speed metal. 

“the alt-country music in the late 90’s and 2000’s was littered with x-punks who suddenly discovered acoustic guitar.”

That’s Corb. The Poet Laureate of the Albertan people.

March 5 Corb is in Vancouver at The Orpheum

March 7 Grey Eagle Calgary

March 9 Midway Edmonton

March 22 Zankel Hall / Carnegie Hall NYC

May 28 Amsterdam

And multiple dates in Europe with The Dead South.

Dominique Fils-Aimé presents her fourth album Our Roots Run Deep.

Dominique Fils-Aimé is a JUNO Award-winning singer-songwriter from Montreal. Her new album invites us to deep dive into the roots of her soul with a strong desire to connect with one's higher self and the desire to surround you in a soothing aural embrace.

On stage, whether in Canada, in Europe or the USA,  Dominique Fils-Aimé’s magnetic presence on stage leads the audience on a transcendent journey.

The Montreal-based JUNO award-winning singer-songwriter put the history of African-American musical culture into the heart of her work, reflecting on the social realities that influenced the genres of blues, jazz and soul. Her previous trilogy shed light on the history of Afro-American music, inspired by soul icons such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Etta James.

2018's Nameless, was about confronting historical silences and sorrows. This blues-tinged album led to two sold-out shows at the Montreal International Jazz Festival in 2018.

Her second album, Stay Tuned! was a call for revolution. This album won the 2020 JUNO Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year.

 Dominique Fils-Aimé [FEES-em-AY]  closed the final chapter of the trilogy with Three Little Words, a call for reconciliation. The record received rave reviews in prestigious publications all around the world. It made the Polaris Short List and claimed the #1 spot for best-selling album in Quebec and #2 in Canada.

In her fourth album entitled Our Roots Run Deep, Dominique crafts her latest album with a loose, dreamlike narrative structure that tells a story of growth. For Dominique, nature acts as an anchor and creates the unique but interconnected journey of a human being.

"Just as we cannot see the mycorrhizal network that allows trees in a forest to communicate with each other underground," says Dominique. "I believe our souls do the same and that music can be a fertilizer for this invisible communication network."

Dominique!

Saturday night  Feb 17 Dominique is appearing at Calgary’s Block Heater festival at Central United Church. When she takes the stage at 8:55 Dominique will not only charm the audience in the Church but will be streamed live on the CKUA Radio Network. Province-wide in Alberta and heard on the CKUA App.

www.mulliganstew.ca

Feb 9th Alan Doyle releases his next album Welcome Home

Feb 10 he guests on Mulligan Stew

“I have always struggled with the middle ground. I love playing live so much and I have rightly been accused of writing songs more for concerts than albums. Most people who come to my shows want that kind of night out. So, I have overlooked the lower and slower: The lower part of my vocal range and the slower songs. I’m letting myself do that for the first time on this record.”

Alan’s 6th solo album and 20th of his career. Alan is celebrating 30 years in music.

He’s been co-writing songs for Welcome Home with Donovan Woods, Jimmy Rankin and actor Oscar Isaac.

Alan starts a 45-night North American tour Feb 20 with 2 nights in Kelowna. 

Feb 29 – Edmonton  N Jube

March 1  Calgary  S Jube

March 9 Massey Hall

Alan Doyle is a first-class storyteller who takes us through the songs and stories.

We talk about Tell Tale Harbour the play he produced.

Also was involved in The Tribute to Ron Hynes Album

And he has yet another best-selling book coming.

The beautiful Alan Doyle and his beautiful,  beautiful band charging into 2024. At CKUA

Making great whisky is serious business.

Whisky takes time. You can create it and leave it in barrel “while your kids grow up and head off to college” kind of time.

For example, Paradigm Spirits -The Heritage Collection -  Whisky of the Year in Canada spent 19  years in barrels. Then along came friends and partners Michelle deBus and Irma Joeveer who were just beginning their whisky journey. They purchased the filled barrels to start Paradigm.

Then blended in some Oloroso Sherry and found a stunning balance between the corn whisky and sherry.

Davin de Kergommeaux Canada’s Whisky authority and founder of the Canadian Whisky Awards describes The Heritage as having

“sublime complexity and elegance with fresh fruity top notes”

This is a really nice story of people who dreamt a dream of making whisky and how it all led to being named Whiskey of the Year in Canada. Besting 200 other whiskeys.

Our guests are Irma Joeveer and Michelle Debus

“Friendship is like Whisky – the older the better”

Yes, my friends, it's our annual trek to Victoria’s inner harbour for the 18th annual Victoria Whisky Festival and the Canadian Whisky Awards.

It was the founder of the awards Davin de Kergomeaux who whispered in my ear wondering why I wasn’t attending or tasting or writing about his Whisky Awards.  On second thought I think the voice in my ear was me saying

“How could you possibly miss this?” just after I had missed the events about 6-7  years ago.

I knew almost nothing about Whisky but my thinking was the same as wine – 17 years ago – every interview is going to be a master class. Pay attention and you could learn all about wine and pass it on to the listeners.

I’m pleased to welcome  to Tasting Room Radio –

Davin de Kergommeaux – founder of the Canadian Whisky Awards.

The Canadian Whisky Awards, held annually with the Victoria Whisky Festival, is the first and only competition dedicated solely to Canadian Whisky.

The Awards have become the first stop for whisky producers, distributors, retailers and fans looking for the very best Canadian whiskies.

Davin is the world’s leading authority on Canadian Whisky. He also has three books available on Canadian Whisky with a fourth coming in March!

Davin assembled 10 judges and sent them nearly 200 competing whiskies to blind taste.  Davin announces the winner in his interview. We talk to the winners next week.

www.canadianwhiskyawards.com

www.canadianwhisky.org

[caption id="attachment_28306" align="alignnone" width="800"] Graeme Macaloney[/caption]

Dr. Graeme Macaloney PEng, PhD. – Macaloney’s Island Distillery (Saanich)

Proud owner of 5 world whisky awards including World best Potstill – Kildara. They are a non-chilled, filtered, no colour-added distillery.

In our 8-10 minute interview, I think I asked 3 perhaps 4 questions – Dr. Graeme handled the rest.

It was like a masterclass. A charming man in a Cameron Kilt.

He won Gold for his 54ppm Peat Project.

www.macaloneydistillers.com

Tish Harcus –  Manager Canadian Club Whisky since 1988.  Canadian Club itself since 1858.

www.canadianclub.com

James Neil – Bowmore Distillery. The oldest distillery in Islay. On the shores of Lochindaal since 1779. Also home to one of the world’s oldest Scotch maturation warehouses – The No. 1 Vault.

James poured Bowmore 22 Aston Martin

www.bowmore.com

They took part in the Great Whisky Debate with

Micah Dew from Maker’s Mark.

Words flew, one-liners were exchanged and they still remain long-time friends. Micah was busy with a masterclass but we thank Tish and James for coming by.

www.makersmark.com

Chris Read –Shelter Point Distillery. Campbell River.

Distinctly Vancouver Island. Uniquely Shelter Point.

By the time Chris sat down we knew Shelter Point had won 2 Bronze medals for their Oak Cask Single Malt  (smoke, spices, honey, leather and a wiff of ocean)

and their flagship Evans Family Reserve.

(vanilla, tannins, dark chocolate, coconut, citrus, berries, cloves.)

Chris explained the unique influences in their island location. It was like poetry.

www.shelterpoint.ca

With Waddy Wachtel, Danny Kortchmar, Leland Sklar and drummer, producer, and writer  Russ Kunkel created and played music history.

Historic albums by Carole King, Jackson Brown, James Taylor, Warren Zevon, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Steven Stills,  Neil Young, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Jimmy Buffet, JJ Cale, Ringo, Lyle Lovett, George Harrison, Dolly, Linda and Emmylou  The Trio album, Stevie Nicks, Don Henley, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt, Tracey Chapman, Joe Walsh, BB King, Steve Winwood.

On and On and ON.

Now, along with seasoned guitarist and vocalist Steve Postell,  they’ve established the opportunity to be their band. The Immediate Family. Their new album Skin in the Game arrives Feb 16.

Skin in the Game references the fact that they aren’t sidemen here. It’s not a play-and-walk-away kind of thing. They’re taking the music they wrote and played,  out on the road for themselves. No one else.

For the rest of the story, check out the documentary The Immediate Family. Screening now.

The annual Critics Choice Awards take place in LA Sunday at 7 PM Eastern.

Hosted by Chelsea Handler.

Ive gathered four opinionated critics (are there any other kind)

We met on Zoom and went at it.

Discussing the film year 2023 and who’s going to win what…

Shawn Edwards  Kansas City

Hillary Atkin LA

Teri Hart Toronto

Bonnie Laufer Toronto

It’s a wild ride friends..come  along.

Winemaker Mike Grgich died Dec 13th 2023.  He was 100 years old.

This is his story,  as told to yours truly into a nasty microphone in the lobby of the Hotel Vancouver 2016.

He had just released his memoir A Glass Full of Miracles.

(Note – on his way from Croatia to Napa he travelled across the Atlantic and by train across Canada to Vancouver for a lumberjack job he had applied for. The job was gone by the time he reached the west coast. So,  Mike washed dishes until he heard of a winemaking job in Napa and South he went)

Steven Spurrier, a wine expert from England who ran a fine wine shop in Paris, decided it would be fun to organize a blind tasting to coincide with America’s Bicentennial celebrations in 1976. For the tasting, he gathered together the best French judges, and the finest French wines, and to salute America on its 200th anniversary he added in a few wines from some upstart winemakers in California. Steven hoped the tasting would bring favourable attention to his wine shop. But he didn’t have any idea of the impact that his Bicentennial tasting would have on the world of wine.

André Tchelistcheff, along with Jim Barrett, had hand-carried an armload of California wines to Paris for the competition. The blind tasting was held at the InterContinental Hotel in the center of Paris. The morning competition was devoted to white wines and the afternoon to reds. And Steven Spurrier brought together the very best white wines of Burgundy: a 1973 Meursault-Charmes, a 1973 Beaune Clos des Mouches, a 1973 Bâtard-Montrachet, and a 1972 Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles.

Alongside these French legends, there was the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay crafted by Mike Grgich, and other Chardonnays from California that the French judges had never heard of either. The judges expected to sniff and gag when they tasted the California wines.

But it didn’t happen that way. The nine French judges blind-tasted the white wines and graded each of them. The winner was the Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that Mike Grgich had made, with 132 points, the highest total scored of any of the wines, red or white, in the tasting. It was the champion! Then, to add insult to injury, the third and fourth places went to Chalone Vineyard and Spring Mountain Vineyard.

In the afternoon tasting of the red wines, the French judges gave their top ranking to Warren Winiarski for his 1973 Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, beating the best wines of Bordeaux, among them a 1970 Château Mouton-Rothschild, a 1970 Château Haut Brion, a 1970 Château Montrose from Saint-Estèphe, and a 1971 Château Léoville-Las-Cases from Saint-Julien.

The judges were shocked as was Steven Spurrier.

Upstarts from Napa Valley had won both categories, against the very best wines of France. The French judges were speechless and a few tried to suppress the results, but without success. The following week, George Tabor’s story in Time magazine announced the American triumph, and it sent shock waves throughout the world of wine. Mike received the news that they had won by a congratulatory telegram from Jim Barrett in Paris. That was the first he learned that his wine was even in the competition.

Soon, though, the importance of what had happened began to sink in..

On July 4, 1977, Mike Grgich and Austin Hills, of the Hills Bros. Coffee Company, broke ground to start Grgich Hills Cellar, which from the start sold wines that were in high demand, based on Mike Grgich’s reputation as the winemaker who won the Paris Tasting. Gradually, the winery purchased 366 acres, spread over five vineyards within the Napa Valley, allowing all Grgich Hills wines to be produced solely from estate-grown grapes. In recognition of that significant achievement, the winery changed its name to Grgich Hills Estate.

The Paris Tasting revolutionized the wine world, establishing Napa Valley’s reputation as a world-class wine region! First, it shattered the myth that only French soil can produce world-class wines. For decades New World winemakers had all been stuck in that mindset and this finally broke through it.  Second, the victory pumped new energy into the California wine industry, particularly in Napa Valley. Vintners were proud to be part of what was a revolution in American wine but they still had a long way to go. So they redoubled their efforts to make better wines each year.

California’s victory also inspired other winemakers in different parts of the world. Breaking the myth of French superiority gave new hope and energy to winemakers in South Africa, Italy, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, and even in Mike’s native Croatia. Now they joined the race to make world-class wines, and as the years unfolded California winemakers also shared with them their technology and know-how. As part of that effort, Mike returned to Croatia in 1996 and started a new winery in order to share what he had learned with young winemakers in his homeland.

George Taber, the Time magazine journalist who first reported the tasting, in 2005 wrote a detailed account of the event and its impact in his book, “Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine.” 

As a result of his historic contributions to making world-class wine in California, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich was inducted into the Vintner Hall of Fame in 2008.

A Hollywood version of this story was true but not by much.  It was called Bottleshock.

We salute the great Mike Grgich.

This Christmas Stew features the last Christmas in the Round recording we did.

The year was 2020 – full Covid lockdown. Many good people lost to this virus. Far too many.

We gathered online at Dan Mangan’s Sidedoor Access.

Shari Ulrich and Barney Bentall.

Both on Bowen Island. Opposite Horseshoe Bay!

Bill Henderson

Not too far down the Georgia Strait on Salt Spring Island.

TDM

Shari Ulrich – iconic singer, songwriter, and musician.
Roy Forbes – Host of Roy’s Record Room and much-admired artist.
Barney Bentall – He’s everywhere and always making great music. Bringing joy!
Shaun Verreault –  One half of Wide Mouth Mason.  String Slinger. Sings like a bird
Jim Byrnes – St Louis born…West Coast raised. Carries the blues with him.  Fine actor.
Craig Northey – co-founder of  Odds. Touring with Steven Page Trio. Currently a member of Trans Canada Highwaymen.   Solid Songwriter.
Everyone brings a favorite Christmas song and personal story to exchange.
Fun was had by all…  Hope you like it.
Susan would have loved it

Terry talks with Rhiannon Giddens at the Edmonton Folk Music Fest in 2020

Our guest is Matt Layzell from The Matinee. They have released a new album Change of Scene

They’ve been friends making music for 15 years. This feels like the album that pays off all the hard work.

Produced by Steve Dawson who brought with him into the studio Allison Russell and The McCrary Sisters.

The Mulligan Stew Podcast  Guest is Devin Cuddy. (Devin Cuddy band)

Son of Jim Cuddy and very definitely his own man.

Jim has said, on this very podcast, that he offered to school Devin and son Sam on the fine art of songwriting and playing but the guys went their separate ways.

Now, Jim says he’s very impressed with their growth and creativity.

They’ve been singing together for years but just casually at fundraising events. Devin talks about a maritime tour they just did.

Devin has released his first new music in 5 years. The album is called Dear Jane – with a reference to Hotlips Houlihan on the Mash TV series.

The album is a soulful mix of New Orleans, honky tonk, roots and Randy Newman. Devins originals are storytelling taken to another level. He’s become his own storyteller.

Devin is creating his place in Canada’s music world, just like his Father.

One of the great surprises is Devin’s cover of Barney Bentall’s hit Come Back to Me. Barney sings on the track. Barney, Jim and Devin have been friends a long time.

Devin says he’s been waiting to sing these songs for 5 years. Should be a great 2024 for The Devin Cuddy Band.

Tracks are included in the podcast.

Robbie and look back at Nov 25 1976 and the final concert by The Band at the Winterland Ballroom in SF.

Called The Last Waltz.

This is a combination of 2 interviews I did over the past few years 

In the spectrum of popular music in Canada, which is as wide as the country, Tom Cochrane falls somewhere between an electrified Gordon Lightfoot and a solo Gordon Downie.

Between the universal prose of Leonard Cohen and the blood passion of Tom Wilson.

Three times we went to the war-torn fields and roads of Africa for World Vision and became lifelong friends. That’s what seeing men, women and children dead or dying will do to you. You seek humanity. Tom’s got humanity in spades.

He came back from the first trip under a heavy dark load and sought out the only thing that he knew would lift him up. Music. He wrote a song called Life is a Highway. It became an anthem for millions. All lifted up by his music.

Tom Cochrane is heading back West now. The tour is called Duo.

Friday night in Medicine Hat, Saturday night  in Edmonton (Expo Centre)

Then to the coast and a complete tour of Vancouver Island.

Wednesday Victoria

Thursday Courtney

Friday Nanaimo

Sunday Campbell River

Monday, Nov 20 – Duncan (in the Cowichan)

www.tomcochrane.com

Oct 14 - Susan Tedeschi (Tedeschi Trucks Band) Celebrates the 25th year of her second solo album Just Won't Burn. (1998)

It kick started her career as a female blues singer/player/writer and sold outstanding numbers.  Susan was nominated for a Grammy for Best New Artist. Rave reviews followed - comparing her to Janis Joplin and Bonnie Raitt.

Speaking of Bonnie, Susan absolutely nails John Prine's Angel from Montgomery which Bonnie made famous. John told Susan it was his favourite version.

Shortly after releasing Just Won't Burn, Susan was to meet and fall in love with Derek Trucks and the rest is music history.

The  new re-release also has outtakes, alternate takes and two of her songs re-done live in New York by Tedeschi Trucks.

Along with Dave Grohl, Gloria and Emilio Estevan,  Susan was  honoured by The Smithsonian Institute for  "distinguished contributions to the advancement of areas of interest to the institution"  

This weeks terrydavidmulligan YouTube is a tour with music from the heart.

Every year, just about this time, Barney Bentall gathers up friends and hits the road with a travelling barn burner. Everyone on stage is the leader of their career or a band. There are at least 16 artists in this years Express. AND best of all, they’re raising funds for the charities listed below.

Barney Bentall writes his own introduction. This was his newsletter a week ago.

Hi ya all. Gearing up for the Cariboo Express shows. Depending on how we mark the birth of this whole thing, it’s the 18th or 19th year! I think for all of us that play in this big ol’ bad ass band, it is  a musical highlight of our year.

With the help and hard work of some worthy charities, we’ve managed to raise over 5 million dollars over the years.

Here are the dates:

Come on out! There are always great guests that show up along with all the regulars. For those of you in the Toronto area, spread the word. This will be our second year and we want to keep coming back and develop what we have going out west. We are supporting Classroom Champions at the Glenn Gould show. Cheers and see you soon! Barney

𝙈𝙀𝙀𝙏 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘽𝘼𝙉𝘿 ☟

𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝘽𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡 ⭒ Barney Bentall

𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 ⭒ Matt Masters

𝘿𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣 𝘽𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡  ⭒ Dustin Bentall

𝙍𝙞𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝘽𝙚𝙣𝙩 ⭒ Ridley Bent

𝙒𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝘽𝙞𝙧𝙙

𝙂𝙚𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙮 𝙆𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙮

𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙢𝙖𝙣 ⭒ Stephanie Cadman

𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙩𝙩 𝙎𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙝 ⭒ Scott Smith

𝙂𝙚𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙃𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙨

𝙍𝙤𝙗 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧

𝙎𝙞𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙆𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙡𝙡

𝙂𝙚𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙃𝙞𝙡𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙩

𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙭𝙞𝙚 ⭒ Trixie

𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮 ⭒ Wild Honey Band

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 ☟

Classroom Champions

CASA Mental Health

Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank

ISLAND COMMUNITY SERVICES FOOD BANK: Nanoose Community Services

Potluck Catering

DELTA FIRE FIGHTERS HEALTHY SNA

Friday Oct 27  Bella Concert Hall – Calgary (special guest William Prince)

Saturday Oct 28 Festival Place Sherwood Park Edmonton

Thursday Nov 2 Glenn Gould Studio  Toronto  (Special guest Terra Lightfoot and Tom Wilson)

Rest of the dates can be found at

https://thecariboo.express

First Podcast guest is Buffy Sainte Marie.

Buffy has announced after a glorious 60-year career, she’s not touring anymore and her documentary Carry it on has been nominated for an International Emmy Award. They’re announced Nov 20.
The only Canadian entry.
I’ve been honoured to know Buffy for much of my life.   Buffy’s first comment was “How long have we been doing this Terry?”  We cover off the film, why touring can be a hard road.

Early days in Greenwich Village NYC.  Her role in the indigenous community. Reveals why she’s been so committed to tribal education. Lots of other stories.

Second Podcast  Guest is Tom Wilson

Tom brings his music to Calgary Festival Hall October 19 and Festival Place Sherwood Park Edmonton Friday Oct 20. 
He’s been just a tad busy. A new documentary, two new albums. An Indigenous Scholarship program.

Named to the 2024 Order of Canada list. Working on BARK music. Reuniting his 90’s band Junkhouse and re-releasing their 30-year-old Strays album. And his art has exploded up and out.

Writing lately with Daniel Lanois, Terra Lightfoot and Colin James.
There’s another book coming and Lee Harvey Osmond things.
And that’s why we have him guesting. To support this up-and-coming new artist!!!

Next week – Barney Bentall and Cariboo Express

Two weeks – Susan Tedeschi – celebrating the 25th anniversary of Just Won’t Burn.

Her second album earned her a Grammy Nomination and started her career.

More at www.mulliganstew.ca

Colleen Rennison and Wide Mouth Mason

Both with fine new albums

First hour Colleen Rennison.  Year after year one of the voices to keep an eye on in Vancouver, then Austin, Texas.

Formerly the lead singer of No Sinner and a self-admitted artist living a life of booze and partying that bordered on harmful – to self and career.

Finally, back in Vancouver, Colleen has found friends who’ve cared for and helped her recover and do what she was meant to do – write and sing.

New album Persephone. not named after the tug.

Finally, she’s put all the gifts together. Man, is this a good album Check out I Do.

Colleen brings tales of dark times and new hope.

The second Guests are Shaun Verreault and Safwan Javed – Wide Mouth Mason

They have released a new album Late Night Walking

They are always pushing forward. Finding a new edge to their music.

For example,  one track, Minus 2 Minutes features Joey Landreth on guitar in the left channel only, with Shaun on the right.

and Safwan right down the middle.

On the album with them Gordie Johnson and Ryan Dahl.

Kevin Kane and The Hooper Brothers  Chris and Tommy have been an original Canadian band for over 40 years.

The Grapes of Wrath.

Same three guys. Still making music.

This podcast is their first complete band interview in over 10 years.

Like many, I had presumed that the guys had moved on to solo efforts or other bands or other dreams.

When I saw that they were playing and selling out The Carleton in Halifax I started to dig and found – amazed – that they were in fact playing the Filberg Festival in Comox, Vancouver Island  Aug 3.

Also Edmonton, The Maritimes, Vernon and  The Dream Café in Penticton.

Bringing with them songs containing people's memories, whole lifetimes.

Peace of Mind

You may be right

These days

And the still brilliant…

All the thing’s I wasn’t.

Platinum records, multiple tours of Canada, the USA and Europe.

In 1992 they went separate ways only to rediscover the power of their friendship and music in 2010 at a festival in Surrey, BC.

The same three guys…Let’s celebrate The Grapes of Wrath. Enjoy the stories and the music.

Tour Dates:

www.grapesofwrath.ca

The first guest is singer/songwriter/composer Marc Jordan.

He and his love Amy Sky were show-stopping guests on the 2023 CKUA Juno Couch.

Then,  they sang songs from their nominated album  He Sang. She Sang.

Now Marc returns to The Stew with his latest solo gem, Waiting for the Sun to Rise.

Marc continues his journey through his jazz-influenced songbook..getting cooler and more focused by the year.

Tracks like Rio Grande (with Randy Brecker), and Tears for Fears’ Everybody Wants to Rule the World. And the standout Coltrane Plays the Blues.

A small suggestion when listening to Marc Jordan play and sing. The songs invite you to – LEAN IN.

Jordan and Sky are both national UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors for Canada.

Crash the Time Machine The Odds 7th album has been released. The basic Odds lineup of Craig Northey, Pat Steward, Murray Atkinson and Doug Elliott are joined by the 5th Odd – Steven Page.

This is songwriting at a very high level,  then taken even higher by players who are truly gifted.

I’m so glad that these guys got back together again after a hiatus from 2000-2007.

You can hear multiple influences in each and every track.

They’ve backed Warren Zevon, they wrote and played the soundtrack for  Kids in the Hall Film Brain Candy and their TV series Death Comes to town, toured with and played with The Tragically Hip and Barenaked Ladies, wrote music for Corner Gas.

Crash the Time Machine deals with religion, the days we’re all living in and several songs in memory of their friend Spirit of the West leader/writer John Mann.

The song is Somehow in a Dream. The Waterboys are mentioned. As Craig tells us ..

“John told me that in his last hours, he’d like to have someone play “Whole of the Moon”

The Sept 9 Mulligan Stew has a special guest – Ariel Posen.

He’s just achieving liftoff in his career but there's absolutely no denying he has a profile arc heading up.

A session guitarist in Winnipeg (I saw him as the second guitarist in Bros. Landreth. If Ariel is  playing beside Joey Landreth and more than  holding his own, you know he is good)

He began his career quietly showcasing new guitars online for the companies making them.

He had no idea the effect he was having on the guitar and music fans of the world, especially in Europe.

So. when he finally decided to start his solo career and released his first album How Long  (2019)  Ariel was gobsmacked to find a ready and willing audience in Europe and across Canada, then in the USA.

Then came Headway, Mile End, Mile End 2, Familiar Ground, the Downtown EP and just now Reasons Why.

He’s touring Canada

Sept 26th in Calgary

Sept 27 in Edmonton

Sept 28 in Saskatoon

Sept 29 Winnipeg  (home town)

BUT FIRST – On Sept 23 he performs at the 2023 Eric Clapton Crossroads Festival in LA.

Also invited by Eric are The Bros. Landreth. Also from Winnipeg.

We revisit two Canadian icons who join forces and become partners in music.

One is/was Gord Downie. Lead singer and songwriter of The Tragically Hip.

Truly beloved. And hugely missed after losing his fight to cancer but went out in a blaze of songs with The Hip and the last Cross Canada Tour.

The other is Bob Rock. Known for his production work with Metallica, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Ron Sexsmith and The Tragically Hip.

Bob tells the story of how they became friends and how Gord contacted him and asked if he had any tracks he hadn’t used because he had  words he hadn’t used..” so let's put them together”

The album took years to complete but when they last met. Gord says to Bob “Please finish it”

Bob told us " I had to fulfill the promise "

Bob Rock on Gord Downie and their album Lustre Parfait Saturday on Mulligan Stew.

Bumped into Russell Broom at EFMF. We talked Art Bergmann and his next album.
What brings you here? Says I
Playing with Jill Barber. Says Russ
And that’s how Jill and I ended up sharing a freshly poured Big Rock and a wonderful interview in the green room.
Jill covers thoughts and emotions on her home and Homemaker, her latest album. The complete interview – over a cold beer – starts this two-part Mulligan Stew Podcast.

Part 2 is an hour special with winemakers and locals on the fires that raged through the hills of West Kelowna.
It ends with a message that they’re “open for business”. Farming is tough enough. To have roads closed during the high tourist season is hard to survive.

How can we help?
If you’re buying wine soon please buy BC from your favorite winery. It all helps.

Speaking of the recent wine country fires, the  interviews we did with locals and winemaking friends  for Tasting Room Radio will be Part Two  of this weeks Mulligan Stew Podcast

 Buy Local. 

Thank You

Robbie Robertson passed away Aug 9, 2023.

We were born a year apart and once we were both making and playing music we crossed paths over the years.

What was special about the relationship was that we talked like two friends who loved the same music and artists.

I was fascinated by his Indigenous roots and he couldn’t believe that I had been a Mountie.

We discovered that we both found our musical roots through late-night radio. I was completely in awe of the Border Radio of  Wolfman Jack on XERB Del Rio Texas. Hard driving r&b, blues, conjunto and zydeco at midnight. Radio under the blankets and pillows.

Robbie was doing the very same thing in downtown Toronto and with his Mom’s family at  Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve.

Robbie of course went on to become a legendary guitarist and songwriter.

From Ronnie Hawkins Hawks to The Band to playing with Bob Dylan when he decided to introduce electric backing to his folk audience. They were decidedly not happy with Bob or The Band.

Robbie, Levon, Garth, Rick and Richard created historic music.  First in the basement of Big  Pink in Woodstock with Dylan then on their own.

The songs became the fabric of what was to become Roots and Americana Music.

Several became anthems.

The Weight, The Night they drove old Dixie down, Up on Cripple Creek. All three were written by Robbie.

I was lucky enough to be in the audience at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco for The Last Waltz.  November 25, 1976. Their final concert.

The only reason I got into that magical event was because Robbie had invited me to come.

I did interviews with him while he mixed the film’s audio a year later.

Another one was when the  Martin Scorsese film actually came out in 1978 and another was when Robbie released his autobiography,  Testimony.

Some interviews are locked away in network archives and some are lost.

However, in putting this special together I did discover, at the last minute,  another partial interview and I’ve added it into the Mulligan Stew Podcast.

It's nearly impossible to include every project that Robbie either planned or executed. He was never not busy creating.

However, I’ll leave you with a partial awards list.

The Band and/or  Robbie were inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame, Rock Hall of Fame, Aboriginal Lifetime Achievement Award,  Canada’s Walk of Fame, Songwriting Hall of Fame, Govern General’s Performing Arts Awards for Life Time Achievement, Grammy Lifetime Achievement, Order of Canada, and many more.

Robbie and I talk, The Hawks, Bob Dylan, growing up at Six Nations, heading for the Mississippi Delta as a 16 year., The Last Waltz (and one magic moment) and talks about his three most famous songs.

If I'm lucky enough to locate more of our interviews, I’ll add them to the Podcast mix and repost them.

Thank you all..for Remembering Robbie and his life!

“…and then there was one “

One of the greatest bands to ever walk our stages and play with our hearts has been taking the final curtain – one by one.

Ricky Danko

Levon Helm

Richard Manual

This week – the heart of The Band -  Robbie Robertson

Left to carry the flag Garth Hudson.

Very few artists can ever lay claim to changing popular music. Just a handful.

Then one day it hits you– hammers you actually.  You get total clarity and begin to change everything you’ve known and held sacred.   So it was when Eric Clapton heard The Bands Music from Big Pink.  It was like all of a sudden he heard this record and said to himself, “Now this is what music should sound like.” For me personally– this has always been one of the most interesting moments in rock music history.

My pal Corey Wood called me just as I was finishing recording Saturdays Stew. “sorry to tell you this but Robbie’s gone”

He knew how special I thought Robbie Robertson was.

Dixie Down, Cripple Creek, I shall be Released, Chest Fever, King Harvest, Stage Fright, Acadian Driftwood, Somewhere down the crazy river. Once were brothers.

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of The Band’s landmark self-titled 1969 album, Terry David Mulligan catches up with Robbie Robertson. As the lead guitarist and principal songwriter for the brotherhood known to all as The Band, Robertson holds an esteemed place in music history.

On September 20th, his sixth solo album Sinematic will be released. The record will be followed by the release of the documentary Once Were Brothers, the story of The Band on film. Robbie talks with Terry about his many projects, including the soundtrack he wrote for Martin Scorcese’s film The Irishman.  

As part of our coverage at CKUA, I started digging into old interviews looking for comments on Bob’s music, influence, and legacy.

I’m delighted to bring you a select group of artists who bring insight into the singular artist we’re celebrating.

A man for many. Matched by few.

Bob Dylan – Thank you for those 80 years.

Guests are:

David Bowie

Susan Tedeschi &  Derek Trucks

Robbie Robertson

Colin Linden

The Avett Brothers

Barney Bentall and Steve Dawson

Greg Keelor

Mariel Buckley  Is On A ROLL

Two  Western Canadian Music Award Nominations for Breakout Artist and Roots Artist, Polaris nomination, Americana Festival in Nashville in September, Winnipeg Folk Festival, King Eddy gig with Tim,  released a version of album Everywhere I Used to be (deluxe) Two new tracks – Prairie Town Dreams and Sad all the Time.

And she’s not done yet!!! Heading to the Edmonton Folk Festival as well.

Mariel brings tales of relationships, sadness, depression, and small-town loneliness that can squeeze the life out of you. Not exactly feel-good songs but there is hope throughout. And a fight-back spirit.

The complete interview – a romp – can be heard on the Mulligan Stew Podcast and the video version on terrydavidmulligan YouTube Channel

E talked about when she realized that words, music and voice could be the way out of her dark life and relationships.

I wrote this album for losers and underdogs. I want every outsider and lost soul to feel seen and safe with these songs.

I wrote it for anyone who’s ready to make a change and especially for those who aren’t. 

Onward !!!!!!

It’s Festival Season. Wine, Music, Blues and Roots, Food, Fishing, Camping.

The annual Cowichan Valley Wine Festival returns to its Month of August setting.

Its kicks off July 27  with Sunset Soirée from 6-9 PM at the gorgeous Campbell Commons at  Brentwood College School in Mill Bay.

13 wineries will be pouring some of their favourites plus some chosen especially for this event. Attending and tasting allow you to actually meet the maker of the wines. There’s nothing better than getting the real story of the wine. Expect high-end, new releases and a few surprises being poured.

This year the food program will be created by  Mensch Catering, so you know it will be very interesting.

Wineries pouring on the night will be Alderlea, Blue Grouse, Cherry Point, Damalli, Devino, Deoll, Enrico, Rocky Creek, Unsworth, Venturi Schultze, Zanatta and Emandare.

August in the Cowichan Valley  Aug 1 – 31.  12 wineries.

Wine Passport.  

Your map and tasting glass are your ticket to all 12 participating Cowichan Valley Wineries.

Everyone who purchases a ticket is automatically entered into draws. Accommodations, wine, tours,  transportation and gift baskets.

Details at www.cowichanwineries.com

Our guests are

Alderlea – Julie Powell co-owner/co-winemaker

Blue Grouse – Bailey Williamson  Head Winemaker

Enrico Winery – Lorin Inglis  General Manager and Pres Cowichan Wineries Society.

(Jim Moody from Zanatta had tech issues and I will do a follow up)

www.cowichanwineries.com

www.alderlea.ca

www.bluegrouse.ca

www.enricowinery.com

@zanattawinery

Chef Kristian Eligh – Marilena Café and Raw Bar.  Victoria

It felt like the longest opening of a new restaurant I’ve seen in many years.

It feels like 3-4 years ago I knew that Kristian and his family were moving back to Victoria with a plan to create a singular restaurant.

Then came years of COVID and post-Covid.

Finally, the day has arrived and Marilena Café and Raw Bar was just launched.

Kristian is a chefs chef.

From Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry to culinary director of Hawksworth Restaurant and now Top Table Group Executive Chef.

The Top Table Group includes Blue Water Café, Eliza, Cin Cin, Araxi, Il Caminetto, Bar Oso.  Quite a line up and it doesn’t include their two New York City restaurants.

Marilena is two rooms in one. They’ve been described as “pockets of ambience”.

The Raw Bar, led by Chef Clark Park. The Café is the turf of one of the best managers Aaron Matsuzaki.

The wine directory is large. It’s overseen by the brilliant Shane Taylor

This is a destination, my friends...

Go to www.marilenacafe.com and check out the dazzling menu and wine list.

The café is a blend of Japanese-inspired small plates, Italian salads and large sharing plates of whole fish, lobster and  48 hr Beef short rib.

Cocktails on tap and a list of variables called lively, adventurous and sophisticated.

Pouring select Vancouver Island Wines. One from Basque country and Aquilini   Cab/Merlot Family Blend from Red Mountain.

Marilena is now open. It was well worth the wait.

www.marilenacafe.com

Red Robinson was the first announcer to play rock music on the radio in Canada. He was 16 years old.

Imagine the lives he influenced. Loved by teens. Hated and hounded by parents and adults.

Red made no distinction between black and white artists:  he just played the hits. 

That drive and determination took him all the way to induction in the Rock Hall of Fame.

I'm told I did the last interviews with Red Robinson. 

He was in a retirement home in Vancouver and living with his memories.

Red was directly responsible for the turning point in my career. He phoned me at CKCK in  Regina and asked "Would you like to come home.? Back to the West Coast?

One of the happiest moments in my life. 

We became friends and co-workers. 

His timing was impeccable.  He was the right guy. In the right place. At the right time

He got to play and then meet and interview

Elvis Presley

The Everly Brothers

Jerry Lee Lewis

Roy Orbison

James Brown

Bill Haley

Carl Perkins

Johnny Cash

Little Richard

Jackie Wilson

Fats Domino

Chuck Berry

Ray Charles

Rickie Nelson

Buddy Holly

Sam Cooke

Patsy Cline

Peggy Lee

And

The Beatles.

He Introduced The Beatles at their Vancouver Concert.

Started the careers of many many announcers. Me for one.

Changed the lives of millions of teens during the late '50s and 60's.

I have a number of interviews with Red...

The last two were Zoom interviews. The first didn't go well. Red couldn't hear the questions but the second and last in 2022 went much better.

This Podcast is both of those Zoom interviews back to back. The first was in March 2022 and the second October 2022.

I hope it tells some of the story of his life, the music he played, the lives he changed and his place in Canadian radio.

Red died April 1, 2023.  He was 86

On the occasion of Bruce Allen’s birthday, I thought I’d sit down for an early morning Zoom call.

Bruce has a roster of talent that plays the World’s stages, so you can find him at 8 am just finishing a call to South Africa.

He’s a full-speed guy. Never outworked,  no matter what the project.

In over 50 years Bruce has become one of the best artist managers in the entire music business.  Bruce Allen Talent.

After a start with BTO,  Bruce decided to take a chance on a young singer/songwriter Bryan Adams. They agreed to be a team with a handshake and started to make music history.

His roster now includes legend Anne Murray, Michael Bublé (there’s a story), Jann Arden, mega-producer Bob Rock and his first band in a while The Offspring.

In the 23 minutes that I have his attention, Bruce tells tales about

The state of the current music business..

The loss of Gordon Lightfoot

Bryan Adams – his place today

Jann – she’s busy Mully

Michael Bublé – we trade Bublé stories. Love it

Bob Rock and Gord Downie – amazing story

The Offspring – first band he’s signed in years.

The Loss of our dear friend – Red Robinson DJ Legend.

Enjoy Big Bad Bruce. Next Week and very special feature on the early rock life of Red Robinson. His last two interviews.