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Amos Garrett. Guitarist, singer, trombonist, born in Detroit on 26 Nov 1941. Amos played lead guitar 1968-70 for Ian and Sylvia (appearing on their groundbreaking country-rock LP, Great Speckled Bird). Moving to Woodstock, NY, in 1970, Amos toured and/or recorded with Maria Muldaur, Paul Butterfield's Better Days, Todd Rundgren, Jesse Winchester, and others. His solo on Muldaur's 1974 hit 'Midnight at the Oasis' is considered a classic of its kind and is typical of the style that has been highly influential on other pop, rock and blues guitarists.   After two years in Boston, Amos lived 1976-89 in the San Francisco area. He continued with Maria Muldaur until 1978, worked as a studio guitarist, and eventually formed an Alberta-based band, the Eh! Team. Garrett had five albums issued 1978-88 in Canada under the Edmonton label Stony Plain: Amos Garrett & Geoff Muldaur (SPFF-1012), Go Cat Go (SPL-1034), Amosbehavin' (SPL-1053), The Return of the Formerly Brothers (SPL-1104), and I Make My Home in My Shoes (SPL-1132). The second-last, a collaboration with the singer, guitarist and organist Doug Sahm and the pianist Gene Taylor, received the inaugural Juno Award for best roots/traditional album in 1989. That same year Garrett took up residence in Turner Valley, near Calgary. The Garrett/Sahm/Taylor band recorded a second album, Live in Japan (SPCD-1164), in 1990. Amos' discography also includes recordings with Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Anne Murray, and Bonnie Raitt. For many years, Amos organized and led the House Band at the hugely popular Edmonton Folk Music Festival, assembling musicians to support headlining artists who attended without a band.

We have a total of 10 Guests. Nine of them come from the hot-rising Edmonton band Second Hand Dream Car. For the first time,  all 9 members showed up to talk. We talked about the history of "horn bands". Everyone from Tower of Power to Tedeschi Trucks Band.   And this Friday they're releasing their second album, Get Ready.   As many of you know,  their first album, Answer the Call, led to three Canadian Blues Music Awards and a JUNO nomination for Blues Album of the Year. Also voted #6 album in the CKUA Top 100 albums of 2024. Second Hand Dream Car launch their new Album Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week at the Varscona Theatre.  Lots of dates ahead, but two stand out October 22, Horseshoe Tavern.   Toronto New Year's Eve Chateau Lacombe Ballroom, Edmonton.   Guest in Hour Two is  Colin James. He is about to release his book Playing the Changes -  a musician's memoir. Colin has released 21 studio albums, 8 Juno Awards, and 31 Maple Blues Awards. Induction in the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and the Order of British Columbia. It all started in Regina. Colin has also worked and become friends with Bonnie Raitt, Pops Staples, Keith Richards, Buddy Guy and more. However, his career took a leap when, as a young player, he was asked to form a band overnight to open for Stevie Ray Vaughn. They became friends and toured together. Lots of road stories here.  All written by Colin. One theme running through the book is his Quaker upbringing and a memorable journey through the Deep South by bus with his Mom.

I lovingly think of Steve Dawson as the Swiss Army Knife of music. Player.Producer. Writer. Arranger. Mentor. Creator. Recording engineer. Specializes in guitar and pedal steel. Touring band member for Allison Russell's Birds of Chicago and Matt Anderson. First noticed Steve as half of Zubot and Dawson. Then long time producer / co-writer for Jim... The post EP 403 | Steve Dawson and the Volcano Brothers-New Album appeared first on Mulligan Stew.

Friday,   brilliant Gulf Islands string specialist Harry Manx released his 22nd  album, Falling Upwards.  The song titles give hints at what Harry's been creating. Songs about  Healing – Step Softly Traditional Gospel – God's gonna cut you down (with Kevin Breit) Love with a groove – Find Your Love Blues and Bhangra -Pork Pie Turban (with... The post EP 402 | Harry Manx-New album 'Falling Upwards' appeared first on Mulligan Stew.

Keb' Mo's newest album is a stripped-down record that features just his voice, acoustic guitar, and some special guests. It's been described as an optimistic album, which is remarkable, considering its release after the artist faced a life-changing illness. The five-time Grammy winner, known for his guitar artistry and modern blues style, is on the... The post EP 401 | Keb 'Mo' on Mulligan Stew-New album 'The Breakdown' appeared first on Mulligan Stew.

It's fire season in BC. In the very heart of the prime tourist months, Summerland and surrounding areas have been ablaze. Almost 12,000 people, locals and tourists, have been evacuated from Summerland. On Friday, the main highway through Summerland reopened with limited hours. (7 am to 7 PM) The Bald Range wildfire continues to grow... The post EP 400 | The Summerland Fires – an informed discussion appeared first on Mulligan Stew.

"I started singing at an ungodly age, standing in my crib and warbling at passing family members. I didn't really think of it as a career until I went to the School of Science and Math and realized that I never wanted to do another algorithm. So I went to Oberlin Conservatory and did... The post EP 399 | Rhiannon Giddens, 2 interviews – Edmonton Folk Music Festival appeared first on Mulligan Stew.

Our guests are  Skydiggers co-founders Andy Maise and Josh Finlayson. They've just released their next album, West Montrose. Produced by Jimmy Bowskill in his studio. West Montrose is what they called the band before Skydiggers. (for you trivia fans, one rejected name was Crowded Trousers.) The guys have reimagined 5 of their earlier songs plus... The post EP 398 | The Skydiggers – Celebrate 40 years together by going back!! appeared first on Mulligan Stew.

An artist who blends Americana, folk, gospel, soul, and blues to create something she calls "organic moonshine roots music," June grew up in western Tennessee, a part of the world where different musical traditions meet, something that is reflected in her special sound. She was raised in a musical family where everybody sang. She is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who plays banjo, guitar, and ukulele. She's also an author, a poet, and a certified mindfulness instructor who sees joy as something fierce, powerful, and radical—a form of resistance. She told The New Yorker, "I'm basically an ambassador for joy, and people are oftentimes like, 'That's so fake, you're bypassing shit.' But that's not my truth. My truth is understanding the darkness and understanding the night and the hard times and choosing to be in a place of joy."     "Valerie June has built a devoted following by ignoring expectations. She is simultaneously rural and cosmopolitan, historically minded and contemporary, idiosyncratic and fashionable, mystical and down-to-earth." — New York Times   Valerie June   She's playing some great shows and festivals, making stops: July 16 – Toronto, ON – TD Music Hall July 17 – Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Bluesfest July 19 – Vancouver, BC – Vancouver Folk July 22 – Edmonton, AB – Horowitz Theatre July 23 – Calgary, AB – Calgary Folk   Valerie June-Owls, Omens and Oracles Valerie's critically acclaimed sixth studio album, Owls, Omens and Oracles, came out last summer on Concord Records. It was produced by M Ward and included one of the best songs of 2025, "Joy Joy"!   "Getting the courage to do something small Lifting the spirits of all that you saw Feeling the tiniest spark in your heart Only an ember can light up the dark Are you ready to see A world where we could all be free As branches of an endless tree?"   One of a kind and driven by writing songs of truth and justice.   We welcome back Valerie June.

An artist who blends Americana, folk, gospel, soul, and blues to create something she calls "organic moonshine roots music," June grew up in western Tennessee, a part of the world where different musical traditions meet, something that is reflected in her special sound. She was raised in a musical family where everybody sang. She is... The post EP 397 | Valerie June, Coming our way! appeared first on Mulligan Stew.

AW Cardinal and Jasmine Colette continue to create very new and very different music. The last album was recorded over several days in New Orleans. The new album,  Get Your Feathers Ready, was a meeting of Coast Salish and Treaty 6 in Maskwacis, Alberta. One day of rehearsal with AW, Jas, and the Northern Cree... The post EP 395 | Blue Moon Marquee, New Album'Get your feathers Ready' appeared first on Mulligan Stew.

Our guest is Terry Wickham. Terry Wickham, producer and creative director of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, spends his entire year searching for just the right artists to showcase on the stages of his folk festival. Terry has been producing the festival for 38 of its 47 years. Right off the top, we talked about... The post Ep 393 | Terry Wickham Producer/Artistic Director of Edmonton Folk Festival appeared first on Mulligan Stew.

This week's Mulligan Stew podcast features our own Leeroy Stagger. He's the host of Dirty Windshield Radio Hour on Saturdays on CKUA Radio. His latest album is about to be released. It's called Pilgrimage.   Leeroy found inspiration by reading Alister McIntosh's brilliant  book "Soil and Soul."   "I wanted to write on the Highland Clearances of the 1700s that pushed my ancestors from Scotland to Northern Ireland and ultimately Nova Scotia. The repercussions of colonialism that  shake the branches of my family tree and sadly still ring  out throughout my home country of Canada today." "It was always so strange to me that I felt more at home in Scotland than in my own country; it makes perfect sense to me now. There is a deep ancestral grief for where we once called home."   Key to these songs and the entire album is the partnership Leeroy entered into with East Coast legend Joel Plaskett. They played, wrote and produced together. Joel suggested to Leeroy that they use his  Tascam 388, an old 1/4" 8-track machine. Joel convinced me on the magic, and I  started to see the humanness of  tape, in all of its warm and unpredictable glory."   "At this point, we have to ask ourselves what kind of world we want to live in. Digital isolation or a community forward offering of storytelling, of truth in the natural world, of something tangible and real; a bit of the old ways."   [caption id="attachment_32453" align="alignnone" width="512"] Leeroy Stagger -Pilgrimage[/caption]   Pilgrimage might just help us find it

This week's Mulligan Stew podcast features our own Leeroy Stagger. He's the host of Dirty Windshield Radio Hour on Saturdays on CKUA Radio. His latest album is about to be released. It's called Pilgrimage.   Leeroy found inspiration by reading Alister McIntosh's brilliant  book "Soil and Soul."   "I wanted to write on the Highland Clearances of the 1700s that pushed my ancestors from Scotland to Northern Ireland and ultimately Nova Scotia. The repercussions of colonialism that  shake the branches of my family tree and sadly still ring  out throughout my home country of Canada today." "It was always so strange to me that I felt more at home in Scotland than in my own country; it makes perfect sense to me now. There is a deep ancestral grief for where we once called home."   Key to these songs and the entire album is the partnership Leeroy entered into with East Coast legend Joel Plaskett. They played, wrote and produced together. Joel suggested to Leeroy that they use his  Tascam 388, an old 1/4" 8-track machine. Joel convinced me on the magic, and I  started to see the humanness of  tape, in all of its warm and unpredictable glory."   "At this point, we have to ask ourselves what kind of world we want to live in. Digital isolation or a community forward offering of storytelling, of truth in the natural world, of something tangible and real; a bit of the old ways."   [caption id="attachment_32453" align="alignnone" width="512"] Leeroy Stagger -Pilgrimage[/caption]   Pilgrimage might just help us find it