Transcanada Music West

This week on TransCanada Music West, we look back on a year’s worth of great live music from Western Canada’s best emerging and established acts. We’ll help you relive the glory days of summer with live songs from Jr. Gone Wild and Reuben and the Dark, recorded at the Calgary Folk Music Festival. Then we’ll take you to the west coast with Jay Malinowski and Close Talker captured during Breakout West in Victoria. Then, we’ll bring it all home with Colleen Brown and Michael Rault in full force in CKUA’s performance space."What A Great Day" Jr. Gone Wild (Live at Calgary Folk Fest)"Ready to Go" Petunia (Live at the Mercury Room)"Burning the Candle at Both Ends" Matt Patershuk (Live from Grande Prairie)"Devil's Time" Reuben and the Dark (Live at Calgary Folk Fest)"Heads" Close Talker (Live at Metro Theatre)"Donzoko Blues" Jay Malinowski & the Deadcoast (Live from Alix Goolden Hall)    "Moncton Flight 179" Colleen Brown (Live at CKUA)"Lost Something"  Michael Rault (Live at CKUA)"Prairie Girl" Rah Rah (Live at

This week on TransCanada Music West, we feature the instrumental styling of Victoria's Weird Party! The five piece group describes their sound as a “weird ambient melange” drawing on elements of funk, jazz, and soul to create a somewhat psychedelic sound. The band is made up of staples of the Victoria music scene, including Andrew Poirier, Chris Mackenzie, Piers Henwood, and William Farrant. In 2012, the band entered the studio with Ted Gowan of Tegan and Sara behind the board. The group would record their improvisational debut album live off-the-floor in just one weekend. They followed up that record in 2014 with their sophomore album Mellow Funk Vol. 1. This week's feature set includes live renditions of songs featured on that album, and a brand new, yet to be released track.

This week, we feature the live sounds of Swedish Canadian songstress Sarah MacDougall, in concert at Victoria’s Wood Hall during Breakout West. Four albums into her career, Sarah has found success both in Sweden, and right here in Canada. Just days after performing her Music West featured set, the Whitehorse-based musician took home the 2015 Western Canadian Music Award for Roots Solo Album of the Year. The songs on that award-winning record, Grand Canyon, take inspiration from Sarah’s time working at a home for at risk youth. The record features collaborations with Rose Cousins, Jesse Zubot, and Leah Abramson of The Abramson Singers. This intimate set was recorded at midnight on the first night of Breakout West 2015, and includes songs from Grand Canyon, and Sarah’s 2011 album The Greatest Ones Alive.

This week on the podcast, Victoria folk outfit Fish & Bird are our featured act. The band recently performed a hometown show during Breakout West 2015 at Wood Hall.  Taylor Ashton and fiddler Adam Iredale-Gray formed the band in 2007 when they bonded over their shared love for traditional folk music. The band’s fusion of traditional and contemporary influences has earned them a reputation as trailblazers in the folk music world. In this episode, you’ll hear songs from their latest album, Something in the Ether.

This week on the show: indie-rock melodies delivered live by Saskatoon’s own Close Talker. The band has only been a going concern for three years, but they’ve already captured national attention. Close Talker formed when lead singer Will Quiring met guitarist Matthew Kopperud at a B.C. bible college. In the spring of 2013, Close Talker became finalists in a cross-Canada music competition on the merits of their single, “By the Lake" from their debut 2013 debut Timbers. The album was release was written and recorded in just two weeks. But it so well received, it put Close Talker on radar of notable Canadian indie label, Nevado Music. In the summer of 2014, the band entered Montreal’s Breakglass Studios to record the follow-up record. It was produced by Besnard Lakes co-founder Jace Lasek (Wolf Parade, Stars, Mark Berube,Young Galaxy.) Unlike the quick outing that was their last recording, the group describes the approach to their sophomore effort, Flux, as a more “intentional” one. The band spent more than a y

This week on TransCanada Music West (Fridays at 8pm MT on CKUA), we take you back to Alix Goolden Hall in Victoria for a hometown performance by Towers and Trees. The Folk outfit was founded in 2012 by Adrian Chalifour. The singer-songwriter had been working away on songs as a solo artist for the better part of a decade. After trying to make a go in music as a solo artist in Vancouver and Kamloops, Adrian returned to Victoria, and formed an eight-piece band featuring some of city’s most talented supporting players. The group released the first Towers and Trees EP, Broken Record in 2012. Building on the success of that record, Towers and Trees celebrated the release of their debut full length album, The West Coast this past October. Featuring Adrian Chalifour on vocals, Jesse Boland on bass, David Zellinsky on lead guitar, James Liira on keys and vocals, and Dave Arter bass –CKUA presents Towers and Trees live from Alix Goodlen Hall in Victoria during Breakout West. Tracklist:Tide IWe're Not IslandsWest Co

This week on the TransCanada Music West podcast, it's Jay Malinowski and the Deadcoast live from Victoria's Alix Goolden Hall during Breakout West 2015. Jay Malinowski has earned a reputation as a young, commercially successful creative force. In his late teens, he fronted the JUNO Award winning reggae-rock outfit Bedouin Soundclash. The band recorded a plethora of pop gems, including “When The Night Feels My Song.”But in the decade since that breakthrough hit, Jay has continued to hone his craft. In 2010 he released his first solo album, Bright Lights and Bruises. That was followed by an EP collaboration with Coeur de Pirate, released under the moniker Armistice.  Jay returned to his family’s home base of Vancouver in 2012, formed The Deadcoast (Elliott Vaugh on the Viola, John Kastelic on violin, and Martin Reisle on cello) and set to work on their first EP, Indian Summer. That record was followed up by the full length album, Martel. The concept album draws inspiration from the life of Malinowski’s ancest

This week on TransCanada Music West, it’s Reuben and the Dark recorded live at the 2015 Calgary Folk Music Festival. A little over a year ago, Reuben and the Dark were here in our studios to debut their album Funeral Sky. That record has been a bit of a breakthrough for the alt-rock outfit since its release in May 2014. Reuben and the Dark have underwent a couple of line-up changes since, but they haven’t let that stopped them from working on new material. In fact, on this week’s TransCanada Music West, you’ll hear some brand new – unreleased tunes.

This week on the TransCanada Music West podcast, we kick off a new season of the series with a live performance from Jr. Gone Wild captured on stage at the 2015 Calgary Folk Music Festival. The Edmonton band became synonymous with the cow-punk genre they helped to create during their 15 year career, which spans six releases from 1982-1995. In 2013, they re-formed for a reunion gig after disbanding nearly twenty years earlier. The overwhelming reaction to those reunion shows lead the group to continue to perform live and record music together. The new lineup features founding member Mike McDonald, along with former Jr. Gone Wild alumni Dove Brown, Steve Loree and Larry Shelast. Tracklist:Just the Other Day Raisins I Don’t About All That Downtime The Bachelor’s Suite What a Great DayWhy I Hate the ‘60s Barricades (The Hockey Riot Song) Slept All Afternoon Annie Get Your Gun Rhythm of the Rain

This week on the podcast, we bring you LaGlace, Alberta singer-songwriter Matt Patershuk in concert at the Grande Prairie Live Theatre! Matt’s most recent album Outside the Lights of Town, earned him a 2014 Western Canadian Music Award nomination for Country Recording of the Year. In the set, he's joined by Calgary fiddle sensation Scott Duncan.

It's the penultimate episode of the season, and we're taking you back to the First United Church in Fort Saskatchewan for a set by Edmonton's Ayla Brook. Ayla has been a stalward player in the Edmonton music scene for over 10 years. Ayla began his career as a singer-songwriter in 2003 fronting alt-pop trio AA Sound System. In 2008, he released his first solo album, After The Morning After. At long last, Ayla is set to release a collection of brand new songs this October. The album is self-depricatingly titled: Ayla Brook: I Don't Want To Hear Your Breakup Songs. This week's podcast includes five new songs from that album, along with live renditions of tunes from After The Morning After, and the AA Sound System catalogue performed live at the First Untied Church in Fort Saskatchewan. Set list:Wake Up EarlyLeave AnymoreBlue So BluePeople in the CityNo DifferenceBreakup SongHold On Wasting TimeUpside DownAfter The Morning AfterOne Two Three

This week on the TransCanada Music West podcast, we feature Victoria-based singer-songwriter Mike Edel live from the First United Church in Fort Saskatchewan. Mike’s brand new album India Seattle is an indie folk gem that’s received regular airplay on CKUA. The record was produced by Colin Stewart, who has previously produced albums for The New Pornographers, A.C. Newman, Kathryn Calder, Dan Mangan, and Ladyhawk.

A self-described “rock-a-hillbilly yodeling Country Blues Boy” Petunia (of Petunia and the Vipers) performs his unique brand of country live from The Mercury Room. Petunia’s forthcoming solo album, 'Free as the Wind', will be released this fall. But tonight, you’ll have your chance to hear these brand-new songs performed live for an Edmonton audience. Petunia draws on a wide range of musical influences – Jimmie Rodgers to David Bowie; Hank Williams to Dead Kennedys – and seamlessly weaves them together to create a country-punk blend that will hook you. Setlist:Ready to GoCricket SongYes Baby YesPrimative LoveCalifornia BluesLoved in VainForgotten MelodyInside of YouI Hate A Man Like You (Jelly Roll Morton cover by Nathan Godfrey)Bicycle SongDeath Himself

Leaving home to find yourself. Finding the resolve to end a marriage to find happiness. These are just a few of the stories Alex Vissia explores in her songs. The Edmonton singer-songwriter began her career in music at age 11. That’s when Vissia and her sisters joined a choir in their hometown of Stony Plain, Alberta. From their modest start playing to seniors homes, The Vissia Sisters when on to play bluesgrass, country and folk songs to audiences at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. The sisters called in quits in 2011, and Alex went solo. Tonight you’ll hear songs for her latest album, Modern Love, along with a few tunes she’s been working on for her next album. Set list:Goodnight, MoonlightMacondoMountaineerMake Her StayYou Should Be SleepingDon't Tell Me RiddlesYoung LoveI WantedWild Fig Tree  

This week on TransCanada Music West, we feature Edmonton ex-pat Michael Rault. Michael has been a fixture on the Alberta music scene for the better part of a decade.  His latest album, Living Daylight, receives its US debut on Burger Records this month. The record is earning him comparisions to the likes of Tame Impala, and T-Rex, with Exclaim.ca calling it "one of the best rock records of 2015". This week, you'll hear live renditions of the songs performed in session in CKUA's performance space.Tracklist:All Alone              Real Love             Fall in Love with Every Girl I See Hiding from Heartbreak                Lost Something Too Bad So Sad Nothing Means Nothing               Too All My Friends           Still Not Sad       

This week on TransCanada Music West, we feature Colleen Brown in concert, live from our Edmonton performance space. The singer-songwriter is touring in support of her latest album Direction, co-produced by Joel Plaskett, and Raymond Richards. In this week's episode, you hear stunning live renditions of songs from that record.

This week on TransCanada Music West, we feature Ryan Boldt in concert at The Mercury Room in Edmonton. Ryan has been touring the country in support of his latest record, Broadside Ballads. The record is a collection of interpretations of traditional folk songs. The album’s title refers to songs printed on inexpensive paper sold for no more than a penny during the sixteenth and early twentieth centuries in towns and villages around Britain. In this week’s set, Ryan is joined by guitarist Clayton Linthicum (Kacy & Clayton) who shares Ryan’s affinity for traditional folk music. When Ryan isn’t recording solo, he’s performing as the front man of Saskatoon folk rock outfit The Deep Dark Woods.

This week on the show, we take you to the historic Bailey Theatre in Camrose for a performance by Winnipeg act Slow Leaves. That’s the moniker for singer-songwriter Grant Davidson, who draws inspiration from '70s era songwriters like Gene Clark of The Byrds, and Mickey Newbury. You’ll hear songs from Slow Leaves’ latest release, Beauty is So Common, produced by Rusty Matyas of Imaginary Cities. It’s a collection catchy songs that calls to mind the era of Davidson’s influences. Setlist:Careless and SereneLife of a Better ManNostalgia Institution Enough About MePretty Good SongwritersMothsPerpetual Sleep DreamerSecond ChancesA Piece of AdviceEverybody Wants to be In LoveCountry of Ideas Rearview

Calgary folk rocker Matt Swann (Hot Little Rocket, Extra Happy Ghost) has had a recurring presence on the CKUA charts since the release of his debut recording under the moniker Astral Swans. The album All My Favourite Singers Are Willie Nelson was chosen as the debut release on Dan Mangan’s newly minted label, Madic Records. The record has charmed more than a few announcers at CKUA. This week, while on national tour with Hayden and Dan Mangan + Blacksmith, Astral Swans joins us for an in-studio session including live renditions of songs from the album, and a gem of a cover originally performed by the album’s namesake.Tracklist:My Consience Don't Work in the New World Park StreetYou Carry A SicknessThe Beginning of the EndBlues Eyes Crying in the RainHollyAttentionSeptemberWhat Calms You Down Freaks Me Out

This week on TransCanada Music West, Regina indie-rockers Rah Rah deliver a live preview of songs from their forthcoming album, Vessels. You’ll also hear live renditions of tracks from the band's latest record The Poet’s Dead, which was longlisted for a Polaris Music Prize, named “Independent Album of the Year” at the 2013 WCMAs, and earned the group a JUNO nomination for Alternative Album of the Year in 2014. Set List:A Love That SticksArt and a WifeFake Our LoveSaintGood WinterTwentiesI'm a KillerFirst KissPrairie GirlDuet for Emmylou & the Grievous AngelWinter Sun