Royal City Rag, February 13 – The Valentine’s Weekend Edition

We had a very special 3-hour version of Royal City Rag on CFRU93.3fm on February 13 to celebrate St Valentine’s Day.

Garnet Rogers

We started out the show with a new single from Johnny Cash (really), “Ain’t No Grave”, the title song from American Recordings 6 to be released on February 23. I’m not sure how I feel about another posthumous Johnny Cash album. I’m a big fan, but he sounds very frail on this release. It will be interesting to see what the rest of the album sounds like. We followed that with Peter Gabriel and his version of Bon Iver’s Flume from the very interesting “Scratch My Back” covers album featuring songs by Radiohead, Randy Newman and Elbow alongside Bon Iver and others. A soon to be released companion album will have the ‘covered’ artists interpreting Gabriel’s work. You have to admit its a nice idea. The early reviews are very favourable so I guess I’ll be picking up this one too.

And finally, to round out the first set we listened to a gorgeous song by Garnet Rogers, “Summer Lightning” from the  live set, Get A Wtiness. Garnet is in Guelph on February 19 for a show at Dublin St United. Should be a great gig. All the details are here, if you need them.

Later in the hour, we dipped into the Valentine’s theme again, with one of my favourite love songs, Joan Armatrading’s “Willow” and followed that with the beautiful but sad “If love were the cure” from Guelph’s Detour. Detour are 16 year old Elivia Cazzola and her 14 year old sister, Anita. Detour were on last year’s yuletide Royal City Rag playing some traditional songs. We’re hoping to have them back on Royal City Rag fairly shortly, this time focusing on their own material. Stay tuned.

Guelph Symphony Orchestra

To wrap up the first hour Simon Irving, Artistic Director of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra joined us to chat about the GSO’s Valentine’s Day concert at the River Run Centre, Music Of Love and Romance. The performance features some of the most romantic music ever written including Mozart’s Elvira Madigan Concerto and the Warsaw Concerto, as well as favourite tunes from South Pacific, and songs by Sigmund Romberg. Interpretive dance to Prokoviev’s Romeo and Juliet featuring Clayton Scott makes this a concert not to be missed. Tickets are selling out fast, so if you still want to go, and, remember, it is Valentine’s… Call the River Run Box Office at 519-763-3000 or go Online to secure a Valentine’s Day to remember.

Listen to Hour 1:

In the second hour, we celebrated Valentine’s weekend in spokenword and music with storytellers Sya Van Geest and Brad Woods and singer-songwriter Sam Turton. We had planned to be on location in Niagara Falls, but after it turned out that, according to the Guelph Mercury, Guelph is the most romantic city in Ontario, we hastily recast our plans and headed down to the Farmers Market. Unfortunately no one told Brad so he ended up in Niagara Falls! Fortunately hs still managed to deliver his story. Good fun was had by all even if it was a bit on the chilly side in the Farmers market car park.

Listen to Hour 2:

And finally, to finish a bumper edition of Royal City Rag, we welcomed Sheila O’Reilly (host of CFRU’s A Dog’s Breakfast) and writer and educator Susan Wheeler into the studio for a Valentine’s Weekend song share. An opportunity to hear some great tunes, we very democratically shared some of our favourite love songs, some sad, some happy and some I’d not thought of playing to celebrate the holiday.

We finished up the hour with the Korgis (Stackridge’s Andy Davis and James Warren) beautiful “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime” followed by George Adams and Don Pullen’s “God Has Smiled At Me”.

A gorgeous way to finish the show, and, well worth listening to… just for that! I hope you enjoy it.

Listen to Hour 3:

All in all, a great show… and almost too much to have to tell you about! I’d suggest that you just take a listen yourselves. You’ll not be disappointed.

Music:
Johnny Cash, Ain’t No Grave from American 6: Ain’t No Grave
Peter Gabriel, Flume from Scratch My Back
Garnet Rogers, Summer Lightning from Get A Witness
Joan Armatrading, Willow from Gold
Detour, If Love Were The Cure from Detour E.P. (Demo)
Sam Turton, What’s So Funny About Peace, Love And Understanding (Live)
Sam Turton, I’d Rather Be With You (Live)
Sam Turton, Right Here (Live)
Sam Turton, Without Love (Live)
Sam Turton, I’ve Just Seen a Face (Live)
Sam Turton, Oh Susanna (Live)
Rosanne Cash, Long Black Veil from The List
KD Lang, Hallelujah from Recollection
Tomas McEoin & The Waterboys, Down By The Sally Gardens from Room To Roam (Collectors Edition)
Corries, Peggy Gordon from Traditions
Eddi Reader, The Shepherd’s Song from Peacetime
Ralph McTell, Streets Of London from Streets Of London And Other Stories
Beau Dommage, La complainte du phoque en Alaska from Beau Dommage (30 Anniversary Edition)
Martha Wainright, Dis quand reviendras tu? from I Will Internalize EP
Korgis. Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime from Don’t Look Back, The Best Of The Korgis
Don Pullen and George Adams, God Has Smiled On Me from Melodic Excursions

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Happy Valentine’s Day From Royal City Rag!

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Coming Up On Royal City Rag… A Bumper Valentine’s Weekend Edition!

We have a ‘bumper’ edition of Royal City Rag planned for February 13.

In the first hour (7-8 a.m.) we’ll talk to Simon Irving, Artistic Director of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra about their Valentine’s Day concert at the River Run Centre, Music Of Love and Romance, featuring some of the most romantic music ever written – Mozart’s Elvira Madigan Concerto, the Warsaw Concerto, both works featuring their own Amy Wark as piano soloist, as well as favourite tunes from South Pacific, and songs by Sigmund Romberg, performed by soprano Mary DuQuesnay.

The timeless story of Romeo and Juliet will also be presented and interpreted by the magnetic Clayton Scott, with thrilling and emotional music by Prokofiev. Guest conductor for Romeo and Juliet will be Judith Yan of the National Ballet. 

Clayton Scott

The Details:
Concert: Music of Love and Romance
When: Sunday February 14 at 3.00 p.m.
Where: River Run Centre, Guelph

Tickets: Online or at the River Run Box Office, 519-763-3000
Adult/Senior: $30.00
Student: $15.00
Child: $10.00 (12 and under)
eyeGO: $5.00 (High School Student – valid ID required)

In the second hour (8-9 a.m.), we’ll be celebrating Valentine’s weekend in spokenword and music with our good friends, storytellers Sya Van Geest and Brad Woods and singer-songwriter Sam Turton. It promises to be great fun. You won’t want to miss it!

And finally, in this week’s extra hour (9-10 a.m.), while I’m filling in for my good friend Alden Hadwen, I will be joined by Sheila O’Reilly (host of CFRU’s A Dog’s Breakfast) and Susan Wheeler (former Royal City Rag Weather Pixie) for a song share with a distinct Valentine’s focus, but also a few twists. Tune it to hear some of the great songs we’ve chosen and, why!  It should be interesting…

Royal City Rag, Saturdays from 7-9 a.m. on CFRU 93.3 fm, Guelph’s Campus and Community Radio Station. Listen live on CFRU 93.3fm, or, after the fact, via the website. If it happens in Guelph you’ll hear about it on Royal City Rag!

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Royal City Rag – February 11

A special Valentine’s Day trip around the Guelph art scene with Culture Vulture, Daniel.

Unfortunately Culture Vulture Marie has had to take a hiatus from the show.  We are already missing her lots!

The good news is that Lynn Broughton has agreed to join the Culture Vulture team on Royal City Rag.

There is a lot going on in Guelph over the coming weeks. We’ve tried to cover as many of the events as possible.

Enjoy the show! We had fun putting it together.

Here is the information on the events mentioned on the show.

Daniel’s Picks

Elora Centre for the Arts, Love of Poetry and Poetry of Love – February 13

Theatre Guelph, Diaries of Adam and Eve – February 13-15

McCrae House, Valentine’s Tea – February 13

Guelph Civic Museum, Family Heritage Day – February 16

Ed Video, Climax Soiree – February 14

Out on the Shelf, Dance it Out Queer/Queer positive fundraiser, Guelph Googleheim – February 14

Touchmark Theatre, Rosencrantz and Guilderstern Are Dead – February 19-22

Jan’s Picks (see individual blog posts)

Eden Mills Writers Festival fundraiser “Unlucky in Love”, E-Bar – February 13

Hylozoists with Le Cyc, Guelph Little Theatre – February 13

Guelph Civic League Dance Party “Under the Covers”, Mitchell Hall – February 14

K9 Helpers Valentine’s Tea,  The Cutton Club – February 15

Dimitri Roussopoulus, 10 Carden St – February 15-16

ALS Fundraiser, Let’s Kick It!, E-Bar – February 15

Campfire Sessions, Cornerstone Cafe – February 15

Jill Barber with Kevin Fox, Dublin St United Church – February 23

Music:
Blackie And The Rodeo Kings, Loving Cup from Let’s Frolic
Hylozoists, Hearts And Harps from La fin du monde
Hylozoists, Dark Scene Waltz from L’ile des sept villes
Jill Barber, Never Quit Loving You from Chances
Josh Ritter, Wait For Love from The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter

Listen to the show:

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