EP 337 | Victoria Whisky Festival 2025 Davin De Kergemmeaux - Graeme Macaloney- Grant Sevely-Jason MacIsaac-Brennan Colebank
Release Date: 02/09/2025
EP 359 | It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley Interview with Documentary Director Amy Berg
Mulligan Stew
Amy Berg, the director of the just-released documentary It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley. Jeff was, quite simply, one of the most engaging and brilliant performers. Blessed with a voice that could mimic singers such as Robert Plant and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. His single album Grace is still considered one of the greatest ever released. Almost three decades after his death and with several posthumous releases, Jeff Buckley's legacy continues to grow, and his music lives on. His fan base includes rock legends, pop artists, loyal followers, and an entirely new generation of music...
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EP 357 | Honeybear, the band - Release album I was Wrong
Mulligan Stew
The guests are Ian Beaty and Colin Brumelle Singers and songwriters leading the soul and R&B sounds of Honeybear, the Band. New album I Was Wrong. Vancouver-based based but they're creating music that could easily have come from Memphis, New Orleans or Muscle Shoals. See and hear it for yourself: Aug 5 Harmony Arts Fest West Van Aug 7 The Drake Canmore Aug 8 Ironwood Calgary Aug 9 Wapiti Fest Fernie Aug 29 Fox Cabaret Vancouver Sept 12 Barnside Harvest Fest Ladner Oct 8 Centennial Theatre North Van Playing you...
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EP 357 | Honeybear, the band - Release album I was Wrong
Mulligan Stew
The guests are Ian Beaty and Colin Brumelle Singers and songwriters leading the soul and R&B sounds of Honeybear, the Band. New album I Was Wrong. Vancouver-based based but they're creating music that could easily have come from Memphis, New Orleans or Muscle Shoals. See and hear it for yourself: Aug 5 Harmony Arts Fest West Van Aug 7 The Drake Canmore Aug 8 Ironwood Calgary Aug 9 Wapiti Fest Fernie Aug 29 Fox Cabaret Vancouver Sept 12 Barnside Harvest Fest Ladner Oct 8 Centennial Theatre North Van Playing you...
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EP 356 | Here comes Tami Neilson/Neon Cowgirl
Mulligan Stew
NEON COWGIRL "The Neon Cowgirl-towering over Broadway like the patron saint of heartbreak in downtown Nashville as she smiles coyly over her shoulder in red cowboy boots-watched me grow up. Basking in her glow, I walked wide-eyed into the Ryman Auditorium as a 16 year-old, clutching my ticket. Later that night, dreaming of standing on that stage, I drifted off to sleep in the bunk of our home on wheels at the KOA next to the Opry. When I was 18, she saw me flipping through Loretta Lynn CDs in Ernest Tubb Record Shop after performing the breakfast and lunch shows on the General...
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EP 355 | Western Folk Festival Artistic Directors Cage Match 2025
Mulligan Stew
It's Festival Season. One of the very best times of the year. Sun, relaxed lifestyle, friends, family and FESTIVALS. Jazz, blues, rock, roots, pop, French. Everything !! Especially Folk! There are many folk festivals where you'll see and hear all of those artists. The barriers are well down. If it's music and engaging, then it all fits. "An artistic director is a leader in arts organizations who shapes and guides the creative vision" . This is the second year we've had an Artistic Director Cage Match. All four AD's exchanging comments and suggestions about who's coming and...
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EP 355 | Western Folk Festival Artistic Directors Cage Match 2025
Mulligan Stew
It's Festival Season. One of the very best times of the year. Sun, relaxed lifestyle, friends, family and FESTIVALS. Jazz, blues, rock, roots, pop, French. Everything !! Especially Folk! There are many folk festivals where you'll see and hear all of those artists. The barriers are well down. If it's music and engaging, then it all fits. "An artistic director is a leader in arts organizations who shapes and guides the creative vision" . This is the second year we've had an Artistic Director Cage Match. All four AD's exchanging comments and suggestions about who's coming and...
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Count Me In Documentary on drumming and drummers-Interview Director Mark Lo
Mulligan Stew
Mark Lo (Director/Producer) has worked in film and TV for more than 20 years. First, as a music agent and supervisor, collaborating with composers and artists to bring music to picture and then as an Executive Music Producer Mark recently produced and directed the feature music documentary Count Me In. A celebration of drummers and their unique ability to drive generations of music. I love being a drummer. Everyone thinks you’re dumb. What they don’t realise is that if it weren’t for you, their band would suck. – Dave Grohl Eat drums! Eat...
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EP 553 | Podcast guest is the fantastic singer, songwriter - Mike Farris.
Mulligan Stew
Mike's new album is called The Sound of Muscle Shoals. He's waited almost 20 years to round up the next generation of Swampers and record at the world-famous FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals. Wow - was it worth the wait? Mike Farris lives and sings The Sound of Muscle Shoals. The sound is a mix of blues, soul and country. The NY Times called it Indigenous American Music. The same sound that came from Etta, Aretha, Boz, Paul Simon, Wilson Pickett, Neil Young, Percy Sledge, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, The Staple Singers and many more. Long before heading for FAME studios,...
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EP 352 | Robert Schwartzman and Colin Bluntstone interview HUNG UP ON A DREAM: THE ZOMBIES DOCUMENTARY
Mulligan Stew
60 years later, we welcome Colin Blunstone - Lead singer of The Zombies How is it possible that an English band that was part of the British Invasion of the early '60s is still being played and referenced in 2025? The band was The Zombies. The two leaders were songwriter and singer Rod Argent and lead singer Colin Blunstone. They had three world hits. A fourth hit the charts after they had broken up. Many years later, they were inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland. I always loved the sound of the Zombies—a singular mix of rock, blues and very cool jazz. In a sea of...
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EP 351 | Dan Mangan and new Album 'Natural Light'
Mulligan Stew
Dan Mangan released his 7th album, Natural Light, last Friday. A year ago, Dan Mangan asked the players in his road band to join him at a cottage to demo the songs for Natural Light. These players would likely not be in studio when he rerecorded the songs. However, after recording the first song - It Might Be Raining - they looked at each other, laughing. It was pure magic. The room worked, the band worked and the songs really worked They did two songs the next day and 2 more the third day. Four songs the 4th day. The demos in the...
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THE SHOW
It's the first of two Whisky Specials from the 2025 Canadian Whisky Awards and the 2025 Victoria Whisky Festival.
There are always headlining whiskies and star whisky makers in attendance!
Whisky fans want to taste and explore the new releases from Crown Royal, Canadian Club, Forty Creek, Hiram Walker, JP Wiser's Lot 40, Pike Creek, Gooderham and Worts, Nikka, Amrut, The Dalmore and Glencadam.
For the first time ever, Gisbelle Distillery a distillery from China, would be joining the lineup.
The West Coast and Vancouver Island were well represented.
Stillhead, Odd Society, DubhGlas, Sheringham, Sons of Vancouver & Shelter Point.
Over 200 whiskies were up for the awards. 14 judges from across the country tasted and scored.
The Grand Prize Winner, judged Canadian Whisky of the Year was,
The Peat Project Moscatel Barrique single malt from Macaloney's Island Distillery (Saanich)
Here are the guests on part one of the 2025 Whisky Awards and Victoria Whisky Festival
Davin De Kergommeaux - Davin is the flag bearer for Canadian Whisky. He singlehandedly brought Canadian Whisky to the attention of Canada and The World.
His latest book is the updated and expanded third edition of Canadian Whisky - The Essential Portable Expert.
I love the first line.
"Handles, mickeys, shots or drams, no matter what its measure, Canadian whisky is a story of Canada."
Davin is my ultimate connection to the world of Canadian Whisky. He helped create these awards and leads the judging team.
Grant Stevely - Distiller at DubhGlas (Oliver)
In the fall of 2010, Grant purchased some property at Gallagher Lake near Oliver, B.C.
“I wanted to build a distillery from the ground up, which is distinctly different from a lot of other
distilleries,” he says. “So we built the distillery with expansion in mind.”
Grant Stevely[/caption]
At the heart of the operation is a German-made Arnold Holstein still.
No sooner did Stevely open Dubh Glas Distillery in the spring of 2015, when he began winning awards
for his first product, Noteworthy Gin.
“Dubh Glas” is Scottish Gaelic for “from the dark water.” It’s pronounced “Douglas,” which happens to
be Stevely’s middle name.
Jason MacIsaac - Distiller. Sheringham (Langford, BC)
Sheringham Distillery won Best Contemporary Gin at the 2019 World Gin Awards
Its Seaside Gin captured the award against World-class competition from 23 countries, including the UK and USA.
"We created Sheringham because we saw a hole in the market: the opportunity to create the world’s most drinkable spirits. This approach has served us well, and in the seven years since founding Sheringham, we have been on the ground building authentic connections with buyers, retailers, and consumers, sharing our story and highlighting our chef-driven approach to innovation and quality." (Distiller Mag)
Jason and wife Alayne now have their growing portfolio available across Canada and in 15 markets in the USA.
Graeme Macaloney - Master Distiller Macaloney Island Distillery (Saanich)
There once was a wee Scottish lad by the name of Graeme Macaloney who found a summer job bottling
whisky and fell in love with Uisge Beatha, the ‘water of life’. He dedicated his heart to finding a way to
make whisky for a living.
Graeme set up shop on Saanich, just outside Victoria. Some of his favourite Scottish and Irish whiskies were island-made.
Graeme has found his "island" in Canada.
Congratulations Champ!!
- Distillery opened in 2016
- The first whisky made onsite and released in 2020
-Canadian Whisky of the Year - 2025
Brennan Colebank - Master Distiller Stillhead Distillery (Duncan)
Founded by the Colebank family, Stillhead Distillery Inc. opened its doors in October of 2017.
After working 15 years in the tech industry, Master Distiller Brennan Colebank left his job to pursue his dream career,
blending the two things he loved most: chemistry and spirits. The chemist has created an amazing portfolio and a home for Whisky in the Cowichan Valley.
www.victoriawhiskyfestival.com
www.canadianwhiskyawards.com