EP 390 | Randy Bachman on The Guess Who & BTO
Mulligan Stew
Once again, I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time and got to experience the lift off of the first Canadian artist to hit #1 in the USA. Before they became world famous, they were another prairie band trying to get the bosses in Toronto to notice them. I was at CJME and CKCK in Regina, and over one early 60’s summer, they spent the hot months playing at beach parties and small halls. One after the other. Then the hits started to roll, and I ended up going to London, UK, with them, to cover the story. Except the story was a bust. Poorly planned on the London end, they...
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EP 389 | Chris Wood - The Wood Brothers. New album Puff of Smoke
Mulligan Stew
Big fan of Medeski. Martin and Wood. Then followed the Wood Brothers through 9 albums. The media and music fans painted the brothers as a Jam Band. They are anything but. Jazz and roots/ blues driven with themes and lyrics that dive into human behaviour. Almost all songs are wrapped in a sensual groove. All songs written and created by an amazing trio. Chris’s brother Oliver and Jano Rix, who’ll play any instrument put in front of him. New album - Puff of Smoke is the best yet. The Brothers are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album Ways not to Love. Chris’s...
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Ep 388 | Ron Sexsmith on Gordon Lightfoot
Mulligan Stew
Ron Sexsmith has 19 albums in a singular career. His songwriting has been admired by his many peers. There's only one voice like his - which is a blessing in a sea of wouldda/coulda/shoulda. Photo by Kerry Vergeer[/caption] If you asked him to compare his songs with his idol Gordon Lightfoot, Ron will admit there are few artists as good as Gordon Lightfoot was, but he continues to honour him. This Wednesday and Thursday, Ron performs at two sold-out Lightfoot Memorial concerts at the National Music Center in Calgary. In Bell Hall. On this week's Mulligan Stew Podcast Ron...
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Ep 387 | Mariel Buckley and Alan Doyle Revisited
Mulligan Stew
Last Oct 11, Mariel Buckley joined us from a motel room in New Mexico ( I think) as she was touring following the release of her latest album, Strange Trip Ahead. On Saturday night, Mariel and the album won a Juno Award for the 2026 Contemporary Roots Album of the Year. At 3 a.m., I was digging into the audio archives looking for this interview. And I’ve been following the Coffee Walks that Alan Doyle has been doing on Facebook as he toured Canada. Alan takes a camera and walks around the towns and cities he’s playing in, looking for the best coffee, and through the walk finds the heart...
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Ep 385 | Jeff Guignard - Wine BC and Brad Royale - Sommelier Concorde Group Calgary
Mulligan Stew
Guests - Jeff Guignard, CEO, Wine BC Brad Royale - Corp Sommelier Concorde Entertainment Group Both Jeff and Brad are fully into wine. The growing and pouring. We'll talk about Alberta's tax/no tax on BC wines. The state of Canadian wines and both have lots to recommend at the ongoing 2026 Vancouver International Wine Festival. Jeff is the CEO of Wine Growers of BC. Great leadership when it's needed most. Lead the charge to change Alberta taxes against BC wines. They just changed. Brad is one of the outstanding wine voices in Alberta. The corporate...
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EP 384 | The Bros. Landreth bring Dog Ear (with Bonnie Raitt)
Mulligan Stew
The amazing story and success of Winnipeg's David and Joey Landreth continue with the release of their 9th studio album, Dog Ear. The brothers join us from home base as they prepare for a full European tour and select key American dates this year. The new album deals with finding a balance between making music and raising their families. In the music business, with all its touring, it can be really hard on the whole family. After having a Grammy hit with the Landreth's Made up Mind, their music hero, Bonnie Raitt, asked the boys to send her songs from their new album....
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EP 383 | John Candy A life in comedy – Authour and guest Paul Myers
Mulligan Stew
From his humble beginnings in sketch comedy with the Toronto branch of Second City to his rise to fame in SCTV and Hollywood film classics like Planes, Trains and Automobiles, The Great Outdoors, and Uncle Buck, John Candy captivated audiences with his self-deprecating humour, emotional warmth, and gift for improvisation. Now, for the first time since Candy’s tragic death, bestselling biographer Paul Myers tells the full story of the man behind the laughs. Drawing on extensive research and exclusive interviews with many of Candy’s closest...
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EP 382 | Harry Hertscheg Executive Director Vancouver Wine Festival March 7-14
Mulligan Stew
Harry Hertscheg pours another glass. It's a blend uniquely Harry The 47th annual Festival. March 7/14- on opening the room is filled with information, numbers and a hint of Nardwuar. The palate is full. Surprising with stories of Bacchanalia (Mar 7), The Soul of Napa (MAR 9), The mid-palate is totally France! (the feature region) Harry takes us through The Spirit of Languedoc Roussillon Rioja Chablis. And, most importantly, fundraising for Bard on the Beach In 2026, the festival will feature 114 wineries from 14 countries,...
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EP 380 | Blue Moon Marquee, New Album'Get your feathers Ready'
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 Drummers and Singers. Jas and AW had discovered that early 1920s blues from the deep south and Northern Cree traditional pow wow had a commonality. They each brought their songs and met in the middle. It feels like the start of a historic journey. Two legendary music communities,...
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EP 379 | Nardwuar becomes first ‘human serviette’ appointed to Order of Canada!
Mulligan Stew
The Vancouver personality, born John Ruskin, is among 80 appointees announced on Wednesday, Unlike most of them, the 57-year-old will be inducted under his stage name, “Nardwuar, the Human Serviette,” a rare exception for one of Canada’s highest honours that meets the spirit of his off-the-wall personality. For the uninitiated, Nardwuar might be described as a Canadian enigma who gradually invaded pop culture over several decades, propelled by his interviews, which all finish with his trademark phrase “Doot doola doot doo...doot doo.” David Friend, Canadian Press I've had the...
info_outlineOnce again, I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time and got to experience the lift off of the first Canadian artist to hit #1 in the USA.
Before they became world famous, they were another prairie band trying to get the bosses in Toronto to notice them.
I was at CJME and CKCK in Regina, and over one early 60’s summer, they spent the hot months playing at beach parties and small halls.
One after the other.
Then the hits started to roll, and I ended up going to London, UK, with them, to cover the story.
Except the story was a bust.
Poorly planned on the London end, they played a couple of tv shows and came home.
Then came These Eyes, American Woman and fame.
After the Guess Who split up, another set of musicians decided to take the name and run with it, for 13 years.
Legalities carried on for many years, but eventually Randy and Burrton Cummings..the two original guys, got the name back and that’s why the upcoming Guess Who Tour is called the ” taking it back tour.”
Taking it back tour dates
June 8 – Saddledome Calgary
June 10 – Rogers Place, Edmonton
Aug 23 PNE Freedom Mobile Arch
August 25 Memorial Arena Victoria