Mulligan Stew

We're featuring Wine Educator and Event Creator Kurtis Kolt .  Top Drop 2025,  his sensational small wine fest runs next week in Vancouver and Calgary.       Wine Educator, judge and Event Co-Ordinator Kurtis Kolt. His thoughts on 2025 Washington Grown/Crafted in BC Wines His impressive  Top Drop Events this coming week  in Vancouver and Calgary.   Kurtis Kolt is a Vancouver-based wine & hospitality consultant who writes about wine, presents seminars, hosts events, judges' competitions, works with restaurants on their wine programs, and so on. Kurtis has been  running restaurants around Vancouver, eventually receiving the 'Sommelier of the Year' award at the 2010 Vancouver International Wine Festival. KK is also the co-founder of Top Drop, a series of terroir-focused trade and consumer festival-style events, dubbed  "the nerdiest, most awesome wine festival in Canada."      TOP DROP In Vancouver May 13 and Calgary May 15. Kurtis books very select wineries (and their winemakers)  Check out the participants - https://vancouver.topdrop.ca/en/exhibitors   Dubbed “The One Wine Tasting of the Year You Shouldn't Miss,” by Western Living magazine, Top Drop Vancouver and Top Drop Calgary‘s Main Events return with continued focus on sustainably-farmed, handcrafted wines offering a distinct sense of place, without heavy-handed winemaking trickery to get in the way.     His latest project is Free Spirit!, a celebration of the world of non-alc wine, beer, and spirits!   Kurtis joins us on Tasting Room Radio to also talk about the Grown in Washington - Crafted in BC 2025 Wines,  now being seen on BC shelves.   www.topdrop.ca www.winebc.com www.kurtiskolt.com @Kurtis Kolt

Matt Anderson is one of CKUA's favourite artists. On the air and certainly with the audience. Matt is releasing his 11th solo studio album The Hammer and The Rose April 25th. I was delighted with all of that information until I got to"the date" April 25.    As you may know,  that's the first Friday for the CKUA Spring fundraiser.   I asked Matt's team if I could move the Stew interview to this Saturday - and they approved!!   So, we get the story of the album and we are the first play of several tracks, anywhere.   This album, about the relationship between the head and the heart, presents a different Matt. A slightly quieter Matt,  so you can hear the texture and grain of his voice. Great songs too. Co-writing the title track with Steve Dawson Co-writing with Tom and Thompson Wilson, Terra Lightfoot and Jesse O'Brien. Co-writing The Cobbler with producer/drummer Jason Van Tassel -  as a tribute to, and in memory of,  their Fathers. Includes a fine cover of JJ Cale's Magnolia. With  Afie Jurvanen on guitar and vocals.  

George Siu is a pal and the co-founder of Memphis Blues BBQ House. They now have 6 locations.  3 in Vancouver and 3 in Alberta. They serve top-of-the-line BBQ...beautifully cooked.  George and Park Hefflefinger started the first location after heading to Memphis and spending much time studying the process and tricks of the trade.  The Memphis style is to slow cook in a pit. Either dry or wet ribs. Dry has a rub with salt, spices before cooking - no sauce.  Wet are brushed with sauce before during and after cooking.   I had a number of things I wanted to ask George...   Has any of the Buy Canada affected your business? - It is called Memphis Blues after all. You have a wall of American bourbon. What's happened to it? Have you made any moves to serve Canadian craft distilleries?  Beer, Cider? Are the tariffs having an effect? How different are the wine and drink choices between BC and Alberta? What pairs well with smoky BBQ?   It's not just a Q&A session. With George Siu it's always a trading of stories. Some are actually true.   www.memphisbluesbbq.com

For the first time under one roof in Victoria, importers will be joined by local BC makers from Vancouver Island, Vancouver, the Okanagan, etc.,  to showcase the best alcohol-free wine, beer, spirits, and packaged cocktails available.   Organized by Kurtis Kolt.   Kurtis Kolt is a Vancouver-based wine consultant who writes about wine, presents seminars, hosts events, judges wine competitions, works with restaurants on their wine programs, etc. His various certifications and credits include London's Wine & Spirit Education Trust, the Court of Master Sommeliers & the Winemaking Program at UC Davis. In  2010, when  Kurtis received the ‘Sommelier of the Year' award from both the 2010 Vancouver International Wine Festival and Vancouver magazine, he opted to diversify his focus on wine through different arenas. In recent years, Kurtis  co-founded, curates and runs ‘Top Drop' in both Vancouver and Calgary, a terroir-focused trade & consumer wine festival Western Living magazine called, “The one wine tasting of the year you shouldn't miss.” Guests at Free Spirits, we could find 5 minutes with were:   Kurtis Kolt - See above      Andrea Demers -   Softer Drink Store in Victoria. More than 100 different drinks.   pouring Zamalek and Fin Soda.     Janet Helou - from Glimmer.  pouring Glimmer (BC) Paul Watkin - from Seacove pouring Medbubble (Spain)     Paul Jordan-   Mondiale.    pouring from Clear Sips (Ontario), Cognato (S. Africa), OddBird (Italy/France,) NOA (Quebec,) Cipriani (Italy)     www.kurtiskolt.com www.storiedwinesandspirits.com www.softerdrink.ca www.nubeverage.ca www.seacove.com www.drinkglimmerwine.com www.mondialebev.com www.coastalcraftbeverages.ca

We started this podcast well over 300 episodes ago. When we started the title was Mulligan Stew Podcast (Music. Film. Food. Wine) Over the months the Pod became more music and film than anything else. Just the way the road leads us. Tasting Room Radio has worked its way back into the mix because of critical dynamics taking place. Cold damaged vineyards,  An agreement between BC Wine Growers and the BC Government to allow the 2024 wines to be grown and harvested in Washinton, Oregon and California. BC wine battles with political neighbours in Alberta, Tariffs from the USA and more.   All of these subjects were discussed over and over again by the wine trade and fans in attendance.   Tasting Room Radio set up the same home base they always have. Up to 6 chairs in a circle on the convention centre floor ..leaving room for the invited and the walk-ins.   We couldn't fit everyone in, so we decided to build the show around the most interesting storylines and storytellers.   With apologies to those we couldn't fit in, the podcast guests are     Co-Hosts - Jenna Brisco, Maude Renaud-Brisson & Kelcie Jones. Educators and Somms at This is Wine School.   Richard Kanazawa - winemaker at Bench 1775 (Naramata) Tracey Horneman - winemaker at Blue Grouse (Cowichan) Kailee Frasch - Winemaker Quails Gate  (West Kelowna)   Harry Hertscheg - Executive Director Van Wine Fest Evan Goldstein - Master Sommelier (SF) Tony Holler - Owner Poplar Grove (Naramata)   Wine School Team  Taylor Butterfield - White Wine  Winemaker  Chateau Ste. Michelle (Washington)

Two guests on the Mulligan Stew Podcast Both great pals.   Stephen fearing is a key member of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. Like all three members Front Line Members, they each have their own solo careers. That's one of the outstanding elements of their relationship. Freedom to create together or solo. Stephen Fearing has just released his newest album, The Empathist. Co-Produced in East Nashville with Ken Crooker (Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Al Green, EmmyLou Harris, Steve Earle) Stephen is a truly talented songwriter, but he also carries with him, his Irish storytelling skills. The songs on The Empathist beautifully weave those skills together. Highly Recommended. Bill Henderson is the leader of Chilliwack. For some 30 years, they've been crafting hits and touring The World. As lead singer, songwriter and guitarist,t Bill has been inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock Hall of Fame and made a member of the Order of Canada. In 2025, the band is on its last tour - Farewell to Friends!!   https://www.gonegonegone.com/wp-content/uploads/Farewell-Tour-Dates_Chilliwack-Site-1-7.docx   https://www.stephenfearing.ca/tour   Enjoy - Happy St Patrick's Day

Bruce Cockburn returns to the West Coast. Thoughts on Dylan at Newport, Bo Diddley, a possible covers album, his legacy and today's headlines. March 11, Victoria. March 12 Nanaimo March 14 Vancouver March 15 Kelowna March 16 Trail. Lots to talk about.

In 2021, evidence of unmarked graves near an Indian residential school run by the Catholic Church in Kamloops. BC,  Canada sparked a national outcry about the forced separation, assimilation, and abuse many children experienced at this network of segregated boarding schools designed to slowly destroy the culture and social fabric of Indigenous communities. When Emily- a journalist and filmmaker- asked her old friend and colleague, Julian, to direct a film documenting the Williams Lake First Nation investigation of St Joseph's Mission, she never imagined just how close this story was to his own family. As the investigation continued, Emily and Julian traveled back to the rivers, forests and mountains of his homelands to hear the myriad stories of survivors. During production, Julian's own story became an integral part of this beautiful multi-stranded portrait of a community. By offering space, time, and profound empathy the directors unearthed what was hidden. Emily and Julian encountered both the extraordinary pain these individuals had to suppress as a tool for survival and the unique beauty of a group of people finding the strength to persevere.  The film is nominated for an Academy Award. It has already won two Critics Choice Awards.       Julian Brave NoiseCat  - Director    Julian is a writer, filmmaker and student of Salish art and history.  His first documentary, SUGARCANE, directed alongside Emily Kassie, follows an investigation into abuse and missing children at the Indian residential school NoiseCat's family was sent to near Williams Lake, British Columbia. A proud member of the Canim Lake Band Tsq'escen and descendant of the Lil'wat Nation of Mount Currie, he is concurrently finishing his first book, We Survived the Night, which will be published by Alfred A. Knopf in North America.     EMILY KASSIE Director, Producer, Cinematographer Emily Kassie is an Emmy® and Peabody®-nominated investigative journalist and filmmaker. Kassie shoots, directs and reports stories on geopolitical conflict, humanitarian crises, corruption and the people caught in the crossfire. Her work for The New York Times, PBS Frontline, Netflix, and others ranges from drug and weapons trafficking in the Saharan desert, to immigrant detention in the United States. . Her first documentary, I Married My Family's Killer, following couples in post-genocide Rwanda, won a Student Academy Award in 2015. Indian residential school history and its impact are not in the past. For more information on the film's impact campaign, please visit here. If you need support, the following resources are available: CANADA The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line provides 24-hour crisis support to former Indian Residential School students and their families toll-free at 1-866-925-4419. First Nations, Inuit and Métis seeking immediate emotional support can contact the Hope for Wellness Help Line toll-free at 1-855-242-3310,  UNITED STATES Call or text 988 

One of the true pleasures of a lifetime in music and broadcasting is connecting with artists at the very beginning of their careers. If the connection is a strong friendship, emotionally you get to go along for the ride. On the downside,  you must be prepared to lose those friends along the way through attrition, lifestyle and medical issues. I'm pleased to say Colin James has given all of us a great ride. 8 Junos, 31 Maple Blues Awards, Induction into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame, Order of BC and turning 60 years old with 21 studio albums under his belt. Colin has played his way through an amazing collection of audiences.  Starting with Stevie Ray style  Texas blues, then blues rock, big band swing, roots, Americana and all the way back to blues. What a Ride!! Following a stellar concert at Massey Hall, Colin is on a Canadian tour now and he's heading our way.  With the wonderful Terra Lightfoot! Feb 26 -Grey Eagle   Calgary Feb 27 – N Jubilee Edmonton March 1 – Orpheum Vancouver March 3 – Royal Theatre  Victoria March 4 & 5 – Port Theatre Nanaimo Colin is a master storyteller. This time he has tales of recovering from a road accident on his scooter in the USA. Damage to his foot and fret hand slowed him down considerably. He has stories of becoming what he dreamed of as an 8-year-old and the biography he's almost finished writing. The complete interview can be heard on the Mulligan Stew Podcast and the terrydavidmulligan YouTube Channel.  

Special Guests are Allison McGourtey- Producer Bernard MacMahon. Director Makers of Becoming Led Zeppelin    A documentary about the first 18 months of Led Zeppelin. Jimmy, Robert. John Paul and John Bonham. Before it all exploded, and their lives got CRAZY. And………it's in IMAX. The complete story can be heard on Mulligan Stew Podcast and tdm YouTube Channel. Amazing filmmaking and storytelling.

  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

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings are one of the most interesting bands working anywhere today. Sometimes they're in a recording studio time warp with more songs to choose from than Gabriel. Followed by tours and festivals everywhere. Then they disappear The punch line to the tale is, the Blackie guys have their own lives, careers and fan bases. What's most remarkable is, after more than 25 years, they are still a band and friends.   For Example:   Stephen Fearing is releasing his next album on March 13 - The Empathist.  Wildly outstanding music. (We'll be talking again.) Stephen starts his Canadian tour at The Carleton Room in Halifax with two sold-out nights Feb 4-5. Kicks off album release March 13 at Mary Winspear in Sidney, Vancouver Island. Alberta dates March 21 Festival Place Sherwood Park, March 22 River Park Church Calgary.   Colin Linden Colin continues to produce artists at his Pinhead Recorders in Nashville. He's also been touring with T Bone Burnett. He co-wrote and co-produced T Bone's latest album The Other Side.  Next week Colin starts a new album, just in time to hit the road again. Colin begins his own tour - The Ride on Tour - on April 23, hitting Calgary on June 1 and Canmore on June 3. Tom and Terry   Tom Wilson I'll just give you the short version. Re-recording songs,  with son Thompson, from his play Beautiful Scars.  Writing and recording soundtrack music for a number of projects including a film by Tanya Tagaq. Between his flourishing artwork, writing a new book, and starting a new album, Tom also enjoys the glow of an Order of Canada induction.  That's the short version.   Blackie - The Band.   Plans are underway for dates in Canada. Winnipeg Folk Festival, Mariposa Folk Festival, Belmont Festival Edmonton (June 20) They are planning shows in Hamilton, Toronto where cameras will be filming. More events to come.

The fires outside Los Angeles had brought tragedy and carnage. Everything stopped for the firefighters, medical teams,  first responders,  the support teams and those affected directly by the wildfires. It's awards season in LA.  The 2025 Critics Choice Film and TV Awards were to take place in January just as the fires were raging.  Those fires and the conditions that swept them through homes and communities have subsided enough that the Critics Choice Awards are now taking place Friday, Feb 7th.  4-7 Pacific/7-10 East On E Channel It's also found on FuboTV and DirectTV and SlingTV.  Firefighters and first responders will be honoured at the beginning of the broadcast.   Our guests on this critic's roundtable are   Hillary Atkin - The Atkin Report  Los Angeles Shawn Edwards - Fox 4 Kansas City Reginald Ponder - The Reel Critic  Chicago    

Rhys Pender - Master of Wine/Little Farm Winery  (Similkameen) Kathy Malone - Winemaker at Hillside Estate  (Naramata Bench)   There are so many elements in play during the 2025 BC wine-growing season. AND it's just started. Two cold snaps that damaged or killed many vines and vineyards over the past two Winters. It caused many growers to consider planting more winter-proof varietals and adjusting vineyard locations. Then came news that an agreement had been reached between Wine Growers of BC and the BC provincial government. While the new plantings were taking hold, in order to help farming families survive, for one year BC wineries could source their grapes from out of the province. Many headed for Washington. Some to Oregon, California, Ontario, the Frazer Valley and Vancouver Island.  The last two BC wine regions were not hit by the cold. Some wineries flatly refused to use non-BC fruit.   Soon, we'll all start to see labels that say something like  "Washington grapes crafted in BC"! Have fun tasting the blends and varietals that we've never seen or tasted here before. You're supporting BC farmers and wineries at the same time. On Tasting Room Radio and this Podcast, we'll be doing a series of specials on how various wineries and growers have committed to survive and thrive.  Who knows what their new direction may be. There's no denying it - BC Wines will be changing but there will be wines!!!   Enjoy the conversation between myself and Master of Wine Rhys Pender and Winemaker at Hillside Estate on the Naramata Bench Kathy Malone.     www.hillsidewinery.ca www.wineplus.ca www.littlefarmwinery.ca  

BC Wine/Alberta wine fans.  -  Finally, a hug and a handshake. Our guest is Paul Saywer.  Board Chair  BC Wine Growers & leadership at Dirty Laundry (Summerland) BC wineries can now ship Direct-To-Consumer in Alberta! Starting this week, BC wineries who register can sell into Alberta; report and make payment to AGLC for the wine products they sell directly to consumers in Alberta. Alberta is a huge market for BC wineries, so it is about time that the AGLC caught up, to allow this mutually beneficial relationship. Al Hudec and I advocated against Alberta's blockade of BC wine one year ago. This is great news for BC wineries and growers.  Hello Alberta wine fans!!!   Paul Saywer takes us through the process that achieved this partnership. It took top-level government teams on both sides of the Alberta/BC border get this right. We thank those involved and Paul and the board at Wine Growers for speaking on our behalf.   www.winebc.com www.dirtylaundry.ca  

Welcome to 2025 all. Our guest is Oscar Lopez. 2 time Juno winner. 10 albums were released.  Nothing usual about the words above, except that for several years Oscar had disappeared!  From entertainment, media and life itself. This interview is his way of explaining how he went from winning two Juno awards and walking onto stages with loving audiences to living in his car on the streets of Calgary. Through tears,  Oscar talks about the dark years he's been through. Mental and alcohol battles. Second guessing himself. With the help of his family members and an overflowing GoFundMe effort, he's finally found the peace and strength to find a place to call home and return to the stage. Jan 17/18 at La Bodeguita Stereo in Calgary

It's our first-ever Trans Canada Christmas - starring the Trans Canada Highwaymen. Steven Page - BNLadies and Steven Page Trio Moe Berg - Pursuit of Happiness Craig Northey - Odds and Steven Page Trio Chris Murphy - Sloan   They are great friends, each with his band and career. What they have in common is a sense of the music they grew up with and a welcome sense of humour.   These Christmas sessions began in the '70s at CBC Vancouver with Producer Susan Englebert: Shari Ulrich, Valdy, Terry Frewer, Roy Forbes, and several guests. 5-6 years of gathering around a series of microphones, playing Christmas songs and telling Christmas stories. Such fun. Sadly, we lost our friend Susan to cancer and the Christmas show to time itself. The concept returned at Roundhouse Radio in Vancouver in 2015 and we enjoyed three years of Christmas in the Round with Barney Bentall and his assorted friends. We've played all three years on past Christmas Stews.     Now comes CKUA's turn to host the same tradition. Each Highwayman brings a Christmas song and stories of past Christmas tales. 5 songs in total. Craig Northey's was co-written with Brent Butt of Corner Gas. Steven's is about cheese logs. Chris's is about kids coming home and Moe's is the Christmas Classic Mistletoe and Holly.  They finish with Do they know it's Christmas.   Thank you to Arianne, Duke, Jasmine, and Bren for their production skills in bringing this show to air. Amazing work. And to Corey Wood for his skills and friendship in the edit and graphic studio here on Vancouver Island.

Liam Mayclem and I met doing interviews at film junkets weekends in LA, NYC, Chicago etc.  Me from Vancouver. He from San Fransisco. We talked about two things -Movies and Wine. Now Liam moves at a speed most humans couldn't and wouldn't abide. He's become an essential key to San Fransisco's dynamic hospitality, culinary and wine communities. The Host of Food Chap, CBS radio and TV. His foodie chap podcast etc. and any charity that needs a razor sharp auctioneer or host or both. Liam has always stayed in touch and always keen to know about the BC wine industry and food scene. Here's his latest podcast interview - with yours truly.   www.bookliam.com    

We're nearing the end of a volatile year in BC Wine. It featured wildfires, floods, COVID, road closures, price, tax and wage increases and two cold snaps over two Winters. Vineyards were damaged or destroyed by the freeze. Wineries and growers were facing a 2025 with little or no wines to cellar and sell. The Wine Industry and Government leadership came up with a plan to allow BC Wineries to harvest next year's fruit this year in Washington, Oregon, California, Ontario and The Cowichan Valley. As long as the label states "Crafted in BC" and the process is transparent. Will BC wine fans buy their favourite labels if the fruit comes from another region? If they like the new juice, will they still embrace their original BC wines? What gets replanted, and what new varietals will we see growing in the new BC? So much to consider. Which is why we've invited four of the most connected leaders from the BC wine industry to share opinions, suggestions and creative ideas over the course of an hour.   They are:   Cristine Coletta:  Co-Owner Okanagan Crush Pad.  For 9 years,  executive director of the BC Wine Institute! Specialist in marketing and branding wine.   www.okanagancrushpad.com     DJ Kearney - Wine Director The Terminal City Club. Wine Educator at large. @djwines  www.tcclub.com     Rhys Pender - Master of Wine. Co-owner of Little Farm Wine. Similkameen Valley www.wineplus.ca   Lauren Skinner Buksevics- Director of Sales and Marketing Painted Rock. Okanagan Falls.  Member of the Wine Growers of BC Board. @paintedrocklaur  @paintedrockwine www.paintedrock.ca   www.winebc.com   www.totabc.org

Jim Cuddy guests on Mulligan Stew Saturday. He's on stage Saturday with The Jim Cuddy Band at the National Art Center Ottawa and Wednesday next at Massey Hall. Then Jim and Blue Rodeo partner Greg Keelor head for The Whistler Film Fest Dec 6-8 For the premier of their documentary Lost Together.   2025 will be a celebration of Blue Rodeo's 40th anniversary. Lots to talk about. Complete interview on Mulligan Stew Podcast and terrydavidmulligan YouTube channel      

Lisa Ahier is known far and wide as the owner and chef at Sobo in Tofino. Sobo is the kind of dining and room you like so much, you send all your best friends there. It's the centre of the town. Locals meet there for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Lisa has moved on from Sobo and is now making notes for her third book and has become the darling of this years Top Chef competition.   Five shows in and she's still there, the oldest competitor since they started years ago. We have lots to talk about - lean in, it's a hoot. https://www.instagram.com/lisaahier/

Barney Bentall is bringing The Last Roundup through the West. Next Friday at Bella Hall in Calgary. It's the final tour of the Caribou Express. Over 20 years of seasonal touring,  Barney and various members of Caribou Express raised Millions for charities all across Canada. Especially, serious money for food banks late in the year when they really need it. Barney gives us an update on the last lineup, the lives of his Express friends over the years and final thoughts on what lies ahead for the rocker and rancher. www.barneybentall.com

Look who's on a Roll - It's this week's guest,  Author Luke Whittall   Luke and his Sipster's Pocket Guides Books.   In the third volume in the popular  Sipster's Pocket Guide series, wine expert and educator Luke Whittall presents his latest top 50 British Columbia wines under $50 (including many under $30) and along the way shares his thoughts on wine country and common misconceptions about certain grapes, and offers up tangents on everything from scented candles to middle children to jazz hands. With food and activity pairings that range from Thai noodles and pool noodles to classic rock and hootenannies, and an index of attitudes that lets you choose a wine based on your mood (come hither, dressed to kill, razzle-dazzle), the Sipster's guides are equal parts freewheeling and focused. Divided into chapters on sparkling, white, rosé, red, and dessert wines, the latest volume of Sipster's will snap you out of a catatonic funk in the liquor store and stick around for a quiet evening paging through a book—perhaps this book and perhaps there's even a wine for that. Welcome to Volume 3, where a Viognier can be a lot like a bouncy castle, a red blend that is the icing on top of another layer of icing and also  a wine that will upstage Taylor Swift and Kayne and an adventurous evening calls for a certain Trebianno (not the guy from Friends . . . but then again, maybe?). The Sipsters series are written in language anyone can understand. Words we all use and can remember a day later. Make no mistake, Luke knows his wines from the vineyards to the bottle. He just makes the journey much easier than it really is.   We also start TRR with a conversation about vineyard damage & recovery,   plus the coming discovery of BC Wines made with Washington grapes. So those damaged vineyards, wineries and wine-farming families can survive the next couple of years.   And heads UP - The Sipster's Ontario Vol 2 is coming - just in time for Christmas.   Then surely, the Luke Whittall film starring Ryan Reynolds.  Www.sipsterswinepodcast.ca/books      Luke Whittall Online: The Sipster's Wine Podcast - Sipsters Icons on Substack   WWW.   Books: "The Sipster's Pocket Guide to 50 More Must-Try BC Wines, Volume 3" 2024 (Touchwood Editions)   "The Sipster's Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try Ontario Wines, Volume 1" 2023 (Touchwood Editions) "The Sipster's Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try BC Wines, Volume 2" 2023 (Touchwood Editions) "The Sipster's Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try BC Wines, Volume 1" 2021 (Touchwood Editions) "The Okanagan Wine Tour Guide" 6th Edition (with John Schreiner) 2020 (Touchwood Editions) "Valleys of Wine: A Taste of British Columbia's Wine History" 2019 (Whitecap Books)  

The full title of Natalie Maclean's  memoir is  Wine Witch on Fire Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation and Drinking Too Much.   For all of you who bought and read Natalie's  book Red, White and  Drunk All Over and listened to her podcast Unreserved Wine Talk, this memoir is a completely different read. She discovers her husband of many years is leaving the relationship and at the same time, her wine rivals decide to tell the wine world that she's not nearly as accomplished as we think. Despite multiple awards for her writing and knowledge, Natalie has to rebuild her career, fight for her son and find an elusive second chance in a business that rarely gives you any. All of this drama is played out in a wine world where many women are taken for granted and rarely given credit for their skills. Yup - Wine Witch is a thriller. And it's funny, just in time for Christmas.   You can get Natalie MacLean's new memoir Wine Witch on Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation, and Drinking Too Much in paperback, ebook or audiobook from these retailers. She hosts the podcast, Unreserved Wine Talk, and offers popular online wine and food pairing classes at www.nataliemaclean.com.

We meet  Blue Moon Marquee - Al Cardinal and Jasmine Colette - on the stage at the Osbourne Bay Pub in Crofton, Vancouver Island. That stage was the first place they met and then played together many times as Blue Moon Marquee. They've come a long way since that stage.  Juno Winners, sweeping the  2023 Maple Blues Awards and still winning awards  including this week. After a decade of stages and touring comes the 5th album New Orleans Sessions. Recorded in New Orleans in two days - Four hours each day. One track Trickster Coyote was a first take. Recorded with some of the very best New Orleans players. Lots of stories and new music. Also news of the next two projects they intend to present. They start their next tour October 26th at Festival Place, Sherwood Park.  October dates in Lloydminster, Daysland and Athabaska. - and April 5 at the Arden (complete interview on Mulligan Stew Podcast) We start the Mulligan Stew Podcast  Stew remembering  and celebrating the life and music of the late Kris Kristofferson.   From the Mulligan Stew archives we replay the Kris Kristofferson interview we did  2006 backstage at Calgary Folk Festival. Answering media questions, including my own: Kris talks about Johnny Cash, Willie and his sons, Hank Williams, movies, performing solo, the Nashville Underground,  songwriters these days John Prine, Todd Snider, Shooter Jennings, and how nervous he gets singing for 12,000 people. Please enjoy…honoured to bring you both artists!!  

The Fretless guest on The Stew. Karrnnel Sawitsky and Trent Freeman - one-half of The Fretless join us. Saturday in the first hour.   Their album - Glass Wing is brilliant. With 3 songs cowritten and sung by Madeleine Roger. Classically trained, raised on rock, jazz, blues, folk and heritage roots, they take all those influences and combine them into a sound unlike any other group. They take 100 year old shanty's and reshape the song without losing the original melody so it can last another 100 years. In Glass Wing, they write all their own tunes. Three co-written with Madeleine Roger. There is such joy in hearing violins, violas and cellos driving the beat where normally the drums and bass would be. Impressive my friends.  Very impressive. Have a listen to Pipe Dreams!   The Queen Nancy - named after a car and a make-believe BC Ferry. Icarus - a Madeleine beauty Or the lead track Lost Lake.   This marks a new chapter The Fretless. With Lights, sound and stage design created especially for this album, these songs and this tour. The Fretless Tour  Oct 3  Fanny Bay Oct 4 Comox Oct 5 Victoria Oct 6 Van October 10 Calgary October 11 Edmonton  

This week we welcome Donovan Woods and his latest album Things were never good if They're not good now.   Wonderful insight into his songwriting and his place in the music business. The first time he played in Victoria, he couldn't believe the audience knew the words to his songs. And in the past year, he played in Australia and remembers an audience in Perth who sang the words louder than he could. He has come a very long way has Donovan. Struggling to find things to sing about or sing at all.  A series of failures lead to an addiction counselling program and committed himself to getting to “the bottom of myself“ He changed his mind about a lot of things. ” It turns out the truth does really set you free” “I won't be cheesy and say I  feel like this is my first album, but it certainly feels like a new start”

Joel Plaskett's eleventh album—One Real Reveal is special for several reasons. Joel sat down with a small Telefunken KM56 microphone and a 4-track recorder and recorded the tracks for One Real Reveal ON CASSETTE TAPE starting with the brilliant High Summer. This album and its music is bare.  Because it is, you're forced to listen to the music and especially the lyrics.  These are words and melodies that will still be the air in a concert hall. IF you can get in. Joel's current tour out west is Sold Out. Fittingly, the tour ends at Massey Hall in Toronto. It too will be Sold Out. Discover the new sounds of Joel Plaskett, just like the old Joel Plaskett only quieter, more reflective. I've been waiting many years to have Joel to myself. Just to exchange ideas and passions. My timing couldn't have been better. One Real Reveal was well worth the wait.   The other welcome guest is our pal Leeroy Stagger.  Host of Dirty Windshields Radio Hour on CKUA Saturdays. But before Leeroy joined us, he was a highly respected singer/songwriter and he continues to write, record and perform his very personal songs. Leeroy has just released his latest album 3 am Revelations. In it, Leeroy reflects the life around him. The road, family, social issues and seeking the answers to all his inner questions. Just a heads up – 3 am Revelations rocks.  Bangers like Watermelon Pink, Count to 10, These Days.  Then finds balance with reflective gems like It's gonna be alright (someday), Alberta Stars, Life's a Drag, etc. It's good to have friends and partners like Leeroy Stagger.  Great album Leeroy!  You nailed it.  

Terry David Mulligan joins Blues lifer Robert Finley in the media tent at the Edmonton Folk Festival. Robert spins the stories of how he went from losing most of his sight to becoming the hot new voice in the blues. Inviting himself to do a cold walk-on at the Blues Festival in St Helena. It's quite a story he tells.  The crowd loved him and that set things in motion. The Music Maker Relief Foundation, a non-profit blues support system,  heard him busking in the streets and offered to help. Finley released his first album “Age Don't Mean a Thing” in 2016. Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys heard him and they started recording together – with Dan as producer. They've now done 4 albums together. Each one is bigger and better. The latest is Black Bayou. There will be no more busking for Robert Finley. He's 70 years old and an overnight sensation!!

  I've been waiting for new music from Winnipeg's Madeleine Roger for four years. That's how long it's been since I discovered her voice, playing and gifted songwriting. Maddy took a solo career detour through the stellar chops of The Fretless. They needed an exceptional vocalist who understood and was comfortable with, classical music. Madeleine needed a different “band” to shine with. Perfect! So here we are in early September and both artists are releasing new albums. Madeleine has just released NERVE a new album filled with tales of lost love and found freedoms. Produced by Josh Kaufman (Anais Mitchell, Bonnie Light Horseman)  Recorded in four days. They threw away the headphones and sat 8 feet apart..making music. There are actually four extra songs waiting to be released. I am here to state – in my opinion -   an exceptional new star has risen – her name is Madeleine Roger. Enjoy the complete interview and the music included. www.madeleineroger.com

The last time I had the privilege of interviewing Rhiannon Giddens it was in 2017 at Edmonton Folk Fest. In the next five years, she became a World star. For example: In October 2017, Giddens was named one of the 2017 class of MacArthur "Genius" Fellows. In 2017 and 2018, Giddens appeared in the fifth and sixth seasons of the CMT's  In January 2018, Giddens co-produced Songs of Our Native Daughters for Smithsonian Folkways. in early 2018, the Nashville Ballet announced that Rhiannon Giddens has been commissioned to write the music for Lucy Negro, Redux. In 2019, Giddens released two studio albums: Songs of Our Native Daughters  and There Is No Other with Italian musician Francesco Turrisi Giddens earned an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for her lasting impact on the UNCG community and her work in music. In 2023, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music from Princeton University In other words, the last 5-6 years have been a delightful blur. Thus my first question was …what do you remember of the last 5 years? If anyone is going to change music in her lifetime – it's Rhiannon Giddens!!   Enjoy.

Colin's 21st album is called Chasing the Sun.   Today,   Aug 17 is his Birthday. Happy Day Colin     Co-produced by Colin Linden in his Pinhead Studios in Nashville. Colin's coming to the  Mulligan Stew Podcast with the complete story of how he and his friends wrote and created these outstanding songs.   Colin singing a Lucinda Williams song, Protection, with Lucinda in the studio doing harmony. Two tracks with blues harp legend Charlie Musselwhite, co-writing memorable songs with Tom Wilson, Terra Lightfoot, Thompson Wilson, Jesse Obrien and others. A great rhythm section of Darryl Jones (Stones) Charley Drayton (Keith Richards). A splendid cover of Paul Butterfield's classic  In My Own Dream. Also vocals by  The McCrary Sisters and Ruby Amanfu Colin Linden leading the all-star band and co-writing with Colin James. It's their 6th album together. Colin and I have been doing interviews for a long time but there are still events and moments in his life that need retelling. For example, when the two Colins'  met on the Canadian Prairies Colin James was 13 and Colin Linden was 17. Both were into playing the blues. A short time later Colin, still a teenager, got to play for Stevie Ray Vaughn. Stevie helped him take the next steps in his career. This is the complete Interview.  His 2021 album Open Road won the JUNO Award for Best Blues Album and was nominated for Blues Foundation Best Blues Rock Album in 2023. Catching the Sun may very well get the best reception yet.

Terry talks with Rhiannon Giddens at the Edmonton Folk Music Fest in 2020

Kevin Kane and The Hooper Brothers  Chris and Tommy have been an original Canadian band for over 40 years. The Grapes of Wrath. Same three guys. Still making music. This podcast is their first complete band interview in over 10 years. Like many, I had presumed that the guys had moved on to solo efforts or other bands or other dreams. When I saw that they were playing and selling out The Carleton in Halifax I started to dig and found – amazed – that they were in fact playing the Filberg Festival in Comox, Vancouver Island  Aug 3. Also Edmonton, The Maritimes, Vernon and  The Dream Café in Penticton. Bringing with them songs containing people's memories, whole lifetimes.   Peace of Mind You may be right These days And the still brilliant… All the thing's I wasn't.   Platinum records, multiple tours of Canada, the USA and Europe. In 1992 they went separate ways only to rediscover the power of their friendship and music in 2010 at a festival in Surrey, BC. The same three guys…Let's celebrate The Grapes of Wrath. Enjoy the stories and the music.   Tour Dates: www.grapesofwrath.ca  

The last two festival directors join us on The Summer Stew -  Terry Wickham - Edmonton Aug 8-11 Many years later the musical leader at  Edmonton Folk Festival.  As you know, he's a natural storyteller and this year he's telling stories of the growing indigenous component of the festival. Also how it all started to grow within the fest, it involves the Chieftains. Terry talks about how he discovers artists, why certain artists strike a chord in him and how he had to keep a headliner booking secret for 7 months. The complete interview can be heard on the Mulligan Stew Podcast and the video on the terrydavidmulligan YouTube Channel.         Jenna Klein Waller - Canmore  Aug 3-5 It's year one for Jenna.  She has stayed in touch with the other artistic directors. Learning even more as she went. The one thing the festival wanted to focus on was finding a younger audience. Jenna talks about the artists that her younger audience wants to see and hear.

It's festival season. Full ON. Everywhere you go someone is kicking off a festival. We're concentrating on the music festivals of Western Canada. I couldn't do them all… Vancouver Island and Winnipeg  festivals  have started This weekend our guests are – artistic directors Kerry Clark from the Calgary Folk Fest and Fiona Black from the Vancouver Folk Fest. We finish our festival updates on July 20 with Jenna Klein Waller artistic director from Canmore Festival and Terry Wickham artistic director of Edmonton Folk Music Festival.   Check out the artist lineups at www.calgaryfolkfest.com  July 25-28 www.thefestival.bc.ca  July 19-21

It all started as a single interview about the Edmonton Folk Festival. We seemed to be talking about the “other“ festivals and could they survive the Covid years. That conversation turned into the first group interview with the artistic directors of Calgary, Winnipeg, Canmore and Vancouver Folk Festivals. It was fun and informative, so we've decided to make it a yearly gathering. Here's the guest lineup this year. They each bring with them stories of the artists they booked and why. [caption id="attachment_29315" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Vancouver Island Music Festival[/caption] Doug Cox – July 12-14 Vancouver Island Music Festival (Courtney) Chris Frayer – July 11-14  Winnipeg Folk Festival Fiona Black – July 19-21 Vancouver Folk Festival Kerry Clark – July 25-28 Calgary Folk Festival Jenna Klein Waller – Aug 3-5 Canmore Folk Festival Terry Wickham – Aug 8-11 Edmonton Folk Festival  This week our interview guests are… Artistic Directors of Vancouver Island Music Festival (Doug Cox) & Winnipeg Folk Festival (Chris Frayer) Both festivals start next weekend. Next Saturday it's Fiona Black from Vancouver FF and Kerry Clark from Calgary FF.  Bringing insights into their artist guest list and special events. The complete interviews can be seen on  the terrydavidmulligan YouTube Channel  

They are Canadian music royalty.  Who better to have joined us on the Canada Day weekend than Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo? AND  Jim brings his 6th solo album All the World Fades Away. There is much to talk about. In the first half of the Podcast Greg and Jim take us through Blue Rodeo's plans for their 40th year together in 2025. Taking part in the Lightfoot celebration at Massey Hall. Being inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.. Then Greg bugs out and Jim and I talk about his 6th solo album with The Jim Cuddy band. It's called All the world fades away and it's a beauty. Stories about his Father, our friend the late  John Mann and his family, his early years on The Yukon, and his duet with Greg on the solo album. The dialogue between the two of them on the meaning of the song is WILD! We talk tours and plans for the year.  Comments about playing the Canmore and Edmonton Folk Festivals this summer. Our thanks to the boys... Enjoy – Happy Canada Day

Two remarkable guests this week Celeigh Cardinal and her new album Boundless Possibilities and Bridget Kearney – Bassist and songwriter for Lake Street Dive Both guests have albums that came out Friday. Celeigh Cardinal has her latest dropping Friday - Boundless Possibilities. Personally written songs that describe the feelings of losing her son's Father in a murder and the death of a friend by suicide.  Also  surviving the pain and loss and changing her life forever. It's not your average album and certainly not your average interview. Open, bare and loving.   The second guest is Bridget Kearney. Bassist, vocalist and songwriter for Lake Street Dive. The album is Good Together and after  20 years together, they've decided to write songs and play together in the same room. It shows in the exceptional songs. They appeared this week on Colbert and they're on tour. One of the dates is Madison Square Garden. 

For years, there have been multiple wine competitions no matter what country or region. The BC wine industry is no exception. The latest wine awards are The BC Top 50 wines and Wine of the Year as part of the 2024 Okanagan Spring Wine Festival, which is on now. Friday night the results were announced at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre and then hundreds descended on the trade floor to do their own judging. Kimberly Hundertmark, the GM of The Wine Fests said on Tasting Room Radio last week that wineries were asked to send their very best releases. We have two guests and dear friends on this Podcast. Both are wine stars and both were  judges at  this event DJ Kearney.  A Global wine authority, educator and Director of Wine at Terminal City Club. Black Belt. Rhys Pender – Master of Wine. Co-owner of Little Farm Wine in Cawston and owner of Wine Plus. World's greatest fisherman.

I've had the distinct pleasure to host and produce Tasting Room Radio for 17 years. Most weeks we consider featuring some of those stories on the podcast but music, arts and music history seem to carry the day. These two interviews deserve to be featured because they tell the story of the current state of the BC wine industry. The Okanagan has been burned by summer fires and choked by summer smoke, blocked by road closures at the peak of the summer season, deep frozen by two successive winters and disappointingly shunned by liquor governing bodies in Alberta. All the while the BC wine industry is making better and better wines. So it all feels like three steps forward and two back Kimberly Hundertmark, the GM of Okanagan Wine Festivals brings great news. Right now, they are kicking off the Spring Wine Festival all over the Okanagan Valley. It's an amazing collection of events. Huge gatherings like 2024 BC Top 50 and the Wine of the Year. The TASTE series, carefully curated in locations North and South, the Naramata Bench this Sunday, June 2 and the District Wine Village in Oliver Sat-Sun June 8/9 and Saturday, June 8th at the Summer Sips at Spirit Ridge Osoyoos. Kimberly brings all the news and tips for making plans.   The complete list of events can be found at  www.thewinefestivals.com     John Skinner is the co-owner/co-founder of Painted Rock Estate Winery, on the Skaha Bench in Okanagan Falls. If you go to their website www.paintedrock.ca have a look at the wines and also the awards those wines have won over the years. Pages and pages of awards and outstanding reviews. John's comments about his wines and two new releases – Rose and Chardonnay can be found on Tasting Room Radio. www.tastingroomradio.com These comments by John are about the state of the BC wine industry – the good and not-so-good. Above all, it's John's belief in BC Wine. He shows leadership and well-thought-out decision-making. If you're interested in supporting the BC wine industry – and I truly hope you are – then John brings clarity and commitment to all of us. John Skinner reminds us that most of these wineries are owned by small farming families. “support the little wineries first. Find your favourites and support them when you can”  

Wonderful article from Charles P. Pierce   Esquire Magazine May 25 Let's get the whole gang together: Davey Moore, Hattie Carroll, Hollis Brown, Einstein disguised as Robin Hood, the motorcycle black Madonna two-wheeled gypsy queen, Ma Rainey, and Beethoven, John the Baptist, the Commander In Chief, Louis The King, Napoleon in rags, Lucille, Johanna, Sweet Marie, John Wesley Harding, St. Augustine, the joker, the thief, Big Jim, Lily, Rosemary, and most of all, the Jack of Hearts, Rubin Carter, Isis, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Blackjack Davey, Charlie Patton. All of them. Play me a song, Mr. Wolfman Jack, because if you want to remember, you better write down the names. Bob Dylan turned 83 on Friday. All of him did. All of them did. All the personae, the entire kaleidoscope of masks, the false fronts and head fakes, and, finally, the last, and in many ways, best of them all. The travelling storyteller, the seanchai as the people in the old country would call him. Out on the endless tour, up the endless highway. I think of him and I think of Turlough O'Carolan, the legendary blind Irish harper who would travel the countryside, composing his songs on the spot for whomever would give him food and drink. Go back further. Go back to Homer. Sing to him, O muse. When Dylan dropped "Murder Most Foul," virtually out of a clear blue sky, blessing us with it as consolation for the years when America had gone so terribly wrong, it was Homer of whom I thought, poet and historian both, protector of the shadowland between myth and reality, chronicler of what Greil Marcus called "the old, weird America," a phrase I wish I'd written. He'll be around all summer, travelling with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp and a whole clutch of other artists in something called the Outlaw Music Festival Tour. It's a high-priced extravaganza but, in a very real way, he's just on the road, heading for another joint. Move along, brother Bob. The highway, as you taught us, is for gamblers, and we take what we have gathered from coincidence. Here's a collection of comments and reflections from Dylan's artistic partners and others just sharing the same spaces with Bob. Interviews I've done over the years to be added to when Dylan turns 85. Interviews with David Bowie Robbie Robertson Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks The Avett Brothers Barney Bentall and Steve Dawson Greg Keelor (Blue Rodeo) And Colin Linden (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings)   Wine and Dine – Tofino June i/2. The second story takes place next weekend June 1 and 2 in one of Earth's most beautiful places -  Tofino,  British Columbia. The western edge of Canada on Vancouver island. The community includes surfing, golfing, fishing, underwater adventures and an unusual gathering of chefs. It is where they come to learn how to create seafood dishes and cook with what the forest and oceans give them – and surf their minds out.   It's the second annual Wine and Dine gathering on the front lawns of Best Western Plus Tin Wis Resort. All of the details can be found at  www.tofinowinedine.com  Our guests are the organizers and founders  of Tofino Wine & dine Ronnie Lee and Ryan Orr.

We know Ottawa-born Sue Foley from the blues albums she's created and released. Plus Multiple blues awards on both sides of the border. Her new album is One Guitar Woman. A tribute to the female pioneers of guitar. This was/is a very personal journey for Sue. She's studied the many women who played guitar before her and left their legacy to study and pass on. Female singers and players like Memphis Minnie, Elizabeth Cotten, Maybelle Carter, Sister Rosetta Tharp, Geeshe Wiley,  Lydia Mendoza etc. Many tales and tunes are connected to the album. Four-time Blues Foundation Traditional Female Artist award winner, Sue Foley's new album One Guitar Woman is a heartfelt tribute to the female pioneers of the guitar - including Memphis Minnie, Lydia Mendoza, Maybelle Carter, Ida Presti, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The album showcases the dexterity of Foley's acoustic nylon string guitar skills as she expands on her blues playing into other genres like Piedmont fingerpicking, traditional country, the Carter Scratch,  flamenco and classical. “From the time I decided to be a professional guitar player, I've always looked for female role models. These are the women who were expressing themselves through the instrument as far back as the 1920's, at the inception of radio and recorded music. They are the trailblazers and visionaries whose footsteps I walk in,”  Sue  Foley.

When Ron Carter's name comes up, one of the first things people write or say is – he's played bass and cello on over 2500 albums. That's impressive and awe-inspiring. Totally agree. When I hear the name Ron Carter I think of the bassist who played in Miles Davis' second band, alongside Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams & George Coleman. “The List” of bands and recordings would include Wayne Shorter, Blue Note recordings with Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, and 100's of others. I talked to Ron about his recordings in popular music.  Roberta Flack, Eddie Harris, Aretha, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Erykah Badu, A tribe called Quest, Phoebe Snow, The Rascals, Gil Scott-Heron, Carlos Santana. Ron has taught music for many years at esteemed colleges and schools, his current documentary is Finding the Right Notes, also the name of his bio book. Ron Carter turns 87 years old today – Saturday, May 4 !!  we wish him WELL. Enjoy the conversation – I sure did.

Afie Jurvanen – more famously known as Bahamas! A fascinating artist and human. Never satisfied to remain in the same groove or attitude. What's constant is his ability to create memorable songs,  surrounded by sonic texture that is his territory alone. You know it's him as soon as you hear the song. He'll be doing summer festivals and supporting his album Bootcut -  a heavily inspired classic Country record which has recently seen his catalogue surpass a billion streams. He was awarded a pile of gold/platinum/double platinum singles while attending the JUNOs this year. . Rolling Stone covered Bootcut saying that a Canadian indie rock kid made one of Nashville's most Country records of the year: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/bahamas-bootcut-country-music-album-nashville-1234826097/ Oh..and he was featured on The Bachelor and released an album on Valentine's day called Repackaged Love Songs. And best of all,  he's guesting on Mulligan Stew Saturday 4 Pacific / 5 Mtn  at CKUA RADIO  ckua.com  

Adrian is a Traditional Knowledge Keeper for the James Bay Cree of  Attawapiskat First Nation. It may explain why he is such a fine songwriter and storyteller. As a singer, he's been described by producer Colin Linden as "open" sonically and spiritually. Adrian and Colin worked together on his first album When the Magic Hits. Although "together" doesn't quite describe their situation. Colin was in his home studio in Nashville and Adrian was in the frozen Far North in James Bay working in an old shipping container that he had turned into a studio. For Precious Diamonds, Adrian went south to Colin's studio in Nashville and the resulting album is now out,  many months later. Adrian takes us through a number of songs he wrote and sung. His battle finding his place in the music world. His pride in recording two songs in his native Mushkegowuk Cree. As a surprise to Adrian, I had Colin Linden in the Zoom waiting room and he popped out at just the right time to congratulate his friend. Adrian brought many stories and spoke his truth.

This is what Podcasts were created for. Long, extended conversations between guests and hosts. Deep dives into opinions on music, film, food, wine, books, travel, history etc. One of the biggest and brightest podcasts today belongs to our guest Nardwuar, The Human Serviette! Millions of people all over the World can't seem to wait for his next interview with hip-hoppers, rappers, punks and metal artists. Countless fans everywhere dress up as Nardwuar, every Halloween. Have a visit to his website  www.nardwuar.com What he brings to the interviews are personal facts and rumours that only the artist would know. Pulling out posters, photos, handwritten notes and albums that only the artist would remember. Minds are blown. Records are played. Lifetime friends are made!! Our first Podcast – co-produced by Elliott Garnier – Was 6 years ago. Nardwuar was the very first guest!! On the occasion of Episode #300, we welcome back the original – the one and only – Nardwuar – The Human Serviette!!!  

Sandra Oldfield is one of the leading voices for and in the Okanagan Wine Industry. Was team leader and winemaking leader at Tinhorn Creek in the South Okanagan. Now, she and her husband Kenn lead a popular consulting firm called Elysian Projects. Sandra is also one of the leaders in BC Tourism. She's a highly respected spokesperson for the wine community in BC. No one hired her, she just is. Sandra is also a world-class troublemaker and people love her for that. She speaks her mind but does it from knowledge and passion for who and what she's standing up for. Several years ago the Liquor Control bureaucrats would not allow wine fans to buy BC wine in BC and drive it back home to Alberta. I drove a case of wine across the BC/Alberta border but was not detained. Sandra ordered a shotgun from the prairies to show that a gun could be sent across borders but not wine. We've been friends ever since. Now the same Alberta Liquor agency is telling BC Wineries that they cannot send their wines to wine club members in Alberta and if they do, all their wines will be pulled from store shelves in that province. This is all happening just as many of the small BC farmers who grow the grapes are staggered from the almost complete loss of vineyards and fruit in the Okanagan from two Winter cold snaps that killed many many vines. I found Sandra in Victoria on Vancouver Island and sat down for a frank talk about the state of her industry and possible solutions for all involved. He also has revealed a video she shot with her husband Kenn. Boxes arriving from Alberta were sent directly to her house in BC. Sandra will explain what that says about the playing field here. Delighted to welcome Shotgun Sandra Oldfield

Grant Lawrence (The Smugglers, CBC Podcast, multiple best-selling books) is on the road with his Stories and Song LIve. Grant and Joel Plaskett, Ashleigh Ball, played Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney by the Sea north of Victoria Thursday night. Friday on Galiano Island and Saturday in Maple  Ridge with his love  Jill Barber added. We met at The Five and Dime Diner across from the venue and talked for 20 or so minutes about EVERYTHING. He told the story of two teens,  Grant and Nardwuar knocking on my front door Halloween night to ask questions about their favourite bands. I did the best I could and sent them along with extra promo records. Grant still has his.  We've been friends for 36 years. That's the kind of podcast this will be.  Corey Woods (Associate Producer) shot it on video as well..so it's also on terrydavidmulligan YouTube channel.

Every once in a while there's a week that goes by that is blessed with great conversations. Somewhere down that road, I decided that instead of choosing one interview over the other, why not have them both share the podcast. March 2, 2008, was the day gifted singer/songwriter and truly remarkable man Jeff Healey lost his battle with cancer. We had a great long-distance friendship. Every time we reconnected, we fell into an easy chatter that always ended up in laughter. Good man. I was gutted by his loss. Still am. Roger Costa is the co-administrator/archivist of The Estate of Jeff Healey. He's currently  leading the production team shooting the documentary See the Light: The Jeff Healey Story. That film and my interview with Roger will come later this year or early 2025. In the meantime, I wanted to remember Jeff on March 2 with someone who knows him well. Roger Costa. Harry Hertscheg is a regular listener to this Podcast. He listens to it while biking through busy Vancouver traffic to and from work. Work is being executive director of the hugely successful VanWineFest which is just wrapping up.  Almost 20,000 wine fans have attended seminars, winemakers dinners and large and small tastings. The feature region is Italy. 71 Italian wineries sent their best. Next year the feature region is the USA. Here's a conversation with the completely engaging and informative Harry Hertscheg. Enjoy the ride Harry.