Two Canadian icons join forces and become partners in music. One is/was Gord Downie. Lead singer and songwriter of The Tragically Hip. Truly beloved. And hugely missed after losing his fight to cancer but going out in a blaze of a song with The Hip and the last Cross Canada Tour. The other is Bob Rock. Known for his production work with Metallica, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Ron Sexsmith and The Tragically Hip. Bob tells the story of how they became friends and how Gord contacted him and asked if he had any tracks he hadn’t used because he had  words he hadn’t used..” so let's put them together” The album took years to complete but when they last met. Gord says to Bob “Please finish it” Bob Rock on Gord Downie and their album Lustre Parfait Saturday on MulliganStew.ca  

All  5 guests are Artistic Directors of their folk festivals.  Four are in a group discussion about surviving the Covid years, this year's artist lineups and celebrating the renewal of live music. The fifth is a single interview with Terry Wickham,  Artistic Director of the Edmonton Folk Fest. Yes, they’re all competitors but they’re also participants and partners. So when Covid and lockdown took over our world they formed a group to help and support each other. The guests are   Fiona Black –  Vancouver Folk Music Festival (July 14-16) Thefestival.bc.ca Chris Frayer –  Winnipeg Folk Fest. (July 6-9) Winnipegfolkfestival.ca    Sue Panning – Canmore Folk Festival (Aug 5-7) Canmorefolkfestival.com  Kerry Clarke – Calgary Folk Fest (July 27-30)  Calgaryfolkfest.com  Terry Wickham – Edmonton Folk Fest (Aug 10-13) Edmontonfolkfest.org    We’ll find out how Vancouver Folk Fest survived the near collapse of their festival. How they all worked together, as a community, to support one another. Also, their talent lineup and who they think could steal the show. Complete discussion on Mulligan Stew Podcast and TerryDavidMulligan YouTube Channel.   Make your plans …Summer and festival Season is upon us. Thanks all tdm

Welcome to the Long Weekend Edition of the Mulligan Stew Podcast... And because it’s a long weekend, we have a longer podcast – two of them actually. Starting things off is the birthday boy Bruce Allen – One of Canada’s most successful talent managers EVER!! Bruce and his world-class team are responsible for planning,  leading and supporting the careers of Bryan Adams, Michael Buble, Bob Rock, Jann Arden and The Offspring. When you get the attention of Bruce all bets are off. You can fire questions off in every direction. The thing is you have to be prepared to have the answers smack you upside the HEAD. I wanted Bruce’s thoughts on the loss of our mutual friend Red Robinson – The Last DJ.  And the loss of Gordon Lightfoot as well. Then we talked about the state of today's music business. Like throwing a steak to a pit bull. Bruce then launches into an update on the 2023 years of Offspring,  Jann, Bryan, Michael and Bob Rock. Rock has released an album with the late Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip. It's amazing. Bruce has that story as well.. Happy Birthday Happy Bruce!! Bob Rock interview to follow soon.   The second interview is with Doug Cox, the artistic director of the Vancouver Island Music Festival. July 14-16  in Courtney/Comox. Every year I’m fascinated by Doug’s artist lineups. This year the headliners are Sarah McLachlan, Rickie Lee Jones and The Bros. Landreth. He asked Roy Forbes to return to his BIM character and revisit the tracks from his Thistles Album. Two legends. Dave Alvin and Jimmy Dale Gilmore with The Guilty Ones. Here’s Doug  Cox with backgrounds on all those artists and more.   NEXT WEEK – The Artistic Directors of Folk Festivals in Calgary, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Canmore. PLUS Terry Wickham reveals his lineup for Edmonton Folk Fest.   Have a memorable weekend - tdm    

Can a 3-year-old change the direction of a band? This week the return of the force known as Paul Janeway – leader of  St Paul and the Broken Bones. Checking in from Birmingham Alabama. We’re going to be talking about their latest album Angels in Science Fiction Paul tells us it's a turning point for the band after 10 years together. Even though the core members are mostly unchanged,  this is not the soul band that swept over all of music in 2012 with the EP Greetings from St Paul and the Broken Bones. Now 5 albums later they’re taking their fans in another more introspective direction., The funk and groove can still be found but now Paul is writing and singing about being a father and his conversation with his wife about “do what kind of  world are we bringing our daughter into?” They had a daughter. Songs with lyrics like “Dust to Dust” “Try your best to make a difference. Starting with the people around you” Songs about denial, fear, and acceptance. There’s a renewed sense of spirituality throughout the album. One question I wanted to include was “how will these songs mesh live with the horn/soul band songs that you were playing over the past 10 years”. Lots of stories and discussions. Two things – they play the Saskatoon Jazz Festival on July 8 And the Calgary Stampede July 9 AND Her name is Marigold.

The Stew is Bruce Cockburn..bringing stories of  his 35th album O Sun O Moon. Plus memories of Gordon Lightfoot and his place in the music of the World and especially Canada. Answers the question: Was/is Gord the Sound of Canada? Could you hear the space and place in his songs? The Podcast is the complete interview with Bruce Cockburn on the release of his 35th album O Sun O Moon. And his thoughts on the music of and the loss of Gordon Lightfoot.