First comment wins a prize...

That's right. Like I annouced on TGIFR this evening, first person to comment on this episode will win a pair of tickets to see interview subject The Wilderness of Manitoba play the West End Cultural Centre on July 31 courtesy of the good folks at the WECC. Tell me what you thought of the show, or if you have any suggestions or criticisms - it's all welcome.

To recap tonight - we talked to Melissa Dalton from the aforementioned Wilderness of Manitoba, as well as to 20-year-old singer-songwriter Daniel Moir who is on the road in support of his album (called, fittingly, Road) and coming to Winnipeg August 1st at the Park Theatre.

Here's what I played:

Set One: 6:30 - 7 PM

News - Ooo La La [Yoga/Riverman]
The Mountains & The Trees - Goodbye Little Town [Independent]
Interview with The Wilderness of Manitoba
The Wilderness Of Manitoba - Summer Fires [Verite]
Cheering For The Bad Guy - Jesus Was A Cowboy [Independent]
Effect & Cause - Lost [Independent]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30 PM

Mats Oberg Trio - Lullaby Of Nerdland [Svensk Music]
School Of Seven Bells - Dust Devils [Vagrant]
Menomena - Tithe [Barsuk]
Black Mountain - Old Fangs [Jagjaguwar]
Ultra Mega - Yeah [Independent]

Set Three: 7:30 - 8 PM

The Provincial Archive - You Roll Like Raindrops [Bedrooms & Basements]
Matthew and the Birds - Raining Meow [Independent]
Daniel Moir - Sundrunk [Independent]
Friendly Rich & The Lollipop People - The Grapefruit League [Pumpkin Pie Corporation]
Said The Whale - This Winter I Retire [Pop Machine]

So far for next week, I've confirmed an interview with Bryce from Vitaminsforyou and we'll likely be talking to Rob Rousseau about this year's amazing Islendingadagurinn line-up (which features Vitaminsforyou) and possibly one more act from the bill. Stay tuned!

Change of Plans: June 4 Show

So I just heard from James Struthers that he will be performing an in-store at Lucky Jeans tomorrow and can't make TGIFR so he's been rescheduled for next week (June 11th). But it looks like we'll have a couple guests added to the bill for tomorrow in his stead. One is Montreal band BRAIDS who are playing at the LO Pub tonight and I'm also firming up something with the folks involved with the 100 Mile Musical Diet project.

In other news, last week's episode is now up as a podcast on the UMFM website.

How It Went Down: Friday June 19, 2009

So here's what was played on tonight's show:

Set One: 6:30 - 7pm
Chairlift - Bruises [Columbia]
Quantic - Cali Cartel [Tru Thoughts]
Ocote Soul Sounds & Adrian Quesada - The Revolt Of The Cockroach People [ESL Music]
Solidaze - Distractions [Balanced Records]
Interview with Guru and Solar
Guru - Lost And Found [7 Grand]

Set Two: 7 - 7:30pm
Guru - Best Of My Yearz [7 Grand]
Magilla Funk Conduit - That Funk (feat. Cadence Weapon) [Self-Released]
Interview with Jenn Grant
Jenn Grant - Heartbreaker [Six Shooter Records]


Set Three: 7:30 - 8pm
The Sea & Cake - Exact To Me [Thrill Jockey]
Interview with Jackpine
Jackpine - Red River Jig [Live at UMFM]
Jackpine - Rick Danko Died [Live at UMFM]
Jackpine - Brand New Good Old Days [Live at UMFM]
Reverie Sound Revue - An Anniversary Away [Boompa]

AND WHILE I'M AT IT...
I totally forgot to post the showlog from last week's hip-hop extravaganza so check that one out here.

This Friday: June 19, 2009

Quick update about this Friday's show and who will be on:

Already in the can is an interview with hip-hop legend GURU (Gang Starr, Jazzmatazz) who talks about being in the game so long, his new record 8.0 Lost & Found, and more. We talked last week and I had to sit on it to fit in all my local hip-hop guests for the show.

Tomorrow afternoon I'll be joined at the UMFM studio by local band Jackpine. You might not have heard of them yet, but you will very soon when they release their debut CD, Brand New Good Old Days on Dollartone Records. They're like a Winnipeg roots supergroup with membership comprised of Jaxon Haldane, Adrien Sala, Sean Buchanan and Jesse Reimer. We'll be recording a special live set and an interview for broadcast on Friday in advance of their CD release show at the Park Theatre on June 25th.

And finally I'll be talking to Haligonian pop-songstress Jenn Grant (pictured above) about her latest CD Echoes in advance of her Winnipeg show at the LO Pub on Friday June 26th.

Tune in for TGIFR, this Friday at 6:30-8pm CST on 101.5 UMFM or online at www.umfm.com

May 29th Playlist

Totally flaked on putting my playlist from Friday up here. The Dirty Projectors interview didn't end up happening as their label rep couldn't connect with them while they were on the road (speaking of Dirty Projectors, the new album is great, but you wouldn't know it from the performance opening for TV on the Radio at the Walker on Saturday. The sound was abysmal).

I've got the Western States about to record an in-studio today that will air this Friday, June 5th and Dog Day and the F-Holes are still on for live appearances.

Here's the rundown on last week's show:

Set One (6:30-7pm)

Lee Fields & The Expressions - Ladies [Truth & Soul]
Nestor Wynrush - Garbage Hill [Clothes Horse Records]
Bike For Three! - Lazarus Phenomenon [Anticon]
Rock Plaza Central - O Lord, How Many Are My Foes [Paper Bag Records]
James Hill & Anne Davison - Sakura, Sakura [Borealis]
Grizzly Bear - All We Ask [Warp]

Set Two (7-7:30pm)

Field Assembly - Alkali [Independent]
Timber Timbre - Song 1 [Live At Music Trader]
Timber Timbre - Song 2 [Live At Music Trader]
Timber Timbre - Song 3 - I Get Low [Live At Music Trader]
Timber Timbre - Song 4 - There Is A Cure [Live At Music Trader]
Violent Kin - Let Go And Let God [Independent]

Set Three (7:30-8pm)

Animal Names - Frogs In 2010
Phoenix - Lisztomania [Loyaute/Glassnote]
Viva Voce - Good As Gold [Barsuk]
Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens - Am I Asking Too Much? [Daptone Records]
Fat Freddy's Drop - Pull the Catch [Amplifier]
Grand Analog - Her Daddy (Don't Like Me) [Urbnet]
Tiga - What You Need [Last Gang/Ultra]

It's about time...

After harping on show hosts and volunteers at the station about promoting their radio shows, it's probably high time that I actually got around to doing the same for my own show. So if you're looking for information about upcoming shows, recent interviews and features and playlists of what I've featured on Thank God It's Free Range, this will be the place. (Of course playlists are always available here as well).

I've been a bit sporadic of late what with the birth of my son, who will be seven weeks old tomorrow. Plus I missed a show or two for the Goldeyes Opening Game at CanWest Park and a Moose playoff game. But things are getting back on track and I've got some solid stuff in the works for upcoming shows.

This Friday (fingers crossed) I will be speaking to the Dirty Projectors in advance of their opening gig for TV on the Radio (who are playing the Burton on Saturday). And I'm headed to Music Trader tomorrow to record and interview Ghost Bees and Timber Timbre (who I've written about on my review blog, Ear To The Sound), which will also be featured. [and hey, if you're in the village tomorrow afternoon, come check out the in-store]

A little firmer are plans for next week's show. My guests that night will be Dog Day (who are coming to town with Julie Doiron and are the most recent feature on Ear To The Sound), The Western States (pictured above, who will be performing a special studio set in advance of their CD release at the recently renovated West End Cultural Centre) and up-and-coming local band The F-Holes.

So that's it for now, but stay tuned to this space for more info and keep your dial fixed at 101.5