Posted by Li Robbins on
Sunday January 22, 2012 at 5:00 AM
Once again this Sunday, Molly thought it would be fun to spend a bit of time on her show, and on the blog, talking about books and book-related stories. It's becoming a bit of a theme for her... So, over to you, Molly!
"There are only a couple more weeks until the annual Canada Reads celebration (hosted by Jian Ghomeshi) begins so I thought we would check in with another debater.
This week I talked with Canada's quirkiest super model, Stacey McKenzie. Stacey's first big runway show was for her idol Jean Paul Gaultier. Stacey arrived on the European runways after surviving a lot of hard knocks and being rejected by many people. (Not unlike the path of a lot of Canadian musicians.)
Stacey says that despite whatever stereotypes people might have about models, a lot of them read books backstage. Many hours are spent waiting in the wings, and books are a great escape from the frenetic activity going on.
Continue reading "Molly Johnson talks books: model Stacey McKenzie and Dave Bidini's On A Cold Road" »
Posted by Li Robbins on
Sunday January 15, 2012 at 5:00 AM
Molly thought it would be fun to spend a bit of time on Sunday's show, and on the blog too, talking about books and book-related stories. (After all, Sunday is such a good day to kick back with a good read.) So, over to you, Molly!
"I'd like to start with something in our own CBC backyard: Canada Reads. You probably know of it - it's a great radio show hosted by Jian Ghomeshi from Q. Five celebrity panelists champion a book and debate its merits. Then, after four hour-long shows on Radio1 (running February 6 to 9), the winning book will be announced.
We asked each of the debaters to send along a song they love. So let's start with Arlene Dickinson, the lone women on the CBC TV show Dragon's Den.
Continue reading "Molly Johnson talks books: Arlene Dickinson and the Prisoner of Tehran" »
Posted by Li Robbins on
Tuesday December 20, 2011 at 3:00 AM
From gospel to baroque, from country to folk, CBC Radio 2 has a sleigh's worth of Christmas music, starting Christmas Eve, and taking you right up until Boxing Day. On the big day itself, Sunday December 25th, regular programming will be entirely preempted - please have a look at the entire schedule, below.
From Radio 2 to you, the best of the season!
Continue reading "CBC Radio 2 Christmas: from Kent Nagano conducting Handel's Messiah to gospel with The Sojourners" »
Posted by Li Robbins on
Friday September 16, 2011 at 3:00 AM
Cover Me Canada launches Sunday at 9 p.m. on CBC TV, and host Nicole Appleton, whom you may remember as a member of the band All Saints (she's also married to Liam Gallagher), drops by R2 Morning to chat about the show. She'll be explaining all the glorious details of Cover Me Canada to Tom Power around 8:30 am, so make sure to tune in. In a nutshell, CMC is all about emerging bands showcasing their talents by performing nifty new cover versions of Canadian pop and rock classics.
If you listen to Radio 2 throughout the day today, you might just hear some of the songs that the talented contestants will be rocking out on to show off their mad skills. Or you could take a peek at them right here:
Continue reading "Cover Me Canada host Nicole Appleton drops by for a chat" »
Posted by Li Robbins on
Thursday September 8, 2011 at 3:00 AM
What do Don Messer, Serena Ryder, Glenn Gould, and Phyllis Marshall have in common? No, Gould, Marshall and Ryder were/are not closet fiddlers. But each has contributed to Canadian music history, and more specifically to the history of public broadcasting and music in this country.
That's something we're celebrating in the build up to CBC's 75th anniversary. The big day is November 2 -- back in 1936 on that date the Canadian Broadcasting Act replaced the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission with a Crown corporation -- also known as CBC/Radio-Canada.
And Radio 2 is celebrating 75 years of Canadian music in a few ways. One is the special Raised On Radio website; it takes you through sound clips from the entire 75 years.
Another is on air, as Radio 2 Morning and Drive are wending their way through the '30s, '40s, and '50s this week.
Then there's our celebratory Feist contest, giving you a chance to win a pair of tickets (& airfare/accommodation) to an intimate Toronto concert at CBC's Glenn Gould Studio. (Here's where you'll find more about the Feist contest.
Continue reading "Raised on Radio: 75 years of Canadian music" »
Posted by Li Robbins on
Tuesday September 6, 2011 at 3:00 AM
Have you heard any of the new Feist album, Metals yet? It's pretty delicious. It comes out on October 4th. And to celebrate the release, AND 75 proud years of CBC history, CBC Radio 2 wants to send you (and a guest) to see Feist in a once-in-a-lifetime concert with very special guests -- including Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, Ed Droste (of Grizzly Bear), Mocky, Doug Paisley, Bry Webb (of the Constantines) and Joel Gibb (of the Hidden Cameras). Sounds pretty great, huh?
CLICK HERE TO ENTER
The contest opens today, and closes on Friday, September 23rd.
You and your special plus-one have a chance to attend an intimate concert in Toronto with Feist on Saturday, October 8th. And as well as the two tickets to the show, you'll be flown in and put up in a hotel. Pretty sweet.
No skill testing question, but to enter you do have to answer this fun question:
TELL US ABOUT THE BAND OR MUSICIAN YOU DISCOVERED THANKS TO THE CBC.
We'd LOVE to hear all about that here on the blog as well as on your contest entry, so please share your thoughts via commenting on this post. (Even though it might actually be a little tricky to choose, since you may have discovered quite a few musicians thanks to CBC.)
Meanwhile, why not watch a little Feist in action from Metals, and find out more about the album, after the jump:
Continue reading "LAST CHANCE: Win tickets (+ airfare) to see Feist in concert!" »
Posted by Sarah Liss on
Saturday September 3, 2011 at 3:00 AM
There's something about Labour Day weekend that's kind of a bummer. Even if you're one of those wonderfully easygoing people who genuinely looks forward to autumn in all its crackly-leafed glory, it's hard not to feel a little bit melancholy as the final glimmers of summer are replaced by school books and light seasonal jackets.
Because we hate the thought of any of you feeling too gloomy, we've got a very special Labour Day treat to help ease the Labour Day Blues. This weekend, our good pal Hawksley Workman has agreed to swing by and guest host R2 Morning. Pretty neat, huh? Here's what he has to say about his guest-starring role:
Continue reading "Workman for the weekend: Hawksley's in the host chair" »
Posted by Li Robbins on
Friday July 15, 2011 at 3:00 AM
Pull up a log or snuggle down on your PFD and enjoy the warmth of Sarah Harmer's brand new campfire song, simply called "The Park Song" (Or "Chanson des parcs," en français).
The song -- which Harmer's recorded in both English and French -- celebrates the 100th anniversary of Parks Canada. Listen now:
"The Park Song," by Sarah Harmer:
"Chanson des parcs," paroles et musique de Sarah Harmer; version française de Jim Corcoran:
But! That's not all: Because we (and Sarah) want to share this modern-day campfire song with Canadians from coast to coast to coast, we've put together downloadable versions of the sheet music (and guitar tablatures) for "Park Song"/"Chanson des parcs". Save and print your preferred version, store it in your guitar case, and whip it out the next time you find yourself strumming and singing around an open fire. It's a beautiful song, and one that lends itself to group singalongs.
Click here to download "The Park Song" (English version)
Click here to download "Chanson des parcs" (version française)
You'll need Adobe Reader to download and read these files. If you don't already have it, you can get your own free version at this link.
Did you know that Parks Canada is the world's first national parks service? And some of those magnificent parks are famous around the world now -- for instance Banff or the Fortifications of Québec. So, one more reason to note the day. And if you haven't yet entered our contest to win a year's pass to give you (and up to seven friends) free entry to any national park in Canada, do it now!
As for National Parks Day itself: if you happen to be in Montreal, Vancouver or Toronto on Saturday July 16th, head to one of the following locations for great music. ("The Park Song"-stress herself, Sarah Harmer, headlines the Toronto event!)
Here's the scoop on each of these official Parks Canada Centennial Celebrations, all taking place tomorrow (Saturday), aka Canada's Parks Day:
Continue reading "Sarah Harmer's new campfire song: Hear (and play) it now!" »
Posted by Mark Wigmore on
Wednesday July 6, 2011 at 3:30 PM
I got my first look at Molly Johnson's world when I worked briefly with the R2 Morning Weekend host's sister Tabby. A boisterous, opinionated and spiritual woman, Tabby ran a weekend magazine show on Toronto radio. Not too long after that, I enjoyed the fifth season of the popular television show The Wire, which featured the commanding presence of her brother Clark. In 2009, I met the woman herself.
When Molly Johnson walked into the studio I was working in, she filled it. The laugh, the smile, the energy and the stories came pouring out with ease ... and that was before I started interviewing her. We talked about her life in music, her popularity at home and abroad and her incredible family. Not too long after that, I joined the team at CBC Radio 2, where I've worked alongside Molly for the last year. Though we shared jokes, industry talk and a good deal of camaraderie, I've been keeping a nasty secret.
Continue reading "Discovering Molly: Ms. Johnson takes the stage" »
Posted by Li Robbins on
Friday July 1, 2011 at 4:00 PM
You remember the Hip Hop Summit, celebrating a quarter century of Canadian Hip Hop history? No? Then have a listen here to a concert that still has people talking. No wonder, with performances from pioneers of the genre + current innovators, including Michie Mee, Maestro Fresh Wes, Dream Warriors, k-os and many others. You can also watch many of the performances at CBC Radio 2 Video.
But there's more to the Hip Hop Summit Story. Love, Props and the T.Dot: Toronto's Hip Hop History is a documentary about how hip hop in Toronto brought communities together, from rappers to fans, creating a uniquely Canadian urban voice. And you can watch it here right now:
Continue reading "WATCH NOW: Love, Props and the T.Dot: Toronto's Hip Hop History" »
