sarahillis's blog

2019 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Liege and Leaf, the highly influencial Folk-rock album by British band Fairport Convention. Also, June 1 would have been the birthday of their lead vocalist on that album, Sandy Denny! She was only 31 when she died in 1978, and she led a somewhat complicated life, but her talent for song-writing and vocal interpretation is second to none! So, to mark these two occasions, this week, I'll be playing the entire album of Liege and leaf, some songs written and/or sung by Sandy Denny, and some other great Folk-rock tunes.

Sunday, June 2nd, will be the 36th anniversery of the untimely and tragic death of one of Canada's greatest musicians and ambassadors, Stan Rogers. So, to mark this occasion, I will be replaying a show that I produced in 2018. Stan only had about thirteen years on the public stage, and I always wonder what kinds of songs he might have written if he had lived longer, what topics he might have tackled and whose stories he might have sung into life if is own life had not been cut short so suddenly in an airplane accident in 1983.

Yes, it's another encore presentation of Mushroom Fm's premier Celtic music show, and in honour of New Zealand, the home of The Home of the Fun Guys, I thought we'd revisit a show from October 14, 2018. As they head into winter, I thought I'd pick a show with an autumnal feel to it. It's also a reminder for us here in the northern hemisphere not to take summer for granted.

So enjoy this look back, and I'll be back with a very special new episode in June. Watch this space!

This week on Mushroom Fm's premier Celtic music show, we'll be focusing on the music of Mary Black, as her birthday is on May 23. We'll be playing music from the soundtrack to her autobiography, "Down the Crooked Road," as well as other favourite songs from various points in her long career. While starting out as a straight folk musician, on her own as well as with The Black Family and De Dannan, she became a wonderful interpreter of other people's music and enjoyed great success. She stopped performing a few years ago, but she leaves a legacy of great music behind her.

It's supposed to be spring here in the northern hemisphere, but we're in the midst of a silly April cold snap just now in my part of the world. However, I'm still feeling springish, and spring always makes me think of Mr. Mole from Kennith Graham's masterpiece "The Wind in the Willows." Mole suddenly decides one morning to stop spring cleaning his little hole and to just wander away across the fields and into a brand new life. He is infected by spring and "its spirit of divine discontent and longing." This seems also to be what calls that staple of folk songs and romances: the rover.

Yes, it's time for another encore presentation on Come by the Hills! This time, we're replaying the botched John Barleycorn episode from August 5, 2018, in its corrected Friday morning incarnation! I hope you'll enjoy it!

Yes, as I am battling a cold this week which is robbing me of focus if not of my voice as yet, I thought I'd take the opportunity to replay a very special episode of Come by the Hills from September 16 of 2018. This was a tribute show dedicated to my friend Shannon Marie Smith, (may her memory be eternal,) who died on that date the year before.

Yes, it is that time of year again, time to get out the green beer, the corn beef and the cabbage and get a little bit Irish--well, a lot Irish actually. We'll have three hours of Irish music this week on Come by the Hills: music to make you laugh, music to bring a tear to your eye, and likely everything in between.

It is indeed that time of year again! We've got two Celtic cultural days in the month of March, and Friday was the first of them, being the feast-day of St. David of Wales! So, before we get to all the green beer and such later this month with that other saint, let's take some time to honour the Welsh culture and especially its language and song this week on Mushroom Fm's premier Celtic music show!

Yes, the middle of February means that it's time once again for our annual Loreena McKennitt special, and seeing as her birthday is on Sunday, it seems only logical to celebrate it in style! Loreena McKennitt is someone who has been a role-model for me in music and in life. She's a very patriotic Canadian and yet, in some ways, is truly a citizen of the world.