There's something about the first warm weather long weekend in Canada. Don't get me wrong, us Ottawans won't let hail, sleet nor snow stop us from seeing a good show in winter. But when the fair weather comes around, it seems everyone wants to come visit. There are myriad great shows to check out this weekend in the nation's capital.  Here's a taste:

• Evening Hymns at General Assembly on May 24 (Thursday):  Jonas Bonnetta will be calling in the CHUO studio to chat with me about his latest album, Quiet Energies.  The last time he was in studio, well over a year ago, he co-hosted the whole hour with me and we had a blast. 

• BONJAY: One half of Bonjay, Alanna Stuart, wlll be phoning in tonight to tell us about their new album, Lush Life and upcoming show at 27 Club next Saturday (with special guest King Kimbit). Alanna is a CHUO Alumni where she co-hosted Hop The Fence with me for a short while many years ago.  It'll be great to reconnect.
• Moonfruits at the Blacksheep Inn Friday.  The band just released a new video for "Le Maire". It was filmed in Old Ottawa South with friends and fans standing in as characters from St-Somewhere aka Ste-Quequepart.
• Claude Munson at the NAC 4th Stage Saturday: He'll be presenting his brand new hot-off-the-press album, The Silence Came After (released on Record Centre Records).
• BlankScreen will be at Bar Robo on Friday along with Empty Nesters and Future News. Blankscreen have a new album, Century.
• Samantha Martin is in at the Blacksheep Inn Saturday for her CD Release, Run To Me featuring Ottawa's own Steve Marriner (MonkeyJunk)
• Danielle Allard drops her new CD, Passing Notes, on Saturday at Collabspace
• Jamie Ferguson and the Hills Gang at the Blacksheep Inn on Sunday at 4 pm. With special guest Kelsey Hayes opening up, it promises to be a fun afternoon along the shores of the Gatineau River.

I'll attempt to spin something from each of these bands. Join us on CHUO 89.1 FM at 5 pm every Friday. You can also find us on iTunes radio under College stations and on #943 on Rogers HD.

anne-marie
Host/Producer, Hop The Fence
Fridays @ 5
CHUO 89.1 Ottawa

www.hopthefence.ca
Twitter and Instagram: hopthefenceCHUO
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopthefence

A sure sign of springtime in the Nation's capital with myriad live music shows all over town this weekend.  We have three interviews lined-up for this week's Hop The Fence.

Delta Will: They have a beautiful new disc, Weathering to release here in Ottawa. The show is on Thursday, May 26 at Pressed (with Claude Munson).
Erin Saoirse Adair: She's dropping her brand new EP Gaslight at Pressed on May 21. But first she's dropping it off at CHUO studio for us to have a spin and a chat. 
Danielle Allard: Local singer-songwriter is gearing up for a tour of the Canadian East Coast. She's starting off with a tour fundraising event at Live on Elgin this Friday, May 20.

Also in town this weekend, Jen Lane at The Blacksheep Inn on Thursday, May 26.  We'll be spinning a tune from her new disc, This Life of Mine, her 5th studio album.

It’s all happening on your radio airwaves every Friday at 5 pm! Find us at 89.1 FM in Ottawa or online at CHUO.fm. You can also find us on iTunes radio under College stations and on #943 on Rogers HD.

anne-marie
Host/Producer, Hop The Fence
Fridays @ 5
CHUO 89.1 Ottawa

There are just some things that need to be seen as well as heard. Steve Hill's one-man-band act is one of these.  Hill performs standing up while singing and playing guitar, his feet playing bass drum, snare drum, hi-hats and with a drum stick fused to the head of his trusty guitar, any other percussion within reach!

His solo act may have started out for economical reasons with his Volume One album four years ago, but through time, he has developed an impressive expertise handling multiple instruments at once.  He is in Ottawa this weekend (at the Shenkman Center in Orleans) to perform songs from his latest, Solo Recordings Volume Three.  Expect guitar-based bluesy rock'n'roll.  I look forward to chatting with him on air at 5 pm today.

Also on tonight's program, Jenna Glatt. Raised in Ottawa, Jenna began singing when she was very young, winning her first competition at age 8 which was followed by her first professional gig a few months later on Parliament Hill as part of the Canada Day Celebrations. Jenna knew from that moment on that this is what she was born to do.  Since then, she has appeared at many international music festivals and venues and has been collaborating with top level producers and songwriters in New York City, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Nashville, Atlanta, Toronto, and Copenhagen.

Jenna's third album (R&B/Pop) of all original music is currently getting world-wide airplay in Canada, the US, and across Europe. She will be at The Blacksheep Inn on Sunday at 4 pm.

Tune in at 5 pm today! Find us at 89.1 FM in Ottawa or online at CHUO.fm. You can also find us on iTunes radio under College stations and on #943 on Rogers HD.

anne-marie
Host/Producer, Hop The Fence
Fridays @ 5
CHUO 89.1 Ottawa

Since 1990, TJ Wheeler has been bringing blues to the schools in the US and across the globe. Inspired by his Hope, Heroes and the Blues program, the Ottawa RBC Bluesfest has been engaging budding musicians through a not-for-profit residency program in local schools for 18 years.  That's how our beloved festival gives back to the community.

This year, more than 20 professional artists/educators are visiting 24 area schools during a 10-day program that will run through to March 11. TJ Wheeler will be part of the artist delegation along with an a-list of local artists.  TJ will be in the CHUO studio this week to regale us with his lore along with Alan Marsden, the Ottawa Blues In Schools program coordinator and artist.

There is a lot going on in town over the next few days. It's one of the busiest weekends of the year so far. Must be due to the longer days. (Have you noticed? I have!)  I will do my best to spin most of the following:

• Winchester Warm with Eamon McGrath and Lake Forest (Pressed Cafe, March 4)
• The Jivewires with Blast From The Sun (at Live on Elgin, March 4)
• David Francey (at NAC, March 4)
• Radio Radio with Alex Silas and the Subterraneans (at Ritual March 4)
• Amos The Transparent with Lost Cousin (at The Blacksheep, March 5)
• Charlotte Cornfield (at Pressed, March 5)
• Moonfruits (at The Branch, March 10)

Tune in at 5 pm today! Find us at 89.1 FM in Ottawa or online at CHUO.fm. You can also find us on iTunes radio under College stations and on #943 on Rogers HD.

anne-marie
Host/Producer, Hop The Fence
Fridays @ 5
CHUO 89.1 Ottawa

Stephen Fearing and Andy White have honed their long-distance relationship and brought the concept to a whole new level.  With Stephen based in Nova Scotia and Andy in Australia, they have somehow managed to collaborate on two full-length album in 3 years.  The bulk of their sophomore disc, Tea and Confidences, was written over four days between two Canadian music festivals!  Both Fearing and White are highly renown artists in their own right with over 20 albums between them.  So their collaboration is truly a labour of love, no strings attached, created purely for our listening pleasure.

They are in town tonight performing at the Blacksheep Inn.  It'll be a real treat chatting with them on Hop The Fence today. Don't miss it!  Tune in on 89.1 FM in Ottawa at 5 pm or listen online at CHUO.fm or on iTunes radio (filed under college stations).

TGIF dj, anne-marie

We look forward to chatting with Ottawa space-folkies, Orienteers who return to the stage at Irene's Pub on Saturday with special guest, Tilda. The two bands share two band members, yet each has its own signature sound. You'll hear everything from pedal steel guitar loops and bowed guitar, to e-Bows and trumpets.  We'll be giving away tickets to the show and limited edition CDs!

Also on the program tonight, we've got The Archers, who have just released their debut full-length album, These Wicked Woods. The young Victoria, BC based band have been making their mark in indie rock-folk-pop worlds since 2011 and their new album emerges triumphant with their blend of folky harmonies, modern rock, and indie-pop trends. The band will be at The Blacksheep Inn on Saturday night.

Tune in at 5 p.m. on 89.1 fm in Ottawa or online at CHUO.fm.  Get ready to Tweet or call to win tickets and CDs tonight between 5 and 6 pm.  Keep this # handy: 613-562-5967.
.......
anne-marie
Host/Producer, Hop The Fence
Fridays @ 5
CHUO 89.1 Ottawa

www.hopthefence.ca
Twitter: www.twitter.com/HopTheFenceCHUO
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hop-The-Fence/117638698322087

Ukrainia!  Did you know Canada holds the world’s largest community of expat Ukrainians? Lucky for us!  The Ottawa-based band, Ukrainia consists of 4 seasoned musicians who have decided to capture the spirit of their Ukrainian background by merging it with contemporary rock`n`roll.  The result is a hilarious blend loud up-tempo beats and traditional marching band, Cossack-squatting tunes, perfect for pogo dancing (always my preferred style!) 

Ukrainia, the band are performing at the Blacksheep Inn Friday, Feb 21 along with the Hydrothermal Vents. It is sure to be a memorable if surreal evening in Wakefield!

My show rarely touches on political issues, because I prefer to bring joy to the world rather than pretend I understand international turmoil.  But  with the timing of the anti-government riots going on in the Ukraine at the moment, I do feel the need to take a moment to commemorate those who have lost their lives fighting for freedom.  Something we all seem to take for granted around here. (#endrant)

On that happy note, be sure to tune in at 5 pm this Friday (and every Friday) at 89.1 FM in Ottawa or on-line at CHUO.fm. You will also find us on iTunes radio listed under College stations.

anne-marie
Host/Producer, Hop The Fence
Fridays @ 5 - CHUO 89.1 Ottawa
Twitter: www.twitter.com/HopTheFenceCHUO
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hop-The-Fence/117638698322087

Toronto-based collective, New Country Rehab are at the Blacksheep Inn tonight - just what we need to either celebrate our love or cure our Valentine woes, As their name would imply, they're taking issue with "new country" and reshaping an authentic folk/country sound. But I'll let them tell you all about that this evening at 5 pm. Just back from a 9-country European tour,  they're back home and heading out across North America in support of their latest album Ghost Of Your Charms.

I've got a few other surprises queued up for you so be sure to tune in at 89.1 on the FM dial here in Ottawa or online at www.CHUO.fm

Happy VD to you all.  You know I love you!! xox
DJ Anne-Marie

We've got music news and interviews queued up for you today beginning at 5 pm.

PUP: Toronto four-piece, PUP, known to fuse raw punk energy with catchy earworms, big hooks, and scream-along choruses. Be prepared for loud and fast vocals and raging guitar riffs! Their first single, "Reservoir", is gaining ground on college charts. They are performing in Ottawa with Those Gulls tonight. Find out where by following this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/446060868832039/

FAST ROMANTICS: Formed 5 years ago in Calgary, the band have recently dropped their second album "Afterlife Blues". Just back from a full North American tour with new members, Fast Romantics are performing at the Black Sheep Inn, Thursday December 19th.

Tune in at 5 pm today on 89.1 FM in Ottawa or on-line at www.CHUO.fm.

The recipient of multiple awards including a few Junos, David Francey, will be performing a sold out show at the Blacksheep Inn tomorrow night (Saturday, Sept. 21).  We are pleased that he'll be chatting with us first, tonight at 5 pm.  Tune in to hear all about this talented writer and musician and his latest creation, So Say We All.

Next weekend in Ottawa will be 7th annual O-town Hoedown! We are going to give you some details about it tonight so you can prepare. Time to pull out your pointy-toed boots and dust off your 10 gallon hats!

One of my fave Canadian art/rock bands, Braids are in town tonight at Ritual. So I'll be spinning stuff from their latest disc, Flourish // Perish.

Tune in tonight at 5 pm on 89.1 FM in Ottawa or on-line at CHUO.fm

Your personal DJ, anne-marie