This Friday on Hop The Fence, we'll be turning up the sod as one does in early spring (snow or no snow!)

Sultans of String:
Featuring Ottawa's own Chris McKhool, the band is serving up messages of hope and cultural harmony alongside a smorgasbord of ragas, reels ‘n’ rumbas. They have a new album, Subcontinental Drift, with special guest Anwar Khurshid (Oscar-winning Life of Pi, Love Guru-Mike Myers).  They will perform at the NAC-4th Stage on April 14th (7:30pm, $35).



Ottawa Grassroots Festival:
The Ottawa Grassroots Festival is a family-friendly gathering of folk music, dance and spoken word. The festival fosters inclusivity, encourages participation, respects volunteers, supports artists and develops community partnerships. It’s called Grassroots because it is! This not-for-profit organization is run entirely by volunteers.

Now in its 5th year, the Ottawa Grassroots Festival will take place from April 21-24 at The Southminster United Church, 15 Aylmer Avenue, Ottawa.  Bob Nesbitt, Producer of the Festival will join us in studio to tell us all about it!

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

We are covering the Ottawa Folk Festival this week.  I expect many of you have already been out to the festival site since opening night last Wednesday.  The event continues full speed ahead through the weekend. Be sure to check the website for line-up, site map and how to get there.

On today's show, I will be chatting with Wooden Sky who have just released a terrific multi-layered indie rock-folk-Americana album called, Let's Be Ready. This one is going to be on my list of 2014 favorites!  The band will be on the Eh! Stage at the Folk Festival on Sunday at 5 pm.

I also had a chance to chat with Ottawa Folkfest and Bluesfest Director, Mark Monahan earlier this week.  Tune in to hear his thoughts on Canadian and local bands. It starts at 5 pm on 89.1 FM in Ottawa or on-line at CHUO.fm or on iTunes radio (filed under college stations).
xox anne-marie xox

The Ottawa Folk Festival certainly got off with a spectacular start! Wednesday evening, the Godmother of punk, Patti Smith, took to the stage for what I thought was much too short a set. But every moment was golden. I was struck by how happy she was. Very unassuming despite the reverence she deserves, she genuinely loved performing for us. And we soaked in every note, every self-deprecating comment and every fist pump with awe.  Ms. Smith took a stroll through the crowd and I managed to capture this quick shot with my bb cam.

THIS FRIDAY ON HOP THE FENCE:
Another Friday. Another weekend. And plenty more great Canadian music!  Here's who's on the program tonight beginning at 5 pm on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa. Or you can tune in on-line at CHUO.fm. We're also on iTunes under "College Radios".  Check us out!


TYMPANIC
A well-liked local band who know how to pop a catchy beat with horns and all. Always fun to see live, they've got a big show booked at Ritual on Saturday. Go show some support!

FOLLY AND THE HUNTER
Montreal-based band whose 2nd disc, Tragic Care shows how they translate tragedy into beautiful music. Catch them at the Ottawa Folk Festival on Sunday afternoon (2 pm)

Also queued up for your listening pleasure:
Vance Joy: OK he's not Canadian - but he's traveling all the way from Australia to perform at the Ottawa Folk Festival on Saturday (6:30 pm)
Phantom Shores: A little folk, a little rock and plenty in between. Ottawa band performing at Raw Sugar Cafe tonight.
 
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anne-marie
Host/Producer, Hop The Fence
Fridays @ 5
CHUO 89.1 Ottawa

Can it really be the end of August? AKA the end of summer?  No way!  Thankfully, it is also time for the Ottawa Folk Festival. With this year's stellar line-up, it'll be easy to take our minds off the ebbing of summer's long warm days.  Since 2011, the festival has been taking over the picturesque Hog's Back Park.  Get yourself ready to enjoy some "Adventures in Folkland" beginning Wednesday Sept 4 to Sunday Sept 8! 

Similarly to the Ottawa Bluesfest, there's an excellent contingency of local artists featured at the festival. Since Hop The Fence's mandate is to feature Canadian and local artists, I will be doing just that on today's program.  Little Stella, an Ottawa-based band will be performing at the festival on Thursday, Sept 5 at 6 pm. Today I'll be speaking with Zach, the latest member of what is now a four-piece band.  If you haven't heard them yet, you will not want to miss this.  Methinks they have a bright future ahead.

Let us help you kick off your long weekend with some great Canadian tunes!  Listen-up at 5 pm on 89.1 fm in Ottawa or online at www.CHUO.fm

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

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