by Sheldon Birnie
I was out in Clear Lake this past weekend, enjoying a beautiful Manitoba wedding. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Ringing in the summer”
Hillbilly Highway – End times for Times?
by Sheldon Birnie
Well, the Free Press hit music lovers with a dose of bad news last Thursday morning. Unfortunately, I’d only been up for about ten minutes when my day was dumped on when I opened the story headlined “Another downtown icon falls?” Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – End times for Times?”
Hillbilly Highway – Back on the Horse
by Sheldon Birnie
Neil Young is back on the Horse. Finally. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Back on the Horse”
Hillbilly Highway – Todd Snider is a beauty
by Sheldon Birnie
Todd Snider is an American folk singer with a keen eye for quirky detail and a sense of humour and delivery not unlike the late Mitch Hedberg. He’s also a goddamn beauty of a dude, and his appearance at the Winnipeg Folk Festival this year is a highlight on the horizon for me. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Todd Snider is a beauty”
Hillbilly Highway – Gettin’ Lucky with Mayes & Nowicki
by Sheldon Birnie
Romi Mayes is a staple of the Winnipeg roots rockin’ scene. A guitar wielding, songwriting babe, Mayes has been touring for years as two-piece blues rock combo with powerhouse guitar-picker Jay Nowicki of the Perpetrators. The Mayes & Nowicki show have toured around the world and back again over the past few years, releasing the Times Fades Away styled live album Lucky Tonight last year. Personally, I’ve been in awe of Mayes songwriting and strong stage presence for years. This Friday, I’m pumped up to have my band to open for Mayes & Nowicki at the Cavern. I caught up with Romi over the phone after the May Long Weekend to chat about the gig, a new music video, and what keeps her inspired while travelling the lengths of the Hillbilly Highway. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Gettin’ Lucky with Mayes & Nowicki”
Hillbilly Highway – JP Hoe drops in with Mannequin
by Sheldon Birnie
Local songwriter and relentless performer JP Hoe is one busy guy this summer. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – JP Hoe drops in with Mannequin”
Hillbilly Highway – Spring brings bounty here in Pegcity
by Sheldon Birnie
Well, we’ve been lucky so far this year here in lovely Winnipeg, MB. No flood, no mosquitoes yet, no ticks. Not yet. And there’s a bunch of great music pumping out of the local folk scene here, too. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Spring brings bounty here in Pegcity”
Hillbilly Highway – End of the line for Levon
by Sheldon Birnie
Much has already been said about the sad passing of American Legend Levon Helm. I can add nothing here to offer further insight into the life of a man whose music and soul touched millions, but I would certainly be remiss if I didn’t pull this rig over, rest a while, and crank up his tunes for a few minutes in honour. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – End of the line for Levon”
Hillbilly Highway – Fishing Headwaters with Del Barber
by Sheldon Birnie
photo: Mark Maryanovich
“If you want to chart a course, you’re not free to leave your history,” explains Winnipeg based singer-songwriter Del Barber over a beer at the King’s Head last week. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Fishing Headwaters with Del Barber”
Hillbilly Highway – Overnight to Albuquerque
by Sheldon Birnie
With the news a couple weeks back that Neil Young & Crazy Horse will be releasing a new album, titled Americana, a wave of excitement began to build inside of me. While I’m a big fan of much of Neil’s overall oeuvre, for me his work with Crazy Horse stands above and beyond his other collaborations, and beside or beyond his best solo work. This is real exciting news out here on the Hillbilly Highway, friends. Big time. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Overnight to Albuquerque”