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Pickin' and Grinni' - Bluegrass Programs Across Canada

By Magnus Thyvold

The too-cool-for-school indie rock fan is too often the stereotypical image some people associate with campus /community radio. But indie rock amounts to only a portion of the shows on any c/c station. Most shows don’t even aspire to coolness. Instead their goal is to play great music for people who love music. That often means programs focussing on genres of music that don’t get much attention elsewhere.

Take bluegrass, for instance. You might be surprised to find out how many Bluegrass programs there are on campus/community across Canada. Pickin ‘n’ Grinnin’ on Nelson, BC’s Kootenay Coop Radio  is just on of them. You might be surprised to find out how many Bluegrass programs there are on campus/community across Canada Hosted by bluegrass musician Eva De Foor, it highlights the continuing vitality of the high lonesome sound. “I try to keep listeners informed as to what is new in the wonderful world of bluegrass” says De Foor.

As a player known to have a large personal music collection, De Foor was recruited by the Nelson station when is was assembling its program schedule to launch the station. She jumped at the opportunity. “I thought it would be great to share my love of the music and also the history with other folks.” Lots of Canadian artists, new and old, along Old Time Music (also new and old) are thrown in to the mix. Some of De Foor’s recent favourites include Canada’s Foggy Hogtown Boys, Pigtown Fling, Bobby Osbourne’s Bluegrass Melodies and the compilation North to Ontario featuring ‘some of the best Bluegrass bands from Ontario.

Listen to Pick’ n’ Grinnin’ on CJLY 96.5FM, Wed 10 A.M. – 12 noon and Sat 9 – 11 A.M., and on several other community stations in BC or online at www.kootenaycoopradio.com. Here are some more bluegrass shows to be found across Canada.

Uptown Bluegrass on 92.5FM theX in Kamloops, BC
Wednesday from 8 A.M. to 10 A.M. PT
Online at www.thex.ca

Smokin’ Bluegrass Show on CFMU 93.3FM in Hamilton, ON
Saturday 12 noon to 1 P.M. ET
Online at http://cfmu.mcmaster.ca

Bluegrass Rambling on CKUT 90.3FM in Montreal, QC
Sunday from 7 P.M. tp 8 P.M. ET
Online and podcast at www.ckut.ca

Hit the big wide strum pal! on CKUW in Winnipeg, MB
Tuesday from 4 P.M. to 8 P.M. CT
Online and podcast at www.ckuw.ca

Brother Brian’s Bluegrass on CFRC 101.9FM in Kingston, ON
Saturday from 8 A.M. to 10 A.M.
Online at www.cfrc.ca

Bluegrass Fiesta on CHSR 97.9FM in Fredericton, NB
Sunday from 2:30 P.M. to 4 P.M. AT
Online at www.unb.ca/chsr

Priarie Pickin’ on CJSR FM88in Edmonton, AB
Thursday from 7 P.M. to 8 P.M. MT
Online at www.cjsr.ualberta.ca

Oldtime Wakeup on CHLY 101.7FM in Nanaimo, BC
Saturday from 6 A.M. to 8 A.M. PT
Online at www.chly.ca

The Bluegrass Corner on CKXU 88.3FM in Lethbridge AB
Friday 9 A.M. to 12 noon MT
Online at www.ckxu.com