Folk Roots/Folk Branches with Mike Regenstreif: October 2025

Thursday, October 30, 2025

Saturday Morning with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – November 1, 2025

Saturday Morning is an eclectic roots-oriented program on CKCU, 93.1 FM, in Ottawa on Saturday mornings from 7 until 10 am (Eastern time) and available for on-demand streaming anytime. I am one of the four rotating hosts of the Saturday Morning show.

This episode of Saturday Morning was recorded and can be streamed on-demand, now or anytime, by clicking on “Listen Now” at … https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/128/72669.html

Presley Halle- Someday Soon

Off to Find a Sunny Day (Columbia)

Judy Collins & Mike Regenstreif (2014)

Judy Collins- Brother, Can You Spare a Dime

Judith (Elektra)

Clela Errington- I Know You Rider

Walkin’ Each Other Home (Clela Errington)

Guy Davis & Mike Regenstreif (2006)

Guy Davis- Statesboro Blues

Juba Dance (M.C.)

John Stewart- Chilly Winds

Cannons in the Rain/Wingless Angels (One Way)

Waylon Jennings- Brand New Tennessee Waltz

Songbird (Son of Jessi/Thirty Tigers)

Lily Sazz- Isn’t That So

What Just Happened (Lily Sazz)

Jesse Winchester & Mike Regenstreif (2000)

Jesse Winchester- All of Your Stories

Third Down, 110 to Go (Stony Plain)

Mike Regenstreif & Bruce Murdoch (2007)

Bruce Murdoch- Fool Like Me

Bruce Murdoch (Radio Canada International)

Chris Rawlings & Mike Regenstreif (2007)

Chris Rawlings- Songbird and Rainbow

Two Sides to Your Story (Cookingfat Music)

Jory Nash & Mike Regenstreif (2024)

Jory Nash- Me & You

The Light Still Shines on the Main (Thin Man)

Mike Regenstreif & Anne Hills (2001)

Anne Hills- Portland Fancy

Every Town: More Songs by Michael Smith (Hand & Heart Music)

Kate MacLeod- Fair Winds and Following Seas

Perennial (Westmoon)

Cosy Sheridan- The Breathing Room

The Breathing Room (Cosy Sheridan)

Paul Mills- The London Scratch

The Other Side of the Glass (Borealis)

Mike Regenstreif & The Durham County Poets (2014)

Durham County Poets- St. James Infirmary

Hand Me Down Blues (Durham County Poets)

Sheesham & Lotus & 'Son- Michigan Water

Clear the Table (Sepiaphone)

Dave Van Ronk & The Red Onion Jazz Band- Sister Kate

Two Sides of Dave Van Ronk (Fantasy)

Maria Muldaur- Down Hill Pull

One Hour Mama: The Blues of Victoria Spivey (NOLA Blues)

Mike Regenstreif & Connie Kaldor (2015)

Connie Kaldor- Hitched Together

Wide Open Spaces (Coyote Entertainment)

Tom Mitchell & Mike Regenstreif (1999)

Tom Mitchell- The Pine

Outamongum Again (Cowlick)

Rosalie Sorrels & Mike Regenstreif (1993)

Rosalie Sorrels- The Caterpillar and the Butterfly

Always a Lady (Green Linnet)

John Gorka & Mike Regenstreif (2012)

John Gorka- First Snow on the Mountains

unentitled (Red House)

Becky Buller- A Hazy Shade of Winter

Songs That Sing Me (Dark Shadow Recording)

Mike Regenstreif & Tony Turner (2018)

Tony Turner- Pine Beach

Survivor Tree (Bon Esprit Music)

Kate Greenland- Longing & Dreaming of You

Longing and Dreaming (Kate Greenland)

Kate Weekes- Rideau Roots

Rideau Roots (Kate Weekes)

Bobby Dove- Golden Years

Hopeless Romantic (Bobby Dove)

Odetta, pianist Dave Keyes & Mike Regenstreif (2008)

Odetta- Dink’s Blues

Blues Everywhere I Go (M.C.)

Mike Regenstreif & Tim Grimm (2025)

Tim Grimm- Broken Truth

Bones of Trees (Vault)

Jez Lowe- Frozen Roman

Oubliette (Tantobie)

Mike Regenstreif & Mark Rubin on Zoom (2025)

Mark Rubin – Jew of Oklahoma- Dog Whistle

Dispatches: Songs from a World Gone Mad (Rubinchik)

Ellen Hamilton- I Don’t Need a Flag

Mending (Ellen Hamilton)

Eliza Gilkyson & Mike Regenstreif (2006)

Eliza Gilkyson- Dark Night of the Soul

Dark Ages (Realiza)

Mike Regenstreif & Lynn Miles (2013)

Lynn Miles- Million Brilliant

Downpour (Lynn Miles)

Sylvia Tyson & Mike Regenstreif (997)

Ian & Sylvia- Changes

Play One More (Vanguard)

Louise Coombe & Mike Regenstreif (2024)

Louise Coombe- October

Paris (Zoe Cat Music)

Stacey Kent- Tis Autumn

The Boy Next Door (Candid)

Chris McKhool- Little Leaf

Little Leaf (Chris McKhool)

Leslie Jordan- The Agonist

The Agonist (Leslie Jordan Music)

Gretchen Peters- Five Minutes

The Show: Live from The UK (Scarlet Letter)

Caroline Marie Brooks- Vitamin

Everything at the Same Time (Caroline Brooks)

Joel Mabus & Mike Regenstreif (2001)

Joel Mabus- The Lonesome Road

Lonesome Road: Suite for Solo Guitar and Voice – Songs of the Lost Generation 1924-1928 (Fossil)

Alison Brown & Steve Martin- Friend of Mine

Safe Sensible and Sane (Compass)

I’ll be hosting Saturday Morning next on November 29. I also host Stranger Songs on CKCU every Tuesday from 3:30-5 pm.

--Mike Regenstreif

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – October 28, 2025: Remembering Bob Franke and Danny Thompson

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif finds connections and develops themes in various genres. The show is broadcast on CKCU, 93.1 FM, in Ottawa on Tuesdays from 3:30 until 5 pm (Eastern time) and is also available 24/7 for on-demand streaming.

This episode of Stranger Songs was recorded and can be streamed on-demand, now or anytime, by clicking on “Listen Now” at … https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/595/72570.html

Theme: Remembering Bob Franke (1947-2025) and Danny Thompson (1939-2025).

This is the first of two editions of Stranger Songs during CKCU’s annual funding drive for 2025, a funding drive falling just before CKCU celebrates 50 years of broadcasting on air – an incredible milestone for independent, listener-supported media in a day and age when independent, community-oriented media with programming curated, produced and hosted by a dedicated corps of volunteers, often experts in our fields, is harder and harder to come by. Please visit this link to support CKCU and Stranger Songs. https://www.canadahelps.org/me/6rUTtTVJ

Bob Franke was a great singer-songwriter who I knew as a friend for well over 50 years. When I took over running The Golem, a folk club in Montreal, in 1974, Bob was the third performer to play there and the first American. A few months ago, Bob and his wife, Joan Sherman, decided to leave Donald Trump’s America to make a new home for themselves in Guatemala. On October 13, Bob was crossing the street in Antigua, Guatemala when he was hit by a speeding motorcycle and suffered a broken pelvis. Bob had successful surgery to repair his pelvis but suffered two heart attacks while recovering in the ICU and died on October 16 at age 78.

The next 11 songs were written by Bob Franke.

Bob Franke- For Real

The Other Evening in Chicago (Waterbug)

Claudia Schmidt- Hard Love

Reimagining (Claudia Schmidt)

Stan Rogers- Love Can’t Be Bitter All the Time

Songs of a Lifetime: Discoveries – Rare Live Recordings (Fogarty’s Cove/Borealis)

Bob Franke- Love Bravely, Elizabeth

The Other Evening in Chicago (Waterbug)

Susie Burke & David Surette- A Healing In This Night

Sometimes In the Evening (Madrina Music)

Kim & Reggie Harris- Walkin’ in the Wilderness

Rock of Ages (Appleseed)

Short Sisters- Straw Against the Chill

A Planet Dancing Slow (Black Socks Press)

Bob Franke & Noel Paul Stookey- Turn Back, O Man

The Heart of the Flower (Daring)

Garnet Rogers- Hallelujah! The Great Storm is Over

Speaking Softly in the Dark (Snow Goose Songs)

Bill Garrett- Thanksgiving Eve

Seems to Me (Borealis)

Bob Franke- The Roads are Long in Canada

Long Roads, Short Visits (Daring)

Danny Thompson – who died on September 23 at age 86 – was probably the definitive bass player of the British folk revival, first as a member of the group Pentangle, and then as bassist for countless concert and recording artists. The rest of the show features Danny’s superb musicianship.

Pentangle- Let No Man Steal Your Thyme

Finale: An Evening with Pentangle (Topic)

Marianne Faithfull- Sally Free and Easy

North Country Maid (Decca)

Maddy Prior & June Tabor- The Grey Funnel Line

Silly Sisters (Shanachie)

Richard Thompson & Danny Thompson- Sweetheart on the Barricade

Industry (Hannibal)

Savourna Stevenson, June Tabor & Danny Thompson- Broom of Cowdenknowes

Singing the Storm (Cooking Vinyl/True North)

Eric Bibb & North Country Fair with Danny Thompson- Tell Ol’ Bill

The Happiest Man in the World (Stony Plain)

Darrell Scott- Urge for Going

Modern Hymns (Appleseed)

Pentangle- Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

Finale: An Evening with Pentangle (Topic)

Next week: Conversation and Songs with Connie Kaldor.

--Mike Regenstreif

Monday, October 20, 2025

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – October 21, 2025: Songs I’ve Heard Missy Burgess Sing

This episode of Stranger Songs was recorded and can be streamed on-demand, now or anytime, by clicking on “Listen Now” at … https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/595/72459.html

Theme: Songs I’ve Heard Missy Burgess Sing.

Mike Regenstreif & Missy Burgess (2014)

Missy Burgess is a wonderful singer and songwriter who I met shortly after I moved to Ottawa in 2007. Although she’s currently living in Sarnia, Missy remains a treasured part of the Ottawa folk scene. These are all songs I’ve heard Missy sing.

Missy Burgess- Pour Me a Song

Pour Me a Song (Patio)

Po’ Girl Ain’t Life Sweet

Home to You (Nettwerk)

Martin Grosswendt- Come On In My Kitchen

Dog On a Dance Floor (Philo)

Odetta- Make Me a Pallet On Your Floor

Odetta and the Blues (Fantasy)

Missy Burgess- Basket of Blues

Lemon Pie (Missy Burgess)

Penny Lang- Trouble in Mind

Gather Honey (Borealis)

Mary Gauthier- Mercy Now

Mercy Now (Lost Highway)

Rosanne Cash- Time

Come On Up to the House: Women Sing Waits (Dualtone)

Missy Burgess- Don’t Go to Cincinnati

Play Me Sweet (Missy Burgess)

Pete Wernick’s Live Five & Joan (Nondi) Wernick- My Buddy

Up All Night (Niwot)

Mose Scarlett, Jackie Washington & Ken Whiteley- We’ll Meet Again

We’ll Meet Again (Borealis)

Kimmie Rhodes & Willie Nelson- Picture in a Frame

Picture in a Frame (Sunbird)

Missy Burgess- My Blue Sweater

Lemon Pie (Missy Burgess)

Jay Linden- That Lucky Old Sun

Under the Radar (Jay Linden)

Missy Burgess & Michael Burgess- When You Wish Upon a Star

Pour Me a Song (Patio)

Ball & Chain & The Wreckers- Come on Up to the House

Satisfied (Moo Music)

Missy Burgess- Missy’s Blues

Pour Me a Song (Patio)

Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band- Pilgrim

The Mountain (New West)

Madeleine Peyroux- Smile

Half the Perfect World (Rounder)

Missy Burgess- Dance Me Slow

Play Me Sweet (Missy Burgess)

Next week: Remembering Bob Franke and Danny Thompson.

--Mike Regenstreif

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – October 14, 2025: The Dutchman and Other Songs of Michael Smith

This episode of Stranger Songs was recorded and can be streamed on-demand, now or anytime, by clicking on “Listen Now” at … https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/595/72377.html

Theme: The Dutchman and Other Songs of Michael Smith.

Michael Smith, among my all-time favorite singer-songwriters, passed away in 2020 at age 78 from colon cancer.

Mike Regenstreif & Michael Smith (2014)

Michael Smith- Coffeehouse Days

Michael Margaret Pat & Kate (Wind River)

Anne Hills- Ballad of Elizabeth Dark

Every Town: More Songs by Michael Smith (Hand & Heart Music)

Michael Smith & Jamie O'Reilly- Sister Clarissa

Songs of a Catholic Childhood (J. O’Reilly Productions)

Tom Rush- Hobo’s Mandolin (This Here Mandolin)

Ladies Love Outlaws (Columbia)

Steve Goodman- Roving Cowboy (Ballad of Dan Moody)

Words We Can Dance To (Red Pajamas)

Michael Smith- Such Things are Finely Done

Such Things are Finely Done (Tales from the Tavern)

Almost 25 years ago, I was talking to Tom Russell – another of my all-time favorite singer-songwriters. Michael Smith’s name came up in the conversation and I mentioned that Michael’s song, The Dutchman, was one of my favorite songs. Tom said it was one of his favorite songs, too. Tom recorded The Dutchman on Modern Art, his next album.

Tom Russell- The Dutchman

Modern Art (HighTone)

Bonnie Koloc- Crazy Mary

You’re Gonna Love Yourself in the Morning (Ovation)

Anne Hills & John Gorka- Spoon River

Every Town: More Songs by Michael Smith (Hand & Heart Music)

Michael Smith- Rondi’s Birthday

Love Letter on a Fish (Tales from the Tavern)

Skyline with Tony Trischka- Stranded in the Moonlight

Ticket Back: A Retrospective (Flying Fish)

Josh White, Jr..- (When I Lived in) My Grandmother’s House

Delicate Balance (Silverwolf)

Jamie O'Reilly- Waving to Picasso

Swimming Deeper (Bird Avenue Publishing)

Michael Smith- There

Such Things are Finely Done (Tales from the Tavern)

Anne Hills- Memory of August

Every Town: More Songs by Michael Smith (Hand & Heart Music)

Small Potatoes- I Brought My Father with Me

Time Flies (Folk Era)

Barbara Barrow- A Real Good One (Every Town)

Remembering Fred: A Tribute to Fred Holstein (The Remembering Fred Group)

Michael Smith- Love Letter On a Fish

Love Letter On a Fish (Tales from the Tavern)

Before I moved to Ottawa, I hosted a show called Folk Roots/Folk Branches on CKUT in Montreal and one of my favorite memories from that show was having Michael Smith and Anne Hills together in the studio in 2005. I was thrilled when they sang their duet version of The Dutchman.

Anne Hills & Michael Smith- The Dutchman

Paradise Lost and Found (Redwing Music)

Next week: Songs I’ve Heard Missy Burgess Sing.

--Mike Regenstreif

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – October 7, 2025 – Who By Fire: Live Tribute to Leonard Cohen

This episode of Stranger Songs was recorded and can be streamed on-demand, now or anytime, by clicking on “Listen Now” at … https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/595/72301.html

Theme: Who By Fire: Live Tribute to Leonard Cohen.

Who By Fire: Live Tribute to Leonard Cohen was a concert presented at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, Sweden in March of 2017 – about four months after Leonard Cohen died at age 82. The primary artists were First Aid Kit – the Swedish sister duo of Johanna and Klara Söderbeg – along with a variety of other singers and actors performing songs and poems of Leonard Cohen.

First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani & Maia Hansson-Bergqvist- Tired