- For the Sake of the Song #CNDOP20162016/12/01
Some reflections on Canadian National Day of Podcasting 2016, growing my chops with Yousician, the passing of Bob Goyetche (RIP) and a public commitment to release an album November 2017.
- For the Sake of the Song- CNDOP special December 1, 20142014/12/02
It’s Canadian National Day of Podcasting so I did a bit of a ramblecast/rant about my current thoughts on podcasting and on my creative life in general. Â I also plug my new podcast audiobook, Time for the Fair. Â Please check it out. Â I close out with a recording of This Ain’t My Hat, a […]
- Let’s go to the Ex!2013/08/08
Every summer since my daughter was about 4, my family has spent one or two days at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. Â Last year, on their facebook page, I read about their Official CNE Blogger contest too late to enter. Â This year I watched their webpage and began to write a 250 word […]
- For the Sake of the Song Fawmstock Special2013/08/05
July 24-28, I attended FAWMSTOCK, a gathering for songwriters from around the world who have participated in February Album Writing Month. Â About 30 musicians from Canada, the United States and Europe gathered at the Emlenton Mill in Emlenton, PA for 3 days of music and merriment. Â This show features some of the music from FAWMSTOCK […]
- May 24 Concert at Orillia Folk Society Celebrates a Decade of Great Songwriting2013/05/23
This Friday, May 24, 2013, The Orillia Folk Society closes out it’s Fridayfolk Season with a special 10th anniversary showcase of 10 performers from the Barrie and District Association for Singer/Songwriters (aka BADAS/S). Leacock Museum’s Swanmore Terrace 50 Museum Drive, Orillia 7:30 pm (doors opens at 6:45) Tickets are $15 and can be reserved at […]
- FAWM 2013 Wrapup2013/03/02
I finished February Album Writing Month with 20 new songs. You can find them here on my site or I’m @ductapeguy at the FAWM website. I was not alone.  410 of 2267 registered writers completed 14 or more songs with 1 person writing 125 new songs. All in all, over 9000 songs were written as part of […]
- Fawm Special #2– 14 songs in 16 days2013/02/18
I have enjoyed sharing my journey as I joined February Album Writing Month and attempted to write 14 songs in 28 days.  On February 16, I posted my 14th song.  I am going to continue throughout February, but I am a little astounded that I could write that consistently and quickly.  Let me share what […]
- FAWM- Write an album in 28 days– Am I Crazy?2013/02/10
Tom Slatter is a London, UK based songwriter and podcaster. He produces the Songwright blog.  He was a guest on the  For the Sake of the Song in 2008.  On January 31, he posted that he was participating in February Album Writing Month, taking on the challenge to write 14 songs in  the 28  days of February.  I […]
- Paper Nickels :Corin’s Great Canadian Tire Money Caper2013/01/19
Corin Raymond has been one of my most frequent guests on For the Sake of the Song, appearing as a solo singer-songwriter, as 1/2 of the Undesirables and with his frequent touring partner, Jonathan Byrd. Â About 18 months ago, Corin co-wrote a silly country song with Rob Vaarmeyer from Winnepeg which features Canadian Tire […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Aaron Mangoff2012/09/01
Info (Show/Hide)You and I by Aaron Mangoff This episode is a listening party/musician’s commentary on Aaron Mangoff’s new EP, You and I.  Aaron Mangoff is a young songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Orillia.  You can download it on Bandcamp  or find it on iTunes, or on the Sleeper Records homepage.  We are joined on the podcast by Aaron’s Sleeper Records labelmate, Christopher […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Christopher Thompson2012/08/08
I am launching a new format for this podcast.  Think of it like the director’s commentary on a DVD movie but for albums.  I will have a conversation with musicians while we listen to one of their albums.  The conversation will last for the duration of the album.  Enjoy. Christopher Thompson is a young fingerstyle guitarist […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Connie Kaldor2012/06/02
If ever there was an official soundtrack for the Canadian Prairies, Connie Kaldor’s music would be featured on it. Â Connie Kaldor is a veteran Canadian folk singer-songwriter. Â For over 30 years, she has toured the country constantly, and released over 14 albums. Â If you get a chance to catch her live, don’t hesitate. Â Her live […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Dan Henshall and Kathleen Speckert2012/05/01
This summer I went to the Live from the Rock festival in Red Rock, Ontario on the shores of Lake Superior.  As the sun was setting, I interviewed two young performers.  Kathleen  Speckert aka Kat Murie, is a young singer-songwriter originally from Newmarket and now based in Toronto.  Uncle Dan Henshall is a young songwriter from London […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Maria Dunn2012/04/02
I’ve known Maria Dunn for over a decade.  I first saw her perform in her home town of  Edmonton and subsequently hosted a couple of house concerts with her over the years.  She is a folksinger in the traditional sense.  For Maria, social activism and songwriting go hand in hand.  It was a pleasure to […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Mike Celia2012/03/01
Mike Celia is a Toronto area singer-songwriter.  I sat down with him on the grounds at the Mariposa Folk Festival as the sun was setting over Lake Couchiching to play a few songs and talk songwriting. Music: For the Sake of the Song (©2003 S. McGaughey) Used to Be © Mike Celia Falling © Mike Celia Links: […]
- For the Sake of the Song with the Doll Sisters2012/02/01
Still in their teens, The Doll Sisters write and perform music that reminds one of the music of their parents and grandparents. Â They site traditional celtic music, classic country music and Allison Kraus as strong influences. Â Sisters Jenna and Shelby play guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and sing with those special harmonies that can only be achieved […]
- For the Sake of the Song with the Command Sisters2012/01/02
The Command Sisters are 13 year old Sarah, who plays lead guitar and mandolin and sings,  and 16 year old Charlotte who plays guitar, writes most of their lyrics and also sings. They have recently landed a development deal in Nashville.  With their catchy melodies and tight harmonies they are an act to watch out for. […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Rhea March2011/12/01
My parents introduced me to Rhea March about 7 years ago on a visit to Edmonton when they took me to perform at one of her popular open stages. Â About 4 years ago she contacted me asking how she could go about podcasting recordings from her open stages, and the next week she began […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Steve Seskin2011/11/01
It was a great surprise to see Steve Seskin on the bill at the Canmore Folk Festival.  Steve Seskin is the kind of songwriter who has all the other songwriters running across the grounds to see him perform at a festival.  During a career lasting 40 years, he has become known as a folk songwriter who […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Glen Reid2011/10/01
Glen Reid is a veteran of the Canadian Music scene.  He began to make a name for himself in the late 1960s, in the folk community in the Yorkville district in Toronto. Throughout tht 70’s he was a session musician and band member on several popular Canadian television shows including Singalong Jubilee,  John Allan Cameron’s Let’s […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Blaise Alleyne2011/09/01
By the time this is released, the 2011 Â Mariposa Folk Festival will have passed. Â This is the last of my interviews recorded at the 2010 edition of Mariposa. Â I have known Blaise Alleyne for several years, mostly through social media. Â Blaise is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, Catholic, and programmer from Toronto. Â He is deeply interested in […]
- U22 Showcase Part 22011/08/25
Last month my family attended the Canmore Folk Festival.  This is part 2 of a showcase concert put on by U22 productions on  July 29 at The Communitea Cafe in Canmore.  U22 is a non profit organization dedicated to nurturing and developing the talents of Albertan performers under the age of 22. Performers featured this episode: The Doll Sisters are a sister […]
- U22 Showcase Part 12011/08/18
Last month my family attended the Canmore Folk Festival. Â While we were there I spent alot of time with my friend Rhea March who founded U22 productions. Â U22 is a non profit organization dedicated to nurturing and developing the talents of Albertan performers under the age of 22. Â On Friday July 29, The Communitea Cafe […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Susie Vinnick2011/07/02
Next weekend is the 51st annual edition of the  Mariposa Folk Festival, and I still find I have 3 shows from last year to release.  Last summer, I finally got the chance to interview Suzie Vinnick.  I first became aware of Suzie and her amazing voice in the late 80s when I was attending university in […]
- Podcamp London Special- Comfort Food2011/06/11
On the 4 hour drive to Podcamp London, this morning, I had the idea to do a session where I would demonstrate how to use audacity to produce a podcast whilst producing a podcast. Â I chose the topic of comfort food. Â At the opening session in the morning, Â I asked people to record audio […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Caitlin Hanford2011/05/27
Last summer I sat down with Canadian Folk legend Caitlin Hanford, at the 50 anniversary of the Mariposa Folk Festival.  Caitlynn Hanford is  a solo-singer songwriter, she is 1/4 of Quartette with Sylvia Tyson, Gwen Swick and Cindy Church, and she sings in the Marigolds with Gwen Swick and Susie Vinnick.  She is also an […]
- Not Fade Away2011/05/27
For four years, I would record interviews for For the Sake of the Song all summer at festivals around Ontario, then I would release them year round on a twice monthly schedule. Â This winter, I found my busy home and worklife was very busy. Â I also have been quite focussed on my other podcast, The […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Lukas Grant2011/02/19
This is the third and final For the Sake of the Song episode recorded at the Ottawa Folk Festival last August. Lukas Grant is a young Ottawa area singer-songwriter who is working on his debut album.  Watch for him at LukasGrant.com. Music: For the Sake of the Song (©2003 S. McGaughey) Here I Go Now © Lukas Grant […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Terry Gillespie and Lynne Hanson2011/01/12
Last summer, the third day of the Ottawa Folk Festival, was completely drenched in a 14 hour deluge. Â Bob Ledrew put on his publicist hat and kept local media and the audience apprised of the many changes in the schedule throughout the day. Â In between that, he took the time to introduce me to a […]
- For The Sake of the Song Live from the Ottawa Folk Festival2010/12/01
My friends Bob and Mark at the Canadian Podcast Buffet have declared December 1 as the Great Canadian National Day of Podcasting. Â Looking through my folders of recordings from this summer, I found the perfect material for a national celebration of podcasting. Â Last spring, Bob Ledrew invited me to come to the Ottawa Folk […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Eileen McGann2010/11/16
Eileen McGann has been a favorite songwriter of my wife and I for over a decade. Â Originally hailing from central Ontario, Eileen lived in Calgary for a number of years and has called Vancouver Island home for about 11 years. Â Eileen’s influences include the folk revival of the 1960s, and traditional English and Celtic folk […]
- 4tsots with Kim Wempe and Ian Foster2010/10/24
Kim Wempe is a Halifax based singer-songwriter, who grew up in Saskatchewan.  She won the 2010 East Coast Music Association Rising Star Award. She has just released her new album, Painting with Tides. Ian Foster is a musician and writer living in St. John’s, Newfoundland. He was a finalist for the International Songwriting Competition, 5-time […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Dave Borins2010/09/16
Dave Borins is a Toronto singer-songwriter who seemingly effortlessly crosses between folk, country, and hard-edged rock and roll. Â I caught up with him at the Mariposa Folk Festival. Â Dave and his band will be recording a live album on October 20 and 21, 2010 at Hugh’s Room in Toronto. Â It is bound to be a […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Knock, Knock Ginger2010/08/15
The Arts for Peace Festival has been an annual event in Orillia for 26 years. For some reason I cannot explain, this year was the first time we had attended. It is a beautiful, intimate music and arts festival on the grounds of the Stephen Leacock Museum in Orillia. While there, we met and heard […]
- For The Sake of the Song with Cheryl Gaudet2010/07/30
Cheryl Gaudet is a songwriter who hails from Nova Scotia. She has 2 CDs of original music out. In 1990,she had a dream to host a festival at the wonderful Eaglewood Resort in Pefferlaw,Ontario. I caught up with her at the 20th annual Eaglewood Folk Festival. We reminisced about past festivals, talked about songwriting and […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Tyler Firestone2010/07/15
Tyler Firestone is a 19-year-old Folk/Rock, singer/songwriter who lives in Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada. He has been playing guitar and harmonica for over 5 years, as well as the piano, mandolin, and other instruments. Songwriting is his passion. He has written over 60 songs since 2005. I met up with Tyler at my songwriter’s group’s […]
- For the Sake of the Song with George Coventry2010/06/26
George Coventry has been a friend and musical influence of mine for over 17 years. I’m astounded that it took me over 3 years to get him on For the Sake of the Song. Over the past 40 years, George has written hundreds of songs.  He has a gift for telling stories and looking at […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Doug McArthur2010/06/11
Doug McArthur is a veteran Canadian singer-songwriter. He has worked both as performing musician and in Arts administration with organizations such as the Festival of Friends, the Toronto Jazz Festival and the the Eaglewood Folk Festival. I caught up to him at the 20th annual Eaglewood Folk Festival. Enjoy. Songs: Theme Music: For the Sake […]
- For The Sake of the Song with Collette Savard and John Zytaruk2010/05/15
Collette Savard is a singer-songwriter with two CDs out, Zen Boyfriend and Most Improved Cheerleader. She performs as a duo with her producer, multi-instrumentalist, John Zytaruk. They came to my school last week courtesy of Stellula Music as part of their Music in the Schools Week. At the end of the week, Collette, John and […]
- For the Sake of the Song with Sue Passmore… now with audio.2010/05/12
I’m very sorry. For over a month the Sue Passmore show has been available without any sound.  I’ve run into my friend and fan of For the Sake of the Song , Jeff Potts, several times in the last six weeks. Each time, he mentioned that he was unable to open my For the […]
