Oskar Zybart: broadcaster (CKUA Radio Network + New Music Edmonton + Woodshed Z) • curator of the Zibliothek print/audio/media library • word wrangler • music maker • muckraker
>> BLOG • CONTACT • GEAR • LIVE MUSIC • RADIO PLAYLISTS • WOODSHED Z • THE ZIBLIOTHEK
In Our Neighbourhood is CKUA’s weekly exploration of Alberta’s eclectic soundscapes. Two hours of songs, singers, stories, and sounds spanning the province, it’s an upbeat mix of unpredictable and essential tracks for your Friday.
Opening theme music: “Strange Displacement” by Layten Kramer
Closing theme music: “Fringes” by Good Information
Won't You Be My Neighbour? • The Fox Big Band • Live at the Ironwood • 12:00
Middletown • Emily Triggs • Middletown • 12:07
Wonderful Things • John Wort Hannam • Long Haul • 12:11
It's All the Same • Secondhand Dreamcar • ______ • 12:14
Empress • Cassia Hardy • In Relation • 12:19
A Dream in a Liminal Haze • Bobby Tarian • ______ • 12:22
All I Need • King of Foxes • Salt & Honey • 12:25
A Picture of a Picture • Billie Zizi • Levitate • 12:29
Care • Bailey Kate • Within / Without • 12:32
Spin Me Around • Reine Bourassa • ______ • 12:36
Tap Me On the Shoulder • Starpainter • Bury Me By My Family • 12:40
Don't Be Cruel • The Carolines • ______ • 12:44
Insincere • Erin Ross • The Wind Will Lead Me Home • 12:47
Car • Brad Bucknell & the Ohno Band • Four-Four Time • 12:50
Fringes • Good Information • ______ • 12:55
(270) 2026-07-10 - 11:00-13:00 (donated hour)
(271) 2026-07-17 - 11:00-13:00
(272) 2026-07-24 - 11:00-13:00
(273) 2026-07-31 - 11:00-13:00
(274) 2026-08-07 - 11:00-13:00
(275) 2026-08-14 - 11:00-13:00
(276) 2026-08-21 - 11:00-13:00
(277) 2026-08-28 - 11:00-13:00
• • •
FUTURE PLAYLISTS TO FOLLOW BROADCASTS
>> Explore my playlist history for other dates and programs.
~~ Featured content
^^ Listener/donor recommendations/requests
++ Tonight’s ‘odd one out’
• • •
PROMO TEXT
Focusing on home-grown talent. An eclectic all-Albertan playlist, with the best and brightest our province has to offer taking center stage. New releases… familiar favourites… we’ve got it all. Sidle up to our local jukebox and make yourself at home. The folks are friendly and the music’s good in our neighbourhood.
In Our Neighbourhood is CKUA’s weekly exploration of Alberta’s eclectic soundscapes. Two hours of songs, singers, stories, and sounds spanning the province, it’s an upbeat mix of unpredictable and essential tracks for your Friday.
Opening theme music: “Strange Displacement” by Layten Kramer
Closing theme music: “Fringes” by Good Information
(265) 2026-06-05 - 11:00-13:00 (celebrating the life and legacy of Baba)
Today's episode was split into two halves. 12pm-1pm was a standard (half-length) episode of ION. 11am-12pm was a special program paying tribute to Baba, featuring excerpts from a previously unaired interview OZ recorded with Baba in 2015. In this first hour, Baba discussed his life and chose music that was significant to him in various ways.
Truth • Dweezil Zappa • Via Zammata' • 11:03
Baby Elephant Walk • Henry Mancini • The Days Of Wine And Roses • 11:09 ~~
Everybody Eats When They Come To My House • Cab Calloway • Hi Dee Ho Man • 11:12 ~~
The Donut Song • Burl Ives • A Twinkle In Your Eye • 11:20 ~~
Within You Without You • The Beatles • Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club • 11:26 ~~
Ramblin' Gamblin' Man (live) • Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band • Live Bullet • 11:37 ~~
Pata Pata • Miriam Makeba • Putumayo: The Best Of World Music • 11:45 ~~
Miss Chatelaine (St. Tropez Mix) • k. d. lang • Makeover • 11:02 ~~
Joy • Chantelle Marie • Butterfly Heart • 11:05
Here To Stay • Donald Ray Johnson • These Blues • 11:09
Your Cheatin' Heart • Dean Boucher • Sweet Memories • 11:14
If We Want To • Chevy Beaulieu • ______ • 11:17
Lay Down The Load • Secondhand Dreamcar • Answer the Call • 11:20
Big Boned Gal (feat. Tami Neilson) • D'orjay & The Lovely Luvies Fam • Futuristic Sounds in Western Prairie Music • 11:23
Golden Slumbers • k. d. lang • Happy Feet Soundtrack • 11:27 ~~
The Long Goodbye • The Hearts • Traces [EP] • 11:31
Marjorie • Sammy Volkov • Songs From the Goodbye Garden • 11:35
Ivory Eyes • Cantoo • Cantoo • 11:39
Zvichapera • The Mbira Renaissance Band • ROTO • 11:43
There • Wyatt C. Louis • Chandler • 11:49
Pelagic • Tamarack Cunningham • Frequency Modulation • 11:53
Why Do We Fight • Case / Lang / Veirs • Case / Lang / Veirs • 12:00 ~~
My Wild Rose • Blue Moon Marquee • Scream, Holler & Howl • 12:04
Mohkinstsis • Ghostkeeper • Mohkinstsis • 12:08
Beneath The Lies • Kaeley Jade • Turpentine • 12:13
Catherine • Electric Religious • Tragic Lover • 12:17
Lo Demas es Loma • Makiisma • Lady Misery • 12:21
Fall in Love • Rosina Cove • Someday We Will Make it There • 12:25
Sundown • The McDades • ______ • 12:29
Constant Craving • k. d. lang • Recollection • 12:33 ~~
Squeezed Out of the Sky • Ben Sures • Field Guide to Loneliness • 12:38
Take a Little Piece of My Heart • Jay Gilday • ____ •
Mar 25th • Matthew Cardinal • Pieces: 2011-2019 • 12:42
Birch Grove • Asiah Holm • The Mask That You Make • 12:46
Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray (live) • k. d. lang • Live By Request • 12:50 ~~
Fringes • Good Information • ______ • 12:53
• • •
FUTURE PLAYLISTS TO FOLLOW BROADCASTS
>> Explore my playlist history for other dates and programs.
~~ Featured content
^^ Listener/donor recommendations/requests
++ Tonight’s ‘odd one out’
• • •
PROMO TEXT
Focusing on home-grown talent. An eclectic all-Albertan playlist, with the best and brightest our province has to offer taking center stage. New releases… familiar favourites… we’ve got it all. Sidle up to our local jukebox and make yourself at home. The folks are friendly and the music’s good in our neighbourhood.
The Score is an exploration of new releases and current events in classical music. The program is not era-specific, so baroque and chamber pieces will sit inquisitively against avant-garde and vocal selections, and there may even be occasional deviations into composers with electronic and jazz backgrounds. Theme music: “Franz Schubert” by Kraftwerk.
• • •
TITLE • PERFORMING ARTIST • ALBUM • AIRTIME
(92) 2026-01-07 - 20:00-22:00
Toledo • David Malmberg • The Fortea Project • 20:01
Estoy Solo • David Malmberg • The Fortea Project • 20:04
Aquelarre • David Malmberg • The Fortea Project • 20:07
Elgar: Lux Aeterna • Ensemble ArtChoral • Art Choral Vol. 6: Moderne • 20:14
Gjelio: Unicornis Captivatur • Ensemble ArtChoral • Art Choral Vol. 6: Moderne • 20:17
Violin Sonata #2, op 121 • A. Ibragimova; C. Tiberghien • Schumann Violin Sonatas • 20:24
Spiegel im Spiegel • Who Cares? • Volume 2 • 21:01
M. Lauridsen: O magnum mysterium • Chamber Choir of Europe • Light Eternal • 21:12 ^^
F. Decruck: Sonata in C# (1943) • Jackson Symphony Orchestra • Fernande Decruck • 21:20
Folds in Crossings for Solo Violin & Electronics • Leslie Ting • What Brings You In • 21:42
In Our Neighbourhood is CKUA’s weekly exploration of Alberta’s eclectic soundscapes. Two hours of songs, singers, stories, and sounds spanning the province, it’s an upbeat mix of unpredictable and essential tracks for your Friday.
Opening theme music: “Strange Displacement” by Layten Kramer
• • •
TITLE • PERFORMING ARTIST • ALBUM • AIRTIME
(216) 2025-07-04 - 11:00-13:00
Wild One Forever • Altameda • ______ • 11:02
Birch Grove • Asiah Holm • The Mask That You Made • 11:06
Black Sun Rays (feat. Mari Kattman) • Comaduster • Memory Echoes • 12:27
Birch Grove • Asiah Holm • The Mask That You Made • 12:34
Rodeo Clown • Lucette • Nice Girl From The Suburbs [EP] • 12:38
Steps Taken • Brock Geiger • Some Nights • 12:41
Honey Don't • Jolie Laide • In The Low Light [EP] • 12:45
Green Blade • Hermitess • Death & The Fool • 12:49
Won't Let You Down This Time • John Hewitt • Dead Lovers • 12:52 ^^
Fringes • Good Information • ______ • 12:56
• • •
FUTURE PLAYLISTS TO FOLLOW BROADCASTS
>> Explore my playlist history for other dates and programs.
~~ Featured content
^^ Listener/donor recommendations/requests
++ Tonight’s ‘odd one out’
• • •
PROMO TEXT
Focusing on home-grown talent. An eclectic all-Albertan playlist, with the best and brightest our province has to offer taking center stage. New releases… familiar favourites… we’ve got it all. Sidle up to our local jukebox and make yourself at home. The folks are friendly and the music’s good in our neighbourhood.
In Our Neighbourhood is CKUA’s weekly exploration of Alberta’s eclectic soundscapes. Two hours of songs, singers, stories, and sounds spanning the province, it’s an upbeat mix of unpredictable and essential tracks for your Friday.
*** Starting 2025-01-31 In Our Neighbourhood moved to Fridays at 11am MT ***
Opening theme music: “Strange Displacement” by Layten Kramer
• • •
TITLE • PERFORMING ARTIST • ALBUM • AIRTIME
(190) 2025-01-03 - 18:00-20:00
Since You Been Gone • Tanika Charles • The Gumption • 18:01
Sleep Tight • Aladean Kheroufi • Studies In A Dying Love • 18:04
Bear The Cold • Mitch Davis • The Haunt • 18:07
Light A Fire • Cynthia Hamar • Joint & Marrow • 18:11
Tired of Love • Krystle Dos Santos • Bloom/ Burn • 18:16
Ain't that Good News • Black Pioneer Heritage Singers • Ain't That Good News • 18:20
Somethin' Familiar • Kat Danser • Somethin' Familiar • 18:27
He Doesn't Know • Zenon Epp • Genre Z (EP) • 18:31
Radiation • Tarik Robinson • Rotations • 18:35
Capsized • Monks On Call • Lakewood Rd. • 18:41
Another Chance • Justine Giles • Another Chance EP • 18:45
Refuse to Dance • Carter Felker • Even The Happy Ones Are Sad • 18:50
My Wild Rose • Blue Moon Marquee • Scream, Holler & Howl • 12:44
Burnin' Love • Shawnee Kish • Shawnee Kish • 12:47
Promises • Rae Spoon • I Can't Keep All Of Our Secrets • 12:51 ~~
Fringes • Good Information • ______ • 12:54
>> Explore my playlist history for other dates and programs.
~~ Featured content
^^ Listener/donor recommendations/requests
++ Tonight’s ‘odd one out’
• • •
PROMO TEXT
Focusing on home-grown talent. An eclectic all-Albertan playlist, with the best and brightest our province has to offer taking center stage. New releases… familiar favourites… we’ve got it all. Sidle up to our local jukebox and make yourself at home. The folks are friendly and the music’s good in our neighbourhood.
The Score is an exploration of new releases and current events in classical music. The program is not era-specific, so baroque and chamber pieces will sit inquisitively against avant-garde and vocal selections, and there may even be occasional deviations into composers with electronic and jazz backgrounds. Theme music: “Franz Schubert” by Kraftwerk.
• • •
TITLE • PERFORMING ARTIST • ALBUM • AIRTIME
(40) 2025-01-01 - 20:00-22:00
F. Mendelssohn-Hensel: January A Dream • Anna Shelest • Donna Voce, Vol 2 • 20:03
R. Sakamoto: Lack Of Love • Ryuichi Sakamoto • Opus • 20:08
R. Sakamoto: BB • Ryuichi Sakamoto • Opus • 20:12
R. Sakamoto: Andata • Ryuichi Sakamoto • Opus • 20:15
D. Scarlatti: Sonata K. 466 • Matteo Mela & Lorenzo Micheli • Scarlatti: 12 Sonatas • 20:19
D. Scarlatti: Sonata K. 519 • Matteo Mela & Lorenzo Micheli • Scarlatti: 12 Sonatas • 20:26
D. Scarlatti: Sonata K. 531 • Matteo Mela & Lorenzo Micheli • Scarlatti: 12 Sonatas • 20:29
The No Normal is a podcast series created by New Music Edmonton. Oskar Zybart is the series emcee and Senior Producer.
The podcast was originally a project launched by New Music Edmonton at the start of the 2020 pandemic to sustain local experimental composers during a wave of concert cancellations. In the years that followed, The No Normal has continued to evolve, providing a platform for experimental sound artists and composers. Episodes feature long-form interviews, musical excerpts, sound-art, and multi-media elements. Special episodes tied to New Music Edmonton’s various festivals and other events are also available.
NME audio: Soundcloud (audio podcasts)
NME video: Vimeo (multi-media & video content)
NME online: New Music Edmonton
NME social: Facebook • Instagram • Twitter
More about the series below.
- - - - -
The origins and history of this podcast series, along with some words from NME.
During the 2020+ pandemic, most live-concert programming has been suspended. To help fill the vacuum and to continue showcasing Edmonton composers and performers, New Music Edmonton presents a reimagined season. New approach; new artists; new works. The season takes shape under the banner of The No Normal.
NME: In so many ways, the 2020-21 season is the start of a new era for us. What was normal won’t be again, and the only “new normal” is no normal at all! We will continue to uphold NME’s mandate to celebrate what's new in music and sound-based art, while prioritizing our role as contributors to an equitable and accessible arts scene. We’re working with creatives in unprecedented and varied ways, inviting experimentation in both content and delivery, and reimagining our role as a presenter.
In April 2024, CKUA launched INTERMISSION - a seasonal schedule change to its classical music programming during the extended leave of classical music host Mark Antonelli. In autumn 2024, Mark Antonelli announced his retirement from CKUA, causing INTERMISSION to be extended until the next schedule change in January 2025.
INTERMISSION: five new classical programs presented by four different CKUA hosts, as temporary replacements for Mark Antonelli's programs Sunday Breakfast and Classic Examples. Two of these programs, The Score (Wednesdays) and Maestri (Thursdays) were created and hosted by Oskar Zybart.
With the end of INTERMISSION in January of 2025, Maestri was cancelled, while The Score became part of the regular CKUA broadcast schedule.
• • •
The Score is an exploration of new releases and current events in classical music. The program is not era-specific, so baroque and chamber pieces will sit inquisitively against avant-garde and vocal selections, and there may even be occasional deviations into composers with electronic and jazz backgrounds. Not limited to recorded music, we'll also present periodic chats with members from our classical-music community for an inside scoop regarding activity on Albertan concert stages. Theme music: “Franz Schubert” by Kraftwerk.
• • •
Maestri is a deep dive into the life and works of a single significant figure. Each week we profile a composer, or a conductor, or a performer. Sometimes, that individual is all of the above! Part biography, part musical study, Maestri celebrates the various music masters of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
• • •
TITLE • PERFORMING ARTIST • ALBUM • AIRTIME
(01) 2024-04-03 - 20:00-22:00 - The Score
F. Schubert: D89 German Dances 1-5 • Daniel Hope • DANCE! • 20:03
F. Tellez: Suite Concertante, Op 2 • Canadian Studio Symphony • TELLEZ: EVOCATIONS • 20:19
Marini: Sonata Quarta Per Il Violin... • Les Barocudas • BASTA PARLARE ! • 20:38
Castello: Sonata Duodecima a 3 • Les Barocudas • BASTA PARLARE ! • 20:48
M-A. Hamelin: Toccata on L'homme arme • Marc-Andre Hamelin • NEW PIANO WORKS • 20:59
J. Brahms: 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117 • Helene Grimaud • FOR CLARA • 21:08
K. Weill: Symphony #2 • Ulster Orch; T. Kocsis • VIOLIN CONCERTO... • 21:26
(01) 2024-04-04 - 20:00-22:00 - Maestri (feat. Franz Schubert)
F. Schubert: Overture In D Major, D556 • Prague Sinfonia Orchestra • COMPLETE OVERTURES 2 • 20:01
F. Schubert: Piano Sonata No 13 in A, D664 • Janina Fialkowska • PIANO SONATAS • 20:10
F. Schubert: Trio #1 D898, Op99 • Gryphon Trio • SCHUBERT: COMPLETE PIANO TRIOS • 20:29
F. Schubert: Ave Maria • Grant Cahoon & Lawrence Gee • SERENITY • 21:08
F. Schubert: Mass #2, D167, parts 1, 3, 6 • Bavarian RSO & Choir • SCHUBERT / GOUNOD • 21:15
F. Schubert: Symphony #6 D589 • CBC Vancouver Orchestra • SYMPHONIES 5 & 6 • 21:30
Tango (Portuguese) • Morelenbaum2 / Sakamoto • A Day In New York • 21:40
Fullmoon • Ryuichi Sakamoto • Async • 21:46
Andata • Ryuichi Sakamoto • Async • 21:49
The Last Emperor • Ryuichi Sakamoto • Cinemage • 21:55
(43) 2025-01-23 - 20:00-22:00 - Maestri (feat. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, series finale)
W. A. Mozart: Violin Concerto #1 • Lara St. John • Mozart: The Knights • 20:02
W. A. Mozart: Sonata #13 K.333 • John Stetch • Off With The Cuffs • 20:25
W. A. Mozart: Trio In E Major, K542 • Gryphon Trio • Complete Piano Trios • 20:43
W. A. Mozart: Sonata in C Major K329 • I Musici De Montreal • Mozart: Church Sonatas • 21:06
W. A. Mozart: Requiem • Les Violons Du Roy • Mozart: Requiem • 21:13
• • •
>> Explore my playlist history for other dates and programs.
~~ Featured content
^^ Listener recommendations/requests
++ Tonight’s ‘odd one out’ / vintage vinyl
PROMO TEXT
The Score - The world of orchestral music remains as vibrant and active as ever. Fresh recordings and unique interpretations continue to spring from legacy artists and emerging talents alike. New pieces; new releases; new performances. The Score spotlights recent additions to CKUA's classical music library, along with recordings from related genres boasting similarly ambitious arrangements and orchestral originality.
•••
Maestri - The terms 'maestro' and 'maestra' have long been applied to great individuals in music - those with a particular gift for composition, performance, and/or conducting. History is rich with such talents, though some are better known than others. Each week on CKUA, we take a detailed dive into the career and catalogue of a single exceptional subject. Some episodes focus on elements of one's works in isolation, while others might navigate specific themes or compare similar approaches by multiple maestri. From the middle ages to the present day, across boundaries and borders, there's always more to explore.
Most years, I try to write a recap of the year for my own reference. Sometimes, these things prove interesting to others as well, but I guarantee nothing.
Keep reading for a selection of assorted experiences from 2024. These include reflections on the acts of: making radio; performing music on stage; sharing music as a broadcaster and online person; my ongoing exploration of recorded music in the hulking media library known as the Zibliothek; some non-music perspectives; and other assorted thoughts and insights.
• • •
RADIO
In early 2023, my colleague and fellow CKUA host Mark Antonelli began a lengthy leave of absence to care for his ailing mother. During his absence, which continued into 2024, I was his substitute as the primary guest-host of his weeknight series Classic Examples. By the springtime, CKUA decided to try something different with its classical programming, and launched a seasonal schedule called INTERMISSION. Mark's shows were divided amongst four different hosts while we waited for his return, but by September Mark made the decision to retire instead of returning to CKUA. INTERMISSION was extended to the end of the 2024, which has included two classical music programs of my own: The Score and Maestri. It's possible that both of these programs will be extended into the 2025 schedule, but that remains to be seen. I'm also developing several ideas for new shows which might become part of CKUA's 2025 schedule, also to be determined.
My all-Albertan music program In Our Neighbourhood continues to launch the weekend on CKUA's Friday nights. By the end of 2024, the series will have reached its 189th episode.
At the time of writing this, I'm projected to have guest-hosted 73 shows for CKUA in 2024. While that's still a significant number of other people's shows, it's about half as many as I guest-hosted in 2023. I'm guessing I'm likely to host fewer still in 2025.
• • •
LIVE MUSIC
One of my musical outlets is a band called Pepperland, which celebrates the music of The Beatles. We bring to stages around Alberta songs spanning The Beatles' career - including works they never themselves performed live. Pepperland occupied the bulk of my attention as a musician in 2024.
Pepperland celebrated the 60th anniversary of The Beatles 1964 TV debut on The Ed Sullivan Show throughout our shows this year, playing every song the Beatles performed on their four TV performances on Sullivan. It's been a popular theme, and is likely to be the first of a series of 60th anniversary themes we'll explore in the next few years.
The highlight of performing this year: Pepperland's September show at the Bailey Theatre in Camrose. Possibly the oldest theatre in Alberta, it's a beautiful room with a dedicated group of volunteers and caretakers keeping it strong. This was our first performance at the Bailey, hopefully the first of many more to come.
• • •
BEST OF 2024 & OTHER FAVOURITES
Some of my favourite music releases from this year, in no order besides alphabetical, with apologies to any which I’ve overlooked, missed, or haven’t had the chance to listen to yet:
ALBERTAN ALBUMS & SONGS
The Denim Daddies "The Whisky Waltz"
Electric Religious "Good Bread"
The Hearts "The Long Goodbye"
Justine Giles "Another Chance"
Jed & the Valentine "Left in June" and "Mineral"
Kappella Kyrie - Alleluia
Aladean Kheroufi - Studies In A Dying Love
Luminous Voices - J. Brahms: German Requiem, Op 45
Matt Masters "How Many Days Until Tomorrow"
Shaela Miller - After the Masquerade
The Sharp Sharp Knives "Macho Man"
Emily Triggs - The Great Escape
Sammy Volkov & Dana Wylie - The Day Had To Come
Billie Zizi - Levitate
OTHER ALBUMS & SONGS OF NOTE
Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin: C.P.E. Bach Symphonies From Berlin to Hamburg
Jon Batiste - Beethoven Blues
Maya Beiser - Terry Riley: In C
Bubble Tea & Cigarettes - We Should Have Killed Each Other
Luca D'Alberto - In Our Hearts
Miles Davis Quintet - Miles in France 1963/64 (The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8)
Einsturzende Neubauten - Rampen (Alien Pop Music)
David Gilmour "Between Two Points" (feat. Romany Gilmour)
Father John Misty "I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All"
The Lemon Twigs - A Dream Is All We Know
Stephan Moccio - Legends, Myths and Lavender
Max Richter - In a Landscape
Various Artists - Even the Forest Hums: Ukrainian Sonic Archives 1971-1996
OTHER NON-2024 RELEASES OF NOTE
The Beatles “Now and Then”
Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives
Pink Floyd - The Endless River
Various Artists - She Came From Hungary! 1960s Beat Girls From the Eastern Bloc
- - - - -
OTHER MUSIC THOUGHTS FROM THE ZIBLIOTHEK
In 2020, I started an alphabetical exploration of the Zibliothek’s vinyl collection. I’ve also been documenting the LP library and other aspects of the collection on Instagram. By the end of 2024, I should have reached the letter 'G' in the collection. At my current rate, it will take me 13-15 years to listen to the full LP library.
In previous years I made notes about the individual artists, but I'm writing this all in December and most of the following I can barely remember at this point. Anyway, here’s some of what I listened to this year from the collection:
Devo; Dexy's Midnight Runners; Neil Diamond; The Dice; Bo Diddley; The Dillards; Luis Dimas; Dino, Desi, and Billy; the Diodes; Dire Straits; Dion; Disney; Dr. Hook; Thomas Dolby; Fats Domino; Donovan; The Dooby Bros; The Doors; Doucette; Doug & the Slugs; Ronnie Dove; Download; Duran Duran; Ian Dury; Bob Dylan; The Eagles; Earth Wind & Fire; Sheena Easton; The Easybeats; Duane Eddy; Dave Edmunds; Einsturzende Neubauten; Electric Light Orchestra; Emerson Lake & Plamer; Enigmas; Brian Eno (+ collaborators); Eurythmics; The Everly Brothers... and most of the letter F. I'm listening to Peter Frampton right now.
• • •
FINAL THOUGHTS
I wish you well in the new year. May it be filled with good music, good company, and rest.
In Our Neighbourhood is CKUA’s weekly exploration of Alberta’s eclectic soundscapes. Kickstarting the weekend with two hours of songs, singers, stories, and sounds spanning the province, it’s an upbeat mix of unpredictable and essential tracks for your Friday night.
Opening theme music: “Strange Displacement” by Layten Kramer
• • •
TITLE • PERFORMING ARTIST • ALBUM • AIRTIME
(164) 2024-07-05 - 18:00-20:00
Ketchup • Denny Von Braun • IRRATIONAL FASHION • 18:01
Charlemagne • JJ Miller • ______ • 18:05
Waiting for a Train • Starpainter • RATTLESNAKE DREAM • 18:09
Taking It Over • Electric Religious • ______ • 18:16
Show You How To Love Me • Celeigh Cardinal • BOUNDLESS POSSIBILITIES • 18:19
Grandpa Was a Carpenter • The Denim Daddies • Northern Goods • 18:22
After The Masquerade • Shaela Miller • After the Masquerade • 18:26
Mourning Tonight • Shaela Miller • After The Masquerade • 18:30
Sitting on Top of the World • Lionel Rault • Linedriver • 18:36
Living Free • Carter Felker • Even The Happy Ones Are Sad • 18:39
Another Chance • Justine Giles • Another Chance EP • 18:45
Before It's Too Late • Justine Giles • Another Chance EP • 18:49
How Many Days Until Tomorrow • Matt Masters • BURGENER • 18:54
Love Without End • Ian Tyson • Songs from the Gravel Road • 18:59
There Are Angels • Sammy Volkov & Dana Wylie • The Day Had To Come • 19:04
Here Today • Sammy Volkov & Dana Wylie • The Day Had To Come • 19:08
Higher Country • The Hearts • Traces [EP] • 19:14
The Long Goodbye • The Hearts • Traces [EP] • 19:18
Athene • The Velveteins • ______ • 19:23
Simultaneously • Bad Buddy • Bad Buddy • 19:26
London 1969 • Emily Triggs • The Great Escape • 19:30
The Walls • Emily Triggs • The Great Escape • 19:33
Black Rat Swing • Blue Moon Marquee • New Orleans Sessions • 19:37
There • Wyatt C. Louis • Chandler • 19:41
Where I'm Going • Skinny Dyck • Easygoing • 19:44
Sleep Tight • Aladean Kheroufi • Studies In A Dying Love • 19:46
MIDNIGHT SUN • Billie Zizi • LEVITATE • 19:49
GAS STATION COUTURE • Billie Zizi • LEVITATE • 19:53
Fringes • Good Information • ______ • 19:56
• • •
FUTURE PLAYLISTS TO FOLLOW BROADCASTS
>> Explore my playlist history for other dates and programs.
~~ Featured content
^^ Listener/donor recommendations/requests
++ Tonight’s ‘odd one out’
• • •
PROMO TEXT
Focusing on home-grown talent. An eclectic all-Albertan playlist, with the best and brightest our province has to offer taking center stage. New releases… familiar favourites… we’ve got it all. Sidle up to our local jukebox and make yourself at home. The folks are friendly and the music’s good in our neighbourhood.
In Our Neighbourhood is CKUA’s weekly exploration of Alberta’s eclectic soundscapes. Kickstarting the weekend with two hours of songs, singers, stories, and sounds spanning the province, it’s an upbeat mix of unpredictable and essential tracks for your Friday night.
Opening theme music: “Strange Displacement” by Layten Kramer
• • •
TITLE • PERFORMING ARTIST • ALBUM • AIRTIME
(138) 2024-01-05 - 18:00-20:00
^^ Listener recommendations/requests
~~ Featured content
Refuse to Dance • Carter Felker • EVEN THE HAPPY ONES ARE SAD • 19:44
Battle of the Thames • Osyron • FOUNDATIONS • 19:48 ~~
Neon Vaci • J.Alpinist • VHS DUBS • 19:55
• • •
FUTURE PLAYLISTS TO FOLLOW BROADCASTS
>> Explore my playlist history for other dates and programs.
~~ Featured content
^^ Listener/donor recommendations/requests
++ Tonight’s ‘odd one out’
• • •
PROMO TEXT
Focusing on home-grown talent. An eclectic all-Albertan playlist, with the best and brightest our province has to offer taking center stage. New releases… familiar favourites… we’ve got it all. Sidle up to our local jukebox and make yourself at home. The folks are friendly and the music’s good in our neighbourhood.
Going to keep this year's recap brief. Not sure if anyone reads these, but I reference them sometimes when necessary.
The main thing of note this year was my workload.
I returned to concert performance following the pandemic lull of 2020-2022. I played about a dozen shows with Pepperland in the second half of the year, beginning with a private event in rural Alberta and ending by closing an awards gala for hundreds of folks at the Edmonton Expo Centre (video below) and a sold out NYE show at the Blue Chair. More performances with Pepperland and others are planned for 2024.
I also broke my first guitar string(s) since 2011!
My radio work unexpectedly shifted into high gear this year. Following various developments in 2022, I planned to drastically scale back my fill-in work at CKUA - particularly during the daytime programs. However, through some cosmic irony, by the end of 2023 I ended up doing more radio work than ever before. My previous record for fill-in shows in a single year was 95. I ended 2023 having acted as a guest-host on 141 occasions, in addition to my own weekly show. This was not planned, and nearly all of those 141 shows have been classical music programs. I have been operating since February as the guest-host of Classic Examples during the long term absence of the regular host Mark Antonelli.
My weekly Friday night Albertan music program In Our Neighbourhood continues on CKUA. Also continuing, now in its fourth year, my collaboration with NME as the Senior Producer on their podcast series The No Normal.
Working this many weeknights has had the unfortunate consequence of my family rarely being in the same place together. What little time we've shared has been spent introducing my kid to Star Trek.
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Some of my favourite 2023 music releases, in no order besides alphabetical, with apologies to any which I've overlooked, missed, or haven't had the chance to listen to yet:
ALBERTAN ALBUMS
Audrey Ochoa – Head of a Mouse
Betaboys – Just Yesterday
Confusionaires! – Westernization
Des Arcs – Masks
Downtown Exit – Bootleg Stardust
Miesha and the Spanks – Unconditional Love in Hi-Fi
Jesse Murray – I Did It All For You
Doug Organ – Quiet in the Library
Starpainter – Rattlesnake Dream
Trevor Howlett & the Cruz Bros - Self-Titled EP
Void Comp – Metropol
OTHER ALBUMS & SONGS OF NOTE
The Beatles "Now and Then"
Fifty Fifty "Cupid"
Go_A "Dumala"
Kinva - Kinva
Monks on Call "Capsized"
SZA "Kill Bill"
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway - City of Gold
Wayfinding "Bad Blood"
- - - - -
OTHER MUSIC THOUGHTS FROM THE ZIBLIOTHEK
In 2020, I started an alphabetical exploration of the Zibliothek’s vinyl collection. I’ve also been documenting the LP library and other aspects of the collection on Instagram. At my current rate, it will take me 13-15 years to listen to the full LP library. I made inconsistent progress in 2023, listening in waves with long gaps between opportunities. Here’s some of what I listened to this year:
Lou Christie: I once read he was Egyptian. This has proven difficult misinformation to shake. Some goofy goodies in his catalogue.
Eric Clapton: Outside of his 1965-1968 period, I am decidedly not a fan of Clapton as a person or musician. With the exception of his Unplugged album, which has strong moments, nearly everything since Derek & the Dominoes has been criminally dull. I can honestly say I never need to hear his music again.
Petula Clark: Great voice. Sometimes great songs too.
Roy Clark: I like his music best when I can't see him playing it.
The Clash: Tremendous.
Joe Cocker: Great bands behind him. Often great performances too. Not always strong material.
Patsy Cline / Leonard Cohen / Nat King Cole / Perry Como / Sam Cooke: All tremendous.
Ry Cooder: I remain a bit mystified by Ry Cooder. Admired by countless people I enjoy, but his music does nothing for me.
Elvis Costello: A very strong catalogue, and consistently enjoyable.
Cream: Clapton at his best, fighting for space in a tempest of madmen.
Creedence Clearwater Revival: I've never been a big fan. With a few exceptions, the overplayed radio hits remain tiresome. I have a vague memory of their live "Royal Albert Hall" album being strong, and I like their debut album and Cosmo's Factory, but everything in between was pretty plodding and dull overall.
Jim Croce: What a catalogue he might have produced had he lived. Some gigantic tunes.
The Cowsills: The hits still hit.
Bing Crosby: The birth of croon, but not the greatest in his field.
Crosby, Stills, and Nash (and Young): Great when they're good, forgettable when they're not.
Bobby Darin: I love his work, his young voice was one of the all-time greats for that kind of music. As his voice changed, he still used it well, but it was never as magical after the early 1960s.
Dave Cark / The Dave Clark Five: Business genius, funny drummer, some of the best British Invasion songs going. Mike Smith was a tremendously underrated rock & roll singer in his youth.
Deep Purple: Finally listened to the bulk of their peripheral catalogue. Several of their albums are essential for any library. Their early Mk I period is underrated heavy pop, before they found their signature sound. The iconic Mk II period is musically tremendous and lyrically abysmal, and Made In Japan still might be the greatest live album of all time. The Mk III period (and the Tommy Bolin years) weren't as bad as I anticipated, but didn't keep my attention either. The quality of the music seems unconnected to the quality of the album artwork.
Deep Purple solo projects: These range from forgettable to awful in almost every case. Some of Jon Lord's early works are nice to hear, but I love Jon Lord. Still don't understand the appeal of Tommy Bolin.
John Denver: I enjoyed his Rocky Mountain High album, but curiously his two greatest hits albums are painfully weak.
Delaney & Bonnie & Friends: Alright, I guess. Nothing special. Early shades of Clapton the boring.
Derek & the Dominoes: Sometimes very good.
•••
This song came out in 2022 rather than 2023. Despite being familiar and a fan of Bill McClintock, I only discovered it a month ago. I've listened to it dozens of times and it might be the greatest mash-up ever made. Maybe even the best thing period.
•••
No pithy ending for 2023. Be safe. Be well. Good luck going forward in 2024.
In Our Neighbourhood is CKUA’s weekly exploration of Alberta’s eclectic soundscapes. Kickstarting the weekend with two hours of songs, singers, stories, and sounds spanning the province, it’s an upbeat mix of unpredictable and essential tracks for your Friday night.
Opening theme music: “Strange Displacement” by Layten Kramer
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TITLE • PERFORMING ARTIST • ALBUM • AIRTIME
(87) 2023-01-06 - 18:00-20:00 (donor hour in memory of Dave Alcock)
^^ Listener recommendations/requests
~~ Featured content
Kalyna • The Kubasonics • KUBASONGS • 18:02
Here Come The Cossacks • Millenia • BRATTYA • 18:05
Wolfman Rock • Peter & The Wolves • HOWLIN' & PROWLIN' • 18:10
Down On My Luck • Elk Run & Riot • MORNING LIGHT • 18:14
Rare • Ruth B • MAYBE I'LL FIND YOU AGAIN • 18:17
Fill My Cup • Kimberley MacGregor • SITTING, WITH UNCOMFORTABLE FEELINGS • 18:21
Don't Take it (Don't Give it Away) • Des Arcs • MASKS • 18:26 ~~
Marconi's Machine • Des Arcs • THIEF VALLEY • 18:30 ~~
Before We Had Sarah • Ben Sures • THE STORY THAT LIVED HERE • 18:40
Road Runner • The Denim Daddies • ______ • 18:44
Here Come The Cossacks • Millenia • BRATTYA • 18:48
The Apple From The Tree • Confusionaires! • WESTERNIZATION • 18:53
Surf & Turf • Doug Organ • QUIET IN THE LIBRARY • 18:56
Embarrassed To Say • Audrey Ochoa • THE HEAD OF A MOUSE • 19:01
In Circles • Void Comp • METROPOL • 19:05
Painted Faces • Void Comp • METROPOL • 19:09
Newport Beach • Betaboys • JUST YESTERDAY • 19:12
Bad Blood • Wayfinding • WAYFINDING • 19:17
Gold • Mouraine • ______ • 19:23
Silly Happy Wild (Live) • Tanika Charles • THE UNION SESSIONS EP • 19:26
Since You Been Gone (Live) • Tanika Charles • THE UNION SESSIONS EP • 19:30
Capsized • Monks On Call • LAKEWOOD RD. • 19:34
Days To Nights • Des Arcs • MASKS • 19:39
Radio Morning • Des Arcs • MASKS • 19:42
GRLSROK • Miesha and the Spanks • UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IN HI-FI • 19:45
It's My Year • Miesha and the Spanks • UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IN HI-FI • 19:48
Drownin' The Memory • Give 'Em Hell Boys • BARN BURNER • 19:52
Every Tragedy Needs A Punchline • Audrey Ochoa • THE HEAD OF A MOUSE • 19:55
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FUTURE PLAYLISTS TO FOLLOW BROADCASTS
>> Explore my playlist history for other dates and programs.
~~ Featured content
^^ Listener recommendations/requests
++ Tonight’s ‘odd one out’
•••
PROMO TEXT
Focusing on home-grown talent. An eclectic all-Albertan playlist, with the best and brightest our province has to offer taking center stage. New releases… familiar favourites… we’ve got it all. Sidle up to our local jukebox and make yourself at home. The folks are friendly and the music’s good in our neighbourhood.
