Episode #3.5 – Rise Again

Introduction – The Life and Work of Stan Rogers Stan Rogers was one of Canada’s greatest singer-songwriters, despite his music having never had major distribution or significant radio playtime. In this episode, I discuss the (tragically short) life of the impressive baritone and dissect his songs in order to answer this question: What makes his … Read More

Announcement image for the Folk Files episode all about "Twa Sisters"

Episode #3.4 – There Were Two Sisters

Introduction – The Story of “Twa Sisters” A harrowing murder ballad in which an older sister shoves her younger sister in the water (and sometimes a musician makes an instrument from the drowned girl’s corpse) can be found all over Great Britain, North America, and Scandinavia. But where did it originally come from? And how … Read More

Episode art for "The Music of Temple Bar," all about Irish music

Episode #3.3 – Music of Temple Bar

Introduction – Are These “Irish Songs” Really Irish? In this St. Patrick’s Day episode, I ask the question: “Is it actually Irish?” We will explore over thirty “Irish songs” and see if they actually come from Irish sources. Along the way, we’ll discuss the Rising of 1798, the history of Dublin, the Great Famine, and … Read More

Episode #3.1 – Piping in the Haggis

Robert Burns, his legacy, and his contributions to Scottish folk music Introduction – Robert Burns and Burns Night Suppers Welcome to the third season of Folk Files! We are starting off the year with a Scottish Bard-themed episode to celebrate Burns Night on January 25th. Learn about the traditions associated with the Burns Night Supper … Read More