Blogs

Memphis Slim dubbed himself the “Ambassador Of The Blues” and for good reason. He spread the gospel of America’s music around the world during his almost 50 year career. This week, Matt The Cat and the “Juke In The Back” take a look at Slim’s prodigious contribution to the genre. He began recording as Pete Chatman (his real name is John Chatman) in 1940 and by the end of the year was already known as Memphis Slim, a name given to him by a producer at Bluebird Records.

Oh my! Saturday night isn’t too far away!
This means, from 11pm Eastern on Saturday, that’s now 5Pm Sunday in New Zealand, and 4am in the UK I’m back for another four fun filled hours live in the Shed.
The live and loud segment is back and so is the triple threat.
We heard only just over a day ago that Leonard Cohen sadly passed away at the age of 82, so he will be featuring in both of those segments, but I’ll be happy to play any Leonard Cohen requests if you have them.

As November 11 is Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans' Day in the United States, and as the Sunday nearest that date is celebrated as Remembrance Sunday in the UK, I thought it fitting to see what Celtic music has to say on the subject of war and its effects. Not all the songs on Sunday's show will be war-themed, but they will be peppered liberally throughout the show, along with the return of our usual features of course.

Leonard Cohen, the influencial poet, song-writer and novelist is dead at the age of 82. Scant weeks after his fourteenth studio album "You Want it Darker" was released, we are stunned to hear that his beautiful and bold voice will be heard no more.

Today on The Sara Hillis Show, I'll play a set of leonard's songs and reflect upon the effect that his music and words have had on me over the years. Someone said today that he had a line for every moment in your life. I think that's true.

It’s almost that time of the week again, where for four hours, we open up the Shed doors and make as much noise as we can and enjoy every minute of it.
That’s from 11pm Eastern tonight, that’s 4pm Sunday in NZ and 4AM in the UK.
And to the Listeners from Ireland, party time!
It’s not that often I enjoy watching the all Blacks lose, but today is certainly an exception.
Chicago Cubs, you had 108 years to wait, and now that’s over, but Ireland, Ireland had to wait 111!
Records are indeed, made to be broken.

It's the travelling Mosens back again for another extremely action-packed travelling edition of the travelling Mosen Explosion.
Remember, the clocks go back in North America tonight, so if you're in New Zealand or Australia and some other parts of the world, we start an hour later. If you're in Europe, we once again are on at the usual time of 7 PM UK. Boy how confusing.
This week, the Mosen Explosion comes to you from Fredericksburg Virginia, where we are seeing cool people, and Bonnie's cool horse. How cool is this!

In late 1953, RCA Victor launched a new subsidiary to focus on the Rhythm & Blues market, called Groove Records.  They intended for Groove to compete with the independent labels like Chess, Atlantic and Vee-Jay that were dominating the genre.  RCA treated Groove as an indie by setting up its own record distribution network, like an indie, ignoring the mighty distribution arm of RCA Victor.  That might have been the label’s downfall.

As regular listeners will know by now, Come By The Hills is nothing if not eclectic in terms of how it defines Celtic music. I try every week to give you a range of styles, content and artists. However, this week, in honour of the fact that my husband and I will be attending a Loreena McKennitt concert this coming Tuesday, I've decided that this Sunday's show will be devoted to a look at the career and of course the music of that artist. Not only is she an excellent musician and businesswoman, but she has been an amazing ambasador for Canada throughout the world.

Shell out! Shell out! There are witches in the air! It is the eve of All Hallows Eve, and on this night before the big night of costumes and candy, Come By The Hills will be exploring some of the deep Celtic roots of this frightening and fun festival. I'll be taking you into the world of elves and fairies, ghosts and witches, myth, magic and mystery, where the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest and strangeness abounds.

From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the shed!
Oh yes, from 11pm tonight, that’s 3am in the UK, and 4pm here in New Zealand, the Halloween party begins.
The shed has completely transferred itself, with plenty of decorations, and food.
Four hours of music ahead, with a Halloween flavour, and plenty of talk in between.
Want to learn about some of New Zealand’s most haunted places? Tune in, and you will.
To interact with the show simply e-mail: anthony at mushroomfm dot com