sarahillis's blog

Yes, as you most likely have heard somewhere by now, Mushroom FM is making some changes to its week-day schedule. In terms of the Sara Hillis Show, this means that it's moving to 12:00 PM and 12:00 AM eastern time every Monday through Friday. So, you now have two chances to hear two hours of great Mushroom FM music and so-so Sara Hillis banter from yours truly every week-day! I'll be on right after Bonnie and 80s Lady at 11:00 and before Anthony Unleashed at 2:00.

Well, I've been threatening to do this for a while now, and this week, I've finally decided to do it. It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada, a time when we traditionally celebrate the harvest and the bounty of the past summer. I decided that this year, we'd celebrate it by taking a detailed look at likely one of the most widely-recorded English folk songs ever: John Barleycorn.

Yes, it's October, and we here in my part of Ontario Canada have been enjoying autumnal weather at last. So this week on Come by the Hills, the Celtic Music Show, we'll have songs with an autumnal theme, an October-related song in "Celtic Covers," a newly-minted song in "Me Music," and a whole lot more.

Yes, we're back. Just when you thought it was safe and your sanity had been restored, the craziness that is the Sara Hillis Show is returning in just a few short hours!

I wanted to take the time to thank everyone who sent nice messages during my time away, and to tell you that I'm now back with a vengeance! So, join me at 4:00 PM Eastern every week-day for our usual get-together, and I promise it'll be worth your while!

Yes, despite my time away, Come by the Hills is going ahead as usual. We'll be presenting a rerun of the Loreena McKennitt show that I did last November. This show will be dedicated in loving memory to Shannon Smith, my best and childhood friend who died very suddenly on September 16, 2017, at the age of forty. She loved Loreena's work as well, and moreover, she was one of the people whom I always had in mind when constructing this show.

This is Sara Hillis and I wanted to let you know that I'm taking a week off from Mushroom FM, for sure in terms of The Sara Hillis Show at least. I'll let you know about Come by the Hills as the week progresses. I'll also let you know the reason for the hiatus at a later date, when I can write about it more fittingly and with words worthy of it. Suffice it to say that this week is going to be very difficult and I have been told in no uncertain terms by Jonathan and the team that I can and should take this hiatus.

Yes, Mushroom FM's premier (well only) Celtic music show is back for another week, and this time we're featuring an entire album throughout the show. I actually ordered this album from the UK and it came in something called an envelope. See, there's this system called the mail or the post, and its job is not just to deliver your latest Amazon purchases. I actually ordered this crazy invention called a compact disk. It's amazing! It's small and round and plays music when you insert it into the appropriate music-playing device!

For all you regular listeners, I can't promise that every song tonight will be new to you, but I bet one or two of them will, as I've been working hard over the past while to get some new artists and songs into the tried and true mix of Celtic and folk music for which Come by the Hills has become known the world over--well, maybe not the world, but you know what I mean.

We're back for another week of great Celtic music on Mushroom FM. There's no theme this week, just a fine selection of pieces guaranteed to make you laugh, cry and possibly go to sleep. These were the three skills an ancient bard had to possess to be worthy of the title, and I've brought together many of the best modern bards, bands and balladeers from both sides of the pond for three hours of awesomeness which I hope you will enjoy.

It's hard to believe that it was one year ago this coming Monday, August 21, that Mushroom FM took a chance on me and my passion for Celtic music and let me start producing this weekly dose of fun and frolic that I call Come by the Hills, the Celtic Music Show! I can't thank Jonathan and the other Fun Guys enough for welcoming me and encouraging me along the way. Also, the show wouldn't be the same without you and all the other listeners who tune in every week and give me suggestions for what to play and who keep me honest. Thanks for a great year and here's to many more!