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Witchpolice Radio

Witchpolice Radio

Acclaimed Manitoba-centric music interview podcast. Hosted by Winnipeg journalist and massive record nerd Sam Thompson. Music talk radio, broadcasting from 2012 'til forever. DIY or die.

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  • 21 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 39 min
  • English

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Episodes 21

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  • S1 · E1055
    Friday · 23 min

    Zachary Rushing

    If you've been following the podcast on social media, you've probably seen a whole pile of new interviews slated for upcoming podcast episodes, but because most of them are tied to upcoming events, they won't be coming out in the order they recorded. The first one to jump the queue: my conversation with vocalist Zachary Rushing, about his upcoming concerts alongside the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra (Nov. 7-8 at CCFM, get tickets at the WJO website), celebrating the music of jazz/R&B/pop icon Al Jarre

  • S1 · E1054
    November 1 · 42 min

    Colour By Numbers

    If you think a concept album is ambitious, try a three-EP rock opera a decade in the making!The members of Colour By Numbers are on the show (shockingly, for the first time) talking about the latest instalment in their ‘Thaddeus’ saga, the EP release show Nov. 7 at Sidestage, and much more!Need more Colour By Numbers? I interviewed all three members back in 2018 on an episode of 'Mom's House' (video) I guest-hosted. Guitarist Jared Adams has also been on Witchpolice twice, on episodes #501 (July

  • S1 · E1053
    October 25 · 28 min

    Scott Price

    I know I never shut up about the importance of preserving local music, but I’m not the only one who feels that way! Here's a conversation with CKUW 95.9 FM's Scott Price, all about a pair of archival projects that are bound to get you excited if you’re anything like me.Not only is Stylus Magazine set to unveil its extensive archives, but CKUW is embarking on an ambitious plan to digitize its enormous catalogue of local music! The first part of the project (the Stylus archives) launches Nov. 5 wi

  • S1 · E1052
    October 16 · 42 min

    Claire Thérèse

    Hey look! Claire Thérèse is back on the show! Tune in for a great conversation about Claire Thérèse and the Lockdown's upcoming LP release (Oct. 16! Tonight if you're listening on the day this episode drops) and its origins as a solo record, celebrating all things DIY, being backed up by a group of stone-cold pros, and much more!Need more Claire in your life? Check out her previous appearance on episode #749 (Dec. 2022)

  • S1 · E1051
    October 11 · 24 min

    Neil Watson

    Here's my conversation with saxophonist Neil Watson, who is directing the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra's upcoming tribute to Dave Brubeck!We talk about what makes Brubeck’s music so enduring, delving into his deep catalogue beyond the hits, translating music written for a quartet into a big-band setting, and more!‘Take 5: Dave Brubeck and West Coast Swing’ takes place Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m., at the University of Manitoba’s Desautels Concert Hall. Check out the WJO’s website for ticket details. Full discl

  • S1 · E1050
    October 1 · 45 min

    Cantor Dust

    I sat down with Mark Klassen from experimental art-rock quartet Cantor Dust to talk about the upcoming LP (and there is a vinyl release!), ‘The Anatomy of Malevolence’, which drops Oct. 2.Here's our conversation about the record, the expansion of the group from a solo project to a duo and now a four-piece, concept albums, tackling serious subject matter, and much more! Need more Cantor Dust in your life? Check out episode #462 (Feb. 2020).

  • S1 · E1049
    September 23 · 34 min

    David Alpert

    I sat down with folk singer-songwriter David Alpert for an episode that you're hearing a few days after the release of his debut EP, 'Late September'.Here's our conversation about the new record, developing the confidence to pursue music professionally, writing deeply personal songs that can appeal to a wide audience, the benefits of busking… and much more!

  • S1 · E1048
    September 16 · 40 min

    Savant Flaneur

    Delightfully avant-garde Winnipeg weirdos Savant Flaneur have a new record ('Hocketus') coming out on New York-based free jazz label 577 Records, so we caught up on the latest in their experimental universe.  Tune in for a conversation about the ‘antagonistic’, performance-based ‘Hocketus’ album, finding inroads to the avant-grade for casual listeners, a punk rock aesthetic despite being a violin/cello/electronics duo, and much more! Need more Flaneurification in your life? Check out episode #85

  • S1 · E1047
    September 9 · 39 min

    Sean Burns

    Country music purist Sean Burns is set to release his excellent new record, ‘Better Off In Time & Other Songs For The Dance Floor’, on Sept. 18, so he popped back onto the podcast to talk about it! Tune in for our chat about deep-diving into hyper-specific country subgenres, the trajectory of the Sean Burns sound, what he’s learned from his day job playing bass with Corb Lund, and much more. Need more Sean in your life? Hear his previous appearances on the podcast: episode #460 (Feb. 2020), #572

  • S1 · E1046
    September 2 · 51 min

    OP-ED

    They were a last-minute addition to Sunday's Propagandhi bill at the Burton Cummings Theatre (see all of you there!), and now they’re a last-minute addition to my podcast schedule: it’s OP-ED! I sat down with Tarek (vocals) and Jay (guitar) to talk about the big gig, and how it mirrors their first-ever performance, the way Tarek’s lived experience as a Palestinian refugee informs the band’s music and message (and how that message will expand with future songs), the upcoming vinyl release of thei

  • S1 · E1045
    August 23 · 43 min

    The Remedies

    Eight-piece party funk outfit The Remedies are recognizing 10 years since the band’s first release with a new album celebrating that history. Here's my chat with the group's frontman about the importance of staying friends with your bandmates, Manitoba festivals, blending synth-pop, Latin vibes, and horn-driven funk… and much more!I flubbed the timing on this one, so even though we're talking about the album ('Ten Years' Time') as coming out imminently, it was actually released a couple days ago

  • S1 · E1044
    August 18 · 40 min

    Until Defeat

    I recently saw Until Defeat at a show at the Handsome Daughter and really enjoyed their set, so we set up this interview, which is now available to insert directly into yer earholes!Tune in for our conversation about defining (sort of, let’s just go with ‘LOUD’) the band’s sound, finding inroads into the local music scene, the physicality of live performances vs recording, and much more!

  • S1 · E1043
    August 11 · 24 min

    Whealo

    This episode features a fun conversation with local Afrofusion artist Whealo! We talk about his new three-song ‘Unlearn’ EP, Winnipeg’s cultural and musical diversity, prioritizing lyrics, and more!

  • S1 · E1042
    August 3 · 40 min

    Paul Hodgert

    …so by complete fluke, I’ve had two episodes with singer/songwriter/engineer/man-about-town Paul Hodgert that were released on the exact same day in different years. We decided to (deliberately) go for the trifecta this time and completely mess up my release schedule to make it happen. There's a legit reason Paul's back on the show, though: we talk about his work restoring the lost-for-30-years record by DUD (feat. members of the Bonaduces, I-Spy and the Weakerthans), its upcoming release on vin

  • S1 · E1041
    July 19 · 43 min

    Mr. Loopy Pants

    The Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival is well underway, and well-known local purveyor of musical comedy J. Williamez is hitting stages with his Mr. Loopy Pants project! Tune in for a fun conversation about the one-man (plus a possibly alive loop pedal) multimedia show, why he’s so proud of this project, toxic positivity vs. heckling, music videos, and much more! Need more loopiness? Check out the J. Williamez interview on episode #622 back in 2021.Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast

  • S1 · E1040
    July 13 · 1 hr 2 min

    From the Vault: Union Stockyards (2014)

    We interrupt your regularly-scheduled programming with an episode from the vault, featuring the first appearance of (now sadly defunct) Winnipeg punks Union Stockyards on the show, way back on episode #079!  For those unfamiliar with the archival episodes -- when I moved all of my episodes from one hosting provider to another, years ago, I accidentally missed the inclusion of a couple dozen episodes from 2013-14. They're not currently on the feed if you're scrolling through the episodes on Apple

  • S1 · E1039
    July 1 · 31 min

    Bankside Music Festival

    Letellier, Manitoba’s Bankside Music Festival is a long-running summer event aimed at giving rock/punk/metal bands from the province (and beyond!) an opportunity to play on a festival stage.I sat down with Bankside mastermind Richard Houle to talk about the event’s DIY roots and this year’s stacked lineup (July 17-18), which includes a whole bunch of past Witchpolice interviewees, including the Bloodshots, One of Us, and Econoline Crush. Other local acts include apple peeler aficionados Toaster

  • S1 · E1038
    June 20 · 42 min

    Ozconscious

    After years of changes, local alt-rock/dream-pop outfit Ozconscious is set to release a new full-length, ‘Nostalgia for the Moment’, at the Pyramid Cabaret on June 20 (that's tomorrow if you're listening the day this episode drops!) I sat down with frontman Tate Hiebert to talk about the record, different songwriting vunes, learning from busking and playing cover tunes (via Tater and the Tots), and much more! Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon. You can help out for as li

  • S1 · E1037
    June 12 · 45 min

    Masak

    Technical difficulties meant this one comes out a few days later than anticipated, but thanks for your patience.  Here's a fun conversation with singer-songwriter Masak about her 15-years-in-the-making, genre-diverse album ('Masak's Unassorted Flavors'), getting inspiration from her late friend and collaborator Kelly Fraser, coming back to Winnipeg after a few years in (very) rural Manitoba, and much more! Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon. You can help out for as littl

  • S1 · E1036
    June 3 · 38 min

    Screaming at Traffic

    Long-running emo punks Screaming at Traffic recently dropped a new EP with the excellent title ‘Songs to Steal Copper Wire To’. I sat down with (co-) frontman Jacques Richer to talk about the record, the band not taking itself too seriously, regrouping after some time off, and a whole lot more! Need more SAT? Check out episodes #243 (Aug. 2017) and #416 (Sept. 2019), plus you can hear Jacques' previous appearances on the show as a member of Greek Riots on episodes #099 (Nov. 2014) and #132 (June

Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes