Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I would like to send a sweet thank you to our dedicated listeners for another great year! We look forward to sharing the coming year of artistic discoveries with you.

We will kick off our first show in 2010 on Friday, January 8th, at 7:00 a.m.

Until then, warmest wishes that you all have a relaxing, safe and peaceful holiday.

Enjoy the best of the season from the Friday Special Blend!

P.S. Check out our playlists if you still need ideas for that special gift!

Playlist FSB 18.12.2009

BBC News

Joanna Chapman Smith  - Things are going to wrong

Sarah Hallman  - Snowballin

Interview :  Authors Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie: Slow Death by Rubber Duck ( Rebroadcasted in response to the recent media attention to harmful chemicals in sex toys)

Roxanne Potvin  - No Love for the Poisonous

Urban Aesthetics  - See the Sunshine through the Haze

Phillip Brown - Winter Hymn

Interview:  Anne Michaels:  The Winter Vault, voted one of the best books of the year

Hour 2


BBC News

Barb Gray's Arts Report

Klezfactor  - Klezmachine

Interview: Steve Martin, Director,  The Gladstone Theatre

Kim Barlow - Gingerbread

The Wailin Jennys - Firecracker

Feist  - So Sorry

Hammerheads - Steppin' Out

Playlist 11.12.2009

Members of the improvisation comedy troupe, Insensitivity Training. Used with permission.

Insensitivity Training will be performing this Sunday, December 13, @ 8pm @ Yuk Yuk's on Elgin as part of a fundraiser for Operation Come Home. Tickets are 10$ and all proceeds benefit OCH.

 Jim Davies of Insensitivity Training kicked off this week's Special Blend show with a few mind-bending improv games.

In the mix you heard:
Mark Berube - Looking for Another

The Peptides - Stereo Stereo

Elizabeth Shepherd - Shining tear of the sun, Parkdale

Gerry Kendall Band - Real Good Night

Prozzak - Just Friends

Geoff Berner - Luck in Exile, The Whiskey

Joanna Chapman-Smith - In the quiet

In our second hour, we featured:

Paper Moon - What are you going to do with me

Interview with photographer Tom Evans to talk about his latest work

Joanna Chapman-Smith - For Good - Carnival Song

The Mike Essoudry Octet - The River

The Peptides - Wave Goodbye

Playlist 4.12.2009

John Allaire - Angels (John will be performing tomorrow night at the NAC Fourth Stage as part of their Christmas Goose fundraiser and concert)

Interview with Steve Martin, Director, The Gladstone Presents The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townwomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of a Christmas Carol - Dec 3-19, 2009.

Darylectones - Mr. Ogilvie's Store

John Allaire - Bourbon

Gabrielle Destroismaisons - All I want for Christmas is you

Perfect Lie - Big Mack Daddy (featured tonight at the Vernissage of Komorov's Works @ La Petite Mort Gallery - 7-10 p.m.)

Interview with Komorov - Fleshlight @ La Petite Mort Gallery Dec 4-27

Blackie & the Rodeo Kings - Swingin' from the chains of love

Ron Sexsmith - Brighter Still

Interview with Jesse Stewart and students, Mike Dandino and Matt Charron. Carleton University's Contemporary Music Ensemble presents Wunderkammer, a free interactive concert, tomorrow night on the 9th Floor of the Loeb Building, starting at 7:30.

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings - Vale of Tears, Lean on your peers

Lindsay Ferguson - 8th Wonder, Breakthrough