Free download of our song “January” in honour of the winters that Canada used to have.

We’re writing this blog during the middle two weeks of January. So where’s the snow? In a northern country like Canada, this would normally be a time of deep white landscapes throughout most of the land. Our elders speak of childhood memories, recalling winter activities of sledding, ice skating, trudging through deep banks to school. Even we recall the deep snow of our youth, playing hockey on out-door rinks, freezing our toes off in poorly fitting skates. That is the genesis of our song January, coming out of our own Canadian experience when those middle two weeks really were the coldest ones. Now we’re dealing with climate change, global warming, those annoying Nino effects, the whole inconvenient truth right in our face. We just wanna play in the snow. In the meantime, listen/free download here:  January

David Rea folk guitarist remembered with fondness

Willy Blizzard front man John Hough worked with David Rea in the nineties, when David played guitar on John’s original song The Dark Side.  His versatility and sensitivity were much in demand by the folk artists.  David was also scheduled to work on another original song, but was unable to complete the project.  Why?  It was back in the day of cassette players, and David was also in the midst of raising his three children.  One day, David phoned up to B.C. to tell John the bad news:  “Sorry John, my daughter just dumped the cassette in the fish tank!”  Still laughing.

Rest in peace, David.

TORONTO — David Rea, a versatile folk guitarist who played with such Canadian legends as Gordon Lightfoot, Ian & Sylvia and Joni Mitchell, has died. He was 65.

The news was announced on Rea’s personal website, noting that he died on Oct. 27, one day after his birthday.

Born in Ohio, Rea moved to Toronto at the age of 17 to participate in the city’s burgeoning folk scene.

He played on Lightfoot’s 1966 debut album “Lightfoot!” and performed alongside the iconic Canadian songwriter in his early years, before eventually playing with the diverse likes of Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Roosevelt Sykes, Richie Havens, Mississippi John Hurt, Tom Rush and Reverend Gary Davis.

Rea also contributed his distinctive guitar style to several Ian & Sylvia records including “Nashville,” “Lovin’ Sound,” “Full Circle” and “So Much For Dreaming.” The folk duo would go on to record several songs written by Rea, including “Pilgrimage to Paradise,” “The Minstrel” and “Ninety Degrees by Ninety Degrees.”

Rea would continue writing and recording his own material, even co-penning Mountain’s enduring 1970 hit “Mississippi Queen,” which has since been covered by Ozzy Osbourne and featured in a bevy of films.

He continued releasing solo material over the ensuing decades — though he took time off in the ’80s to raise his three children — with his most recent album, “X7,” being issued in 2000.

The cover of that record, a sketch of Rea, was actually created by Mitchell herself, who’s also said to have written “Play Little David” about her longtime friend.

Peter Ladner: The Urban Food Revolution our latest book purchase

Have you lost confidence in the industrial food system?  We have.

The picture on our gallery is Willy Blizzard front man John Hough, wearing his bike jacket.  He is buying one of the first copies of Peter Ladner’s new book.  It is called The Urban Food Revolution : Changing the Way We Feed Cities.  (New Society Publishers)

We are happy to promote the cause of growing food in cities.  As the world confronts the issue of global food security, we urge the public to become informed on issues of urban land economics, regional planning, transportation, and the politics of food distribution.

While we’re at it, we’re also proud to support B.C. regional publishing houses, urban biking, and literacy education.  Not to mention micro-breweries.  Lots of blogging to come.

But this blog is for Peter.  Congratulations, Mr. Ladner!