On New Year’s Day, the Strombo Show presented a four-hour special honouring the Tragically Hip’s 30th anniversary, featuring covers and chats with the Hip’s friends, fans and colleagues.
“This past year has been an incredibly emotional one for Canada’s band and their fans. It marked their 30th anniversary and their monumental tour — a tour that captured the minds of our nation,” says George Stroumboulopoulos. “On January 1st, we say goodbye to 2016 and welcome in the new year with an unprecedented gathering. The Strombo Show has invited Canada’s best bands into my living room to celebrate and cover their favourite Hip songs and share their memories of the band, the music and of course, Gord Downie. Four hours of incredible music, memories and moments. There has never been a show like this — Canada’s best covering Canada’a band. This is our love letter to the band. Join us, and share it.`
Performances include Arkells, Blue Rodeo, Rheostatics, Sarah Harmer and Stars. Stories and memories are shared with A Tribe Called Red, Adam Van Koeverden, Andy Kim, Atom Egoyan, Daniel Lanois, George Elliott Clarke, Joseph Boyden, Kate Fenner, Lieve Prins (artist behind Fully Completely album art), RUSH, Sam Roberts, Steve Jordan, Tanis Rideout, Teddy Fury and the Hip’s longtime technical director, Dave ‘Billy Ray’ Koster.
The Strombo Show presents an International Women’s Day Special. We feature performances that include Amelia Curran, Heartstreets covering
Conversations, song requests and appearances with Bjork, Bonnie Raitt, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Charlotte Day Wilson, Clara Hughes, Hannah Georgas, Iskwe, Jenn Grant, k.d. lang, Laura Jane Grace, Leah Fay of July Talk, Lights, Lindi Ortega, Lisa Leblanc, Little Scream, Margaret Atwood, Margo Price, Michie Mee, Sangita Patel, Young Galaxy’s Catherine McCandless and more.
Lee “Scratch” Perry visits the House of Strombo for a very rare, exclusive conversation that deeply reflects on his life, songs and legacy from Bob Marley to Kanye West to Beastie Boys and beyond. Krief is Patrick Krief of The Dears and he strums a few originals, delivers his rendition of The Beatles‘ Across The Universe in the House. Serpentwithfeet sits down at the piano for an explorative conversation about identity, attending church with Björk and performs an enchanting cover of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. We welcome special appearances from Allie and Death From Above‘s Jesse Keeler. George also reveals exclusive song premieres from David Myles, Donovan Woods, Lola Marsh, Man Meets Bear, Mise En Scene, Needles//Pins, Peter Kwenders, SassyBlack and Silver Pools.
Mac DeMarco stripped down for his House of Strombo party and testifies to Neil Young with an exclusive cover. Matty Matheson sauces out the soundtrack to his life ahead of Dead Set On Life’s season finale – discussing addiction, sobriety and hardcore with George. Bishop Briganté reveals the story behind his first album, featuring Nate Dogg + Drake, after nearly one decade at the helm of King of the Dot. George also reveals exclusive song premieres from American Lips, Goodbye Honolulu and Mo Kenney.
Against Me! arrive to the House of Strombo to perform all your favourite songs and an exclusive cover of The Mountain Goats. Laura Jane Grace sits down with George for an in-depth conversation on transition, Donald Trump, the Women’s March and watching Green Day with Kenny G. We celebrate the life and music of Jeff Buckley, on the twentieth anniversary of his passing, with song requests from The Darcys, Hannah Georgas and Raine Maida. George also reveals exclusive song premieres from The Kills, Megative, Muneshine and Taylor Knox.
Chris Cornell‘s life and music is loudly celebrated through his songs and an unarchived 2009 conversation with George. Alex James of Blur returns to the program to talk about the launch of his Big Feastival Canada and honour the twentieth anniversary of Song #2. Laura Marling discusses feminity in creativity and performs an exclusive Dolly Parton cover. Slowdive’s Neil Halstead opens up about their reunion after 22-years and the rise of shoegaze. George also reveals exclusive song premieres from Couleur Dessin, Vivek Shraya and Sportsfan.
Diana Krall visits to the program to celebrate her return to jazz on Turn Up The Quiet, balancing motherhood on the road, her collaboration with the late Tommy Lipuma and more. Martha And The Muffins reflect on life after and the legacy of Echo Beach and their experience with Parkinson’s. Al Nolan of the Almighty Trigger Happy discusses the evolution within the Toronto punk scene and his own process of performing the theatrical production of Hardcore Logo: Live. Bob Mackowycz Jr. returns to the show to turn up the radio songs. George also reveals exclusive song premieres from Adaline, Ivory Hours, Prairie Cat and Simone Denny.
Montreal duo Les Deuxluxes infiltrated the House of Strombo with their bombastic blues stylings, including an exclusive ABBA cover. Canada’s parliamentary poet laureate George Elliott Clarke returned to the program to spin his favourite poetic musicians on wax. Bob Mackowycz Jr. returned for another edition of The Sad Off. George also reveals exclusive song premieres from Only Yours, Pokey LaFarge, She-Devils and The Velveteins.
Dinosaur Jr. scrape paint off the walls of the House of Strombo with a raucous concert featuring Fucked Up‘s Damien Abraham. Jenn Grant returns to the program to perform songs off Paradise and jams an ethereal Prince cover. Ron Sexsmith celebrates The Last Rider, his first album with his touring band, in an acoustic session that includes a reworking of a song by The Clash. Bob Mackowycz Jr. resurrects the cult favourite segment, Mack N’ Cheese. George also reveals exclusive song premieres from across the nation – Cat Clyde to Fake Shark with Hannah Georgas, The Junction to Not You and Spencer Burton.