Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Anne Lindsay: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1701

Episode Date: May 28, 2025

In this 1701st episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with award-winning Toronto fiddler/violinist/vocalist Anne Lindsay about playing with Led Zeppelin, Blue Rodeo and James Taylor and her exquisite solo material. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball, Yes We Are Open, Nick Ainis and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at [e-mail]

Hey Mike! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADONTORona WAN TORN TORON A. Welcome to episode 1701 of Toronto Mic'd, proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, a fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times and brewing amazing beer. Order online for free local home delivery in the GTA. Palma Pasta, enjoy the taste of fresh, homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma Pasta in Mississauga and Oakville Yes, we are open an award-winning podcast from Monaris hosted by FOTML Greggo

Toronto Maple Leafs baseball I am yours truly Is throwing out the first pitch on Sunday? So get your butt to Christie Pitts that means you. And see if I can throw a strike there. It's a 2 p.m. start. Awesome. You know, free to go to a game at Christie Pitts. Everybody should be there. Best baseball in the city outside the dome.

Recyclemyelectronics.ca. Committing to our planet's future means properly recycling our electronics of the past. Building Toronto Skyline, a podcast and book from Nick Gainey's, sponsored by Fusion Corp Construction Management, Inc. And I'm running out of song because I spent too much time all excited about throwing out that first pitch, but much love to Ridley Funeral Home, Pillars of the Community since 1921. And joining me today making her Toronto mic'd debut is Anne Lindsay. Hi there. Nice to meet you. today making her Toronto Mike debut is Anne Lindsay. Hi there.

Nice to meet you. Very nice to be here, Mike. Thanks for having me. Could you make the Toronto Maple Leafs game on Sunday at two o'clock? Would you be able to make your way to Christie Pitts? It's right in my neighborhood. I would love to be there.

And my gig doesn't start till five o'clock that day. You know what? All the stars are aligning and it's meant to be I'm throw. I was supposed to throw it the first pitch two Sundays ago, but the on air, like the public address person misunderstood the directions from the owner and thought snow was going to kick a throw at that first pitch and snow was happy to do it. And I felt like Snow should do it. Snow is world famous, okay? A number one hit for seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and who am I? So I was happy

to let Snow throw the first pitch but they're gonna make it up to me on Sunday and I'm throwing it out Sunday. Okay so the big question is have you been practicing? You know what? No. Oh I know I feel like I should just do it cold like do a full windup, channel my inner Dave Steve and see what I can do. Maybe throw like a slider and see if I can get a cold strike. Yeah. You never know. Did you play any baseball?

A very little baseball, but you know, I was the first woman to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team. Please give me more specifics because I know you were affiliated with the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team. Please remind me how. I was the first woman to ever play fiddle for the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game. I thought you were playing left wing, no? No, you know what? And I thought that I was going to be our secret weapon. And I thought.

When was this, Anne? Early 2000s, a couple of seasons. Is this the Pat Quinn era? Like is Pat Quinn the coach? Yes, or even prior, right? Early 2000s. So I just know that I auditioned for Ken Dryden. I went and auditioned down at the ACC for Ken Dryden.

So he's there while you play your fiddle? Yes. And I passed the audition. Okay. So he's an Etobicoke guy, Ken Dryden. He wrote a book about his high school and it's like just north of here. That's a big deal. Like, I mean, this guy, how many cups did he win with the Montreal Canadiens? This is a big deal. Ken Dryden, he's got the 1972 Summit Series wins under his belt. Absolutely. He has done a pile of things. He's a great Canadian and a great guy. So I'm always grateful that he passed me on the audition and it became one of the most popular

gigs that I as a mother have ever played. My three sons were so delighted and so excited to come. So please tell us what this entails to be like the first woman fiddler in Toronto Maple Leaf's history. Tell us what that entails. Well you know how when you're watching a game they will go to the organ or to fill in music. Jimmy Holmstrom. Yes and if there's a penalty commercial break whatever they'll go to the organ or they'll pump some music in instead they would alternate between the organ and myself so I'd get a countdown okay we're going to a break in 30 seconds get

ready and then I just have to fire up a fiddle tune and they put me up on the jumbotron and what kind of tunes are like appropriate for the I guess at the time it was the Air Canada Center right well usually lively fiddle DD tunes I played do they want triumph what are they looking for no no they wanted I think Canadian a fiddly tunes so I played some traditional tunes I played some of my tunes that are up as well I actually have a tune called he He shoots, he scores, that I wrote back in that era. And I actually thought it might make a good new theme song

for the games for, you know, Hockey Night in Canada. And my son and I did a remix of it and submitted it, but we did not win the contract. Right, because the hockey song was scooped up by Bell Media. That's right. And Hockey Night in Canada lost the, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, and they needed a new theme and you entered that contest.

I did enter the contest. Look at this. Anyway, it was a nice little chapter in my career. So how long did you do that at Maple Leaf Home Games? Just for a couple of seasons. So Jimmy Holmstrom, full disclosure, is an FOTM, that means friend of Toronto Mike, he's been down here. You're now an FOTM. And guessing at that time, Andy Frost is the PA announcer at Air Canada Centre. He's also an FOTM. So there's a lot of FOTMs. And you know, like I said, you're now a friend of Toronto Mike Dan. So

welcome to this esteemed club that you're now in. Yes. Was Jimmy Holmstrom at all jealous he has to share because you know, he's used to having the spotlight during these breaks and he's playing his organ. But now there's a fiddler who gets like half of the time. He never expressed any such sentiment. And if I was him, honestly, I think I'd be kind of cool with sharing a little bit of it.

Of course, a great fiddler like you. So had there been fiddlers previous that were were men, you were the first fiddler period. But I just like to say that I was the first woman to play for the first human first woman to play. Okay, amazing. Okay, so those leaves, they're on a on a break as usual and maybe with this new era back in and they should bring back a fiddler. Would you do it again? Absolutely. You know, Shanahan's gone. So I feel like there will be changes. Like he kind of was the the head

honcho and now that he's gone, I think Keith Peli is like truly the head honcho. And if Keith Peli is listening, then he should be and he's thinking, Hey, new, new era. We're going to get things right this time. Let's bring back the Fiddler and Lindsay. All right, let's do it. I am happy to lend my bow to the cause. Okay. So you can bow. Good. I have, well, I have a comment from Joe Louie. I'm now debating in my head.

Do I read the maybe before I read this nice comment that came in from Joe Louie, when he heard that you were making your Toronto mic debut, the VP dropped a line in our not so secret FOTM chat, I'm going to read it. He goes, someone once said, and you've probably heard this 100 times, but someone once said, if you're selling it, it's a violin if you're buying it It's a fiddle Definitively and for the record and Lindsay now that you're held captive here in my basement before I give you any gifts any swag What exactly what exactly is the difference between a violin and a fiddle? Oh? There are so many answers.

You could say $500 an hour. You could say a tuxedo. You could say one burns for longer. But really there is no physical difference whatsoever. It's just a style of playing on the instrument. So the instrument itself is the exact same. Yes. And it's how you play it that determines whether you're fiddle-in or a violinist? Yes, exactly. Do you have a

preference? No, I absolutely do not and I do both. I play all sorts of different styles of music. I love all different kinds of music and have always done that. Also, I would say that fiddle is an affectionate term as well. I have heard people in the symphony call their very fine, old Italian instruments, their fiddles, just affectionately. Oh yeah, like a term of endearment maybe. Exactly. Okay, so there is an instrument in the room.

What if I said to you, hey, what is that? What would you say? I would say this is my, I have several violins or several fiddles. This is my workhorse. And would you like to see her? Bring her out. Does she have a name? And again, you have a long headphone cable, so you should be okay there. And although you're off mic, I can do play by play.

And it's a red case. It's a red case. It says fragile Yes fragile or is that for Julie is that Italian for Julie? No, that is fragile. I put on the back. Okay is Fragile is that French? That's Portuguese Portuguese. Okay. I'm learning Portuguese. I was just in Portugal hiking the Camino and They were kind enough to move my violin. I didn't carry it on my back all the way but I did have it moved from hotel to hotel. So this okay lovely fiddle is a Canadian fiddle. Good you get bonus points that Was made a hundred years ago here in Toronto by a CN railroad engineer

called J. E. Dyer D E Y er I Love so I'm glad Jeremy Hoppins on the live stream live.com because we're getting some Toronto history here yet No, I know there's not a must-based watching the chaos. So again, I can move things and I know it's not that it's okay. We're doing very well here. It's not quite Massey Hall. Here she is. I've had this violin since I was 16 years old. My dad bought it for me and I was told that I needed a better instrument than the one that I had and so I've had it since then and she's just a lovely... So since you were a teenager you said what age? Yes.

Okay. You say 16? Yeah. So I started, if you want a little background on... Yeah, give it to me. Okay. Started in the public school system in Toronto in the itinerant music program when I was eight years old, which is a fantastic program where teachers from outside

come in and then kids can choose a band or a string instrument and take it. And it's a program that's actually currently in danger in the Toronto District School Board. I'm not even surprised to hear this. They're threatening to cut it. So if you have a chance to speak to your trustee or to somebody at the school board or whatever, please do it and fight to keep that program. So many great Canadian musicians got their start in that program. Jim Cuddy, Jane Bennett, just to name a few.

We'll get back to Cuddy later, everybody. But so I started in grade three, I guess, when I was eight years old. I had a great teacher, Mr. Wazilenko, who just made it so much fun. I was already playing piano and singing in a choir and stuff. But when I was 13, in grade eight, I was given a violin by the school board. They chose two students in grade eight every year to give a violin to, and that was the first time that I... And I was actually at school Jim Jim Cuddy was in my class actually really there's a mind blow off the top yeah I know so what school is this Deer Park young and said out these shut out these schools okay yeah so young and

St. Clair there was an assembly and I was called up to the front and they just handed me this violin. I'd been having fun with music. I knew I was pretty good, but I had no idea that I was special and that, you know, but it was that sort of that was the first indicator to me that there was something going on there. You were gifted. I don't know about that. In the musical sense, at least,, of course you must have been. And we know it because here you are decades later and we're going to play some of your

new music and people will listen and say, she's gifted. Yeah. So firstly, I, that's amazing. They gave out like violins cause now I think they want their recorders back. It's like, here's a recorder, make sure we get it back. Right. Right. Well, there were only two that were given to grade eight students. And, um, so at that point my parents decided, I guess also that it might be good for me to have some private lessons because

clearly somebody thought I would wait before you continue. I do want the full story. Absolutely. But so you knew Jim Cuddy at this time. So you're like, or you could say Jim Cuddy knew me. Absolutely. But so you knew Jim Cuddy at this time. So you're like, or you could say Jim Cuddy knew me. Right. Yes. Good point. But at this point, you guys are just classmates. There's yet to be a kernel of evidence that Jim Cuddy has a great voice or interested in singing. Oh, well, no, we played in the orchestra together. We actually had our first gig

at Massey Hall when we were 12 or 13 years old. Okay, more mind blows, okay. I was the concert mistress of the orchestra and the first violinist, and he was originally the timpani player, but he got demoted for bad behavior, so he got stuck playing bass drum. That's funny. Yeah, not nearly

as much to do on the bass drum. Okay, pick up your story now. We just want a little chip cutting also an FOTM by the way. Okay, great. Do you play hockey as well? I actually had to stop playing hockey because I got diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder. And my doctor told me stop playing hockey. Oh, I know because I'll never you know, I'll never again. No, it sounds worse than it is. I just take like a pill twice a day. I know, but I don't I'm just saying oh, what the having to give up the hockey. Well, I had to give up.

I gave I think I gave up almost all contact sport. I did. I gave up all contact sports. So the only contact sport remaining is when I'm biking and my body hits the ground. That's my last contact sport. Well, that's a pretty... I try to like make that happen as infrequently as possible. Yes, I think that's a good idea.

In fact, driving out here, I was like, oh, this is one of my favorite bike rides coming out along the lake shore. You're on the waterfront trail. Yes. Love it. Do you bike? I do. Yes. I don't mountain bike, but I road bike and gravel bike and no, I mean, who mounted bikes. Okay. I so you're right. You're on the Martin Goodman trail. You'll,

you'll, you'll do a nice ride on the Martin Goodman trail. Sure. And head out to port credit. Yeah. Okay. Maybe I'll see on the trails. I'll be looking out for Anne Lindsey on the trails for sure. But pick up your story there. So we're walking through here. Because I'm curious, the fact that you have this interest at such a young age, is there music in the house? Is there a parent who's a musician? I'm just wondering if there's some something in your bloodlines there? Not in my immediate family. I was kind of the black sheep. Everybody was either in healthcare, you know, surgeon, nurse, researcher, veterinarian, scientists. I was the only one in the arts that went into the arts. But my,

I think both of my grandmothers, both maternal and paternal played piano. One of them was a school teacher, probably used music in the classroom. So I guess that could be where it came from. There wasn't a lot of music in the house other than just we all had the opportunity to play instruments and we had some amazing teachers. So it is amazing that you had this opportunity that where you're gifted this violin and then next thing you know what you're in lessons and you're still playing it today like what a gift. It really is. It's pretty cool.

What's the name of this program that's in jeopardy because I have to give an assignment to the listenership but what's the name of this program? Okay well I call it the itinerant music program but I'm not sure if that's what it's still called. It used to be called that the itinerant music program and I think that covered both the band and string programs, the ORF program, so the recorder program you were talking about. Right. There's also a ukulele program in a lot of schools, Melanie Doan was doing that for a

while. That's cool, that's a big name. Melanie Doan has a fantastic ukulele school going now, outside of public schools as well as inside. No, I think Mary Jo Eustis is still very good friends of Melanie Doan and was telling me about this recently. Yep. So I'm going to give an assignment to J-Ho on the live stream.

J-Ho find out if that's still the name of this program and then I'll make my, I'll bark my orders shortly. So J-Ho this is an assignment, put it in the chat. What is the name of this program that we're referencing? And it's the TDSP. Is that? Yes. Okay.

That the TDSP has and I'll be checking back in the live stream and I'm going to read you the question since we brought up Jim Cuddy and how far back you go with Jim, which is a mind blow. I'm going to ask. I'm going to make the comment that was sent to me by Joe Louis. So Joe Louis, when I said Ann Lindsay was dropping by, Joe Louis wrote, pretty sure that's the same fiddler who played with Cuddy at his show in Richmond Hill. Total missed opportunity to smash a fiddle at the end of her solo. Have you ever

had, I mean, you love your fiddles, you would never do this, but maybe you get a cheap, I don't know. I don't know what you would do in this situation because you don't want to mess a nice fiddle, but you ever had the urge to smash it after one of your kick-ass solos? Um, no, not at that point. Um, have I ever had the urge to smash a fiddle? Punk style? Like, you know how like, I don't know, Nirvana would do it or Sex Pistols or something? Yeah, um, no, I don't think so. I mean, one thing people comment on a lot is that I go through a lot of bow hair. So when, you know, literally I'm shredding when I'm shredding.

Oh, I've seen the video, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So the bow hair goes, but that's not a malicious act. You know, it's not a purposeful act. It just happens. So honestly, my answer would be no. I've never really had the, felt urge to like, smash the fiddle, unless at a much younger but but blue rodeo proper like you're you're there playing with blue rodeo. And I can see the shredding as you call it like, and it's might not be intentional,

but it looks damn cool. Like it's a cool effect. Like you're up there, chicken ass and it's shredding. It's it's not intentional. And it varies depending on the climate conditions. So sometimes if it's very dry, the bow will go a bit more, it will tend to break a bit more. Sometimes if it's very humid, also it will break a bit more. So I never quite know, But the wonderful bowmaker, David Tamblyn, here in Toronto, who repairs my bows and does maintenance on them, he always asks me where I'm going

to be playing when he puts new hair on it. And so I can tell him, and you know, if I'm going up to the Arctic or something, he would string it differently than if I was going to Boston in the pouring rain. Wow. Okay. You keep calling it hair. Pardon my ignorance, but is this actually hair?

It is tail hair from a horse. Yes. And it's not synthetic. Some bows are strung with synthetic hair, but mine are strung with real hair from a horse's tail. Okay. I'm learning a lot today, Anne, But I want to give the listenership an idea of what it sounds like when you're shredding with Blue

Rodeo. So I'll start playing this and then we can break it down and maybe you could talk a little bit more about when you play with Jim Cuddy and with Blue Rodeo. And I think that's pretty rad that Joe Louie saw you and thought you were kicking ass there. So let me just

bring this up in the bottom here. So just a little taste of Anne Lindsey with Blue Rodeo. And it's just a fan video, like it's just a fan in this taken video. I'm gonna be a good boy. Yeah! Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Oh And I know this is audio, but when you watch this video, you know, Greg Keeler is right there beside you looking in admiration. You're just, you're shredding. You're just you're shredding

with you're fiddling you're shredding. Yes yeah and you know both Jim and Greg are so generous because when I play with Blue Rodeo or when I played with Blue Rodeo because I'm not currently playing with him I used to play with him I was taking what used to be Greg's solo in that tune when he still played electric guitar right but he was he was so gracious to just, you know, let me take it over. And the same thing with Jim when I'm working with him, you know, he opens up and makes space in all of his beautiful music for everybody in the band to have room to solo and I just think it's such a generous gift and you know so grateful for that. And are you friendly with Kendall Carson? Yes I know Kendall.

Because I've seen Kendall with the fiddle on it at a Blue Rodeo show as well. So let's get some specifics. So you're no longer playing with Blue Rodeo but you're still playing with Jim. Like how long have you played with the, is it the Jim Cuddy band? Yeah the Jim C Cuddy band was formed, I think in 97 or 98. And I came on board with Jim then. I had already been working with Blue Rodeo before that. First of all, just as a classical player, around the time of the Lost Together recording, the recording with Lost Together on it.

They were doing some shows just with a string quartet and so I was playing in that quartet. Then they were interested in having more string arrangements. I wrote a bunch of string arrangements and recorded them with them and then I toured with them as well. But I think once Jim started his solo project, I played less with Blue Rodeo because I think he wanted to, and this may not be correct, but I'm guessing that he probably wanted to define his solo project as something a bit different than Blue Rodeo and by having the fiddle in it. And also he's like, I've known this woman my entire life.

Like he's got dibs. Because you're playing together, I don't know, your kids. Well, it's true. We've we you know, we had known each other for a long time. We didn't see each other for years. We went to different high schools, had different social groups. And then it wasn't until our kids were actually playing hockey together. Because our kids are the same age. And I would meet them at the hockey rink sometimes on the

weekends. And I'd say, you know, I'm not just a classical violinist, I play fiddle stuff as well. And I think, I think I'd sound really good. Sure. No, you know, you mean that's evidence that that's audio evidence right now how how good a fiddle can sound in a blue rodeo jam Absolutely. Yeah, okay, so Less blue rodeo for you now because it sounds like Jim Cuddy's hogging you he wants you all to himself Which is which is fine, but I'm gonna actually play something in a minute Which is you and Jim just to get a vibe of how you two sound together. And it's a nice piece I found on YouTube. I want to share with everybody really quickly here before I ask you about some other artists that you've played with. I'm going to make sure I've given you sufficient swag since you made the track here today.

So we already talked about Toronto Maple Leafs baseball. This book, Anne, is the history of Toronto Maple Leafs baseball. I am very excited, is the history of Toronto May Believes Baseball. I am very excited. Very excited for this book. Well, it's all yours. You got to know what you got to know the history of this this team here. Well, it's pretty legendary, actually, isn't it? I just know a little bit, but just, you know, and the fact that they are right at Christie Pitts. Amazing, right?

Is fantastic. So and my sons are going to love this as well. It's kind of to me, like I've been to a couple of games already this year and I'll be there on Sunday, but the idea that if mother nature cooperates and they didn't, you know, mother nature did not cooperate last weekend, for example, and they had a flooded field and they couldn't play. But when mother nature cooperates, like the fact that you can waltz to this great park, you know, in the middle of Toronto at Christian Bluer, and you can just sit on the hill and you can drink a beer now. Don't worry about it.

It's completely legal. You can have a beer. You can grab a dog. I could bring my Great Lakes Brewery. You're good at this, Anne. Do you want to co-host the show with me? Well, I think I am right now. But I'll give you the schedule after. Do you want to co-host the show with me? Well, I think I am right now. But these are beautiful.

All right, I'll give you the schedule after. So you are bringing home with you, those cans of fresh craft beer from Great Lakes Brewery, absolutely. Well, I might just bring one to the game. Then you never know. You know what, bring the sunny side session IPA. It's like the perfect summertime outside beer.

You drink that, you watch the baseball game, watch me throw out my first pitch. So, but in addition, I'm not even done, Anne, I got an addition to the beer from Great Lakes. We love you, Great Lakes. I have a palma pasta lasagna in my freezer upstairs. Delicious lasagna. Well, I was curious. I saw the box and I thought, what the heck is he doing?

Leaving pasta out on the console. You don't give me much credit, Anne. Okay. So that the lasagna is on the console. You don't give me much credit, Anne. Okay, so that, the lasagna's in the freezer. That is the, you know, the symbolize what you're gonna get when you leave here. I do wanna remind everybody, including you, Anne, heck, you could bring your fiddle and play for us, but we have an event on June 26th.

This is a Thursday. It's called TMLX 19, the 19th Toronto Mic'd Listener Experience. It is going to be at Great Lakes Brewery in South Etobicoke, which is 30 Queen Elizabeth Boulevard down the street from the Costco. Again, 6 to 9 p.m. June 26th. Anyone who can hear my voice is invited and Palma Pasta will feed us. Wow. That's a great double header.

Double. Look at you. I would say. You should come with your fiddle because I know Just the other day I mentioned Rob Bruce is the reason your headphone volume was a little this is before I press record but Rob says he's gonna bring a keyboard. I Wonder if I could get a jam session going, you know, what's the date again June 26 from 6 to 9 p.m Consider it I can remind you I might be available. You never know. And also I the other thing I love from Great Lakes, they have a like, um, it's a de alcoholized beer or a hop. Do you want one? I have one in the fridge. It's called hop pop. It's a hop pop,

right? I love those. They're really good. Very good. You could drink a hop pop while you watch the and you get a hop pop hop pop lots of peas to pop I'm not one June 26. So tmlx 19. Everyone's invited. You've got your beer. You got your lasagna You got your book Ridley Funeral Home sent over a measuring tape. Did they know that I like to sew this is perfect You know after you so might the next visitor in the basement is right after we say goodbye The owner of Ridley Funeral Home Brad Jones is gonna visit and record an episode of his fine podcast life's undertaking I'm gonna ask him Brad. Did you know Ann Lindsay likes to sell? Well, Ann Lindsay also

Likes playing at funerals that might sound a little bit odd But I do I sound odd because you're probably in that mode. you're not a fiddler now, you're a violinist. Yes and no. Does it depend? Sometimes, I mean, I do play a lot of Celtic airs that are very beautiful, slow tunes. And often that's what people would like to hear at a funeral too. So I just find it, it's a nice way to share my gift with people and often resonates very deeply. So can I pepper you of some big name musicians? We've already talked about a big name musician in Jim Cuddy

and we talked about Blue Rodeo, one of Canada's greatest bands. By the way, I have to give credit to Robert Lawson, who the reason we had that cold open, it's an obscure track from the guess who F I D D L I N that's Fiddle in I think it's called. And I opened with it because Robert Lawson turned me on to it when he heard a fiddler was going to be in the basement. So I want to just say, and Robert, maybe I'll see you on Sunday. I know you get, get your butt to Christie Pitts for many a Toronto Maple Leafs baseball game. So thank you, Robert Lawson, the official fact checker of the Toronto Mike podcast. So thank you Robert Lawson, the official fact checker of the Toronto Mike podcast. So I'm going to hit you with some names in addition

to Blue Rodeo and just tell me if you ever performed with them, did you have any interactions of a musical variety with them? So is this like you say the name and I say the first thing that comes to my mind? It's kind of like that. You know, I kind of pick a names. I know you'll have something to say about it. So I've kind of stacked the deck in your favor. So you cannot lose even if you play, but I'm going to ask you about in a weird way. So my first born's name is James. And when I named him James, I, it was a met and my wife agreed the name. Obviously I didn't do it independently, but a lot of it had to do with how much I love the song, sweet baby James by James Taylor. But a lot of it had to do with how much I love the song, Sweet Baby James by James Taylor. Like it was such a, and it's just, just yesterday I had a gentleman, he's a founding member

of the Watchmen, which is one of Canada's great bands. And we were talking about the lead singer of the Watchmen, Danny Graves, who once sang a cappella at a Toronto Mike listener experience at Great Lakes Brewery. And he sang Sweet Baby James from James Taylor. Have you and Lindsay ever played with James Taylor? Yes, I have. Whoa. Songwriters Hall of Fame, again, early 2000s.

I'm gonna guess 2005, 2006. I got a call from Lou Pamonte, who was the musical director. He's an FOTM, Lou Pamonte. Well, shout out to James B. Yeah. So Lou called me up and said, you know, I'm, I'm MDing for the Songwriters Hall of Fame and James is coming. It, Joni Mitchell was being inaugurated and he was asked to sing a song of hers and he was going to do Woodstock and he wanted to try it with Fiddle, wanted to try it. So would I like to come and rehearse? No guarantee that I'd actually get to perform. Well, I mean, what do you think I would say? Of course! Yes! James, you've got a friend in Anne. Okay. So went

down, spent the afternoon rehearsing. It was a blast. He's a great musician and a lovely man. We must have played the tune about 17 times. He just tried a different way each time, say, oh, let's leave the drums out for a verse and a half or no, let's start the drums at the top this time. Of course, I was very very lucky he liked what I was doing on the violin and so I ended up doing the broadcast with them as well. That's amazing quick quick question and before we get back to James Taylor which is uh is your fiddle your your fiddle

is an antique is that right? Jeho is asking if it's an antique. Oh thanks for asking um I guess you would call it that at she's actually celebrating her 100th birthday this year. Happy birthday. Which is pretty exciting. And does she have a name? I can't remember. I asked you. You know, she doesn't, she doesn't have a name.

You want to name her? What's a good name for a fiddle? You know, it's interesting. I've only named. Fiona. I have only named one of my violins. Okay. And it's not one that I play a lot. So, I mean, she, this one is definitely my best friend.

Like, I mean, we've gone everywhere together. We've done everything. What would you do if I smashed it right now? Would you, would you beat me up? I would ask you, why are you doing that? I would never do that. Please. I wish no harm on your beautiful violin.

But I do have an answer to that question I assigned J ho with which is what is the name of it? And he says it's still called the TDSP Itcherent, how do I say that? I tanner. Okay, you know what? That's I don't know if I know that word Itinerant, okay, you know Okay, it's called the TDSP itinerant music program is for grades one to eight called the TDSB itinerant music program is for grades one to eight. So it is in existence, but it is absolutely as you told us, it is being threatened with funding cuts and everybody listening should make some noise with their local school trustee and keep this going. Yeah, the Toronto Musicians Association was circulating a petition. I should call them

and see if I can get a link to that petition and then I'll send it to you and maybe you can put it up on your website. Because we're going to be deprived of a future Anne Lindsay. Well that's true. Think of all the kids that would never get the opportunity to learn an instrument otherwise. So I mean it's just fantastic to to keep that program going. And it's fantastic that you got to play with James Taylor. It was, it was wonderful. And I got to meet Joni Mitchell. Yeah, that's amazing.

I had a lovely conversation with her, yeah. Okay, that's amazing. I'm gonna play, I promised myself I'd play it because I want the listenership to hear before we get to your new stuff. I'm gonna play a song written by Joni Mitchell in like a moment. You could probably guess what I'm gonna play.

But we will hear a Joni Mitchell song, but it won't be performed by Joni Mitchell in like a moment. You could probably guess what I'm gonna play. But we will hear a Joni Mitchell song, but it won't be performed by Joni. It'll be Jim Cuddy and Anne Lindsay. And it's coming very, very soon. Ready for another big name? Sure. Led Zeppelin. Woohoo.

Okay, so actually a slight correction. It was Page and Plant, who I played with. Do you know this is in your official bio? Well, you know, I've been told- Are you misleading us, Anne? I've been told by a publicist that it's okay to sort of stretch the truth a little bit. So, you know.

Anyway, Page and Plant were on tour. They were recreating the whole Cashmere album. And so they were picking up a small string section wherever they went. And they were also, they had all these incredible Turkish and Arabic musicians with them. So it was a fantastic show. I did it here in Toronto and also in Buffalo.

The thing I remember the most about the Toronto show, which was at what was then the Sky Dome, was that it was one of the loudest shows, not in terms of stage volume, because they had plexiglass around us, but in terms of the crowd. The crowd response was so loud. It echoes around and then maybe it bounces around and the dome was closed, I take it. Yes. What band, who was just here?

Who was just here? Who was just here? Jelly Roll and Post Malone were just at the dome and they opened the dome during the show. Like this is part of the deal is that dome opens and then they get excited that dome is opening. I just read about that. Okay, here's an FOTM, that's cool by the way, Page Implant and I think I would do what you're doing.

I'm thinking I once had performing live at a TML X event. It was Ron Hawkins and Lawrence Nichols. And I think for a long time I was promoting it as lowest of the low because it's the main singer songwriter from Los Alou plus another member. But I think at some point they asked me if maybe I should not promote it as lowest of the low because it's not technically lowest of of the Low, it's two members of Lowest of the Low but I think in my bio I would say Lowest of the Low play TMLX. So I get a pass? Yeah I think I would do that too. So you're off the hook on that one. Okay so but here's an FOTM

band because Andy Mays has been in the basement but have you ever performed with the Skydiggers? Oh yeah, oh yeah, love those guys. So I've recorded with them as well. Cannot remember the name of the album that I'm on but I've done a couple of things with them, recorded and then a bunch of live shows too. Okay they're great live. And here's a little bit of trivia. Andy's partner in life, non-musical partner, is Andrea Nunn. And Andrea Nunn has a dance company. She's a wonderful dancer.

It's called Dreamwalker Dance Company. They have a production opening in Toronto next week called Fire Horse and Shadow, I believe. And she came to my recent CD release in March and she danced to one of my solo violin pieces with me. See, everything's connected. And it was a fantastic experience. We've wanted to collaborate for years and we finally got the opportunity to. So there's a little sidebar to Skydiggers. Okay and you teased your new album which we're going to talk about in a moment.

It's called Solo Works 2 because because Solo Works was so good, it needed a sequel. Well, that's very nice. Thank you for suggesting that as the explanation. It was slightly more practical in that I thought that I had finished writing solo pieces for violin, more or less, and then COVID hit. And I was at home alone just with my best friend here. Who's unnamed for some reason? Fiona? Anonymous best friend. And so we started writing pieces for solo violin. And I realized, okay, this looks like a project. And the Ontario Arts Council thought so too,

and provided some funding for composition and for recording. So sweet. Okay. So we will dive deep into solo works too. And no fiddle jams on this thing. This is purely violin stuff. Oh, I wouldn't say so. Well, that's why you're here because you can set me straight. You're like the official fact checkchecker of the violin fiddle Okay, so we will get back to sure solo works, too I'm just gonna drop a couple more names on you because I'm having a good time. Here's a big name

I'm gonna drop on you Roger Daltrey, right? Okay, that was a show up at Canada's Wonderland Where I was part of a small string section that was accompanying him. He was doing a solo show with his band and, you know, he'd gone out and broken out from the Who at that point. Again, a very loud show. I don't know how much you know, but Roger's got some hearing loss. I know they're wrapping it up, like the Who is wrapping it up. Yeah. But they're wrapping it up like the who is wrapping it up.

Yeah. But they also wrapped it up in 83 I think it was. So yeah. So that's, that's probably a good idea. Yeah, you know, you need to hear to perform, right? Absolutely. Yeah. All right.

And we know your hearing is good because the previous guest had the headphone volume much louder than you needed it. And I feel like this was a very good sign. All right. So I'm sort of picking on another artist here. I'm going to ask you just about, well, actually I'm going to ask you about a production and then I'm going to ask you about a location and then we're going to play this Joni Mitchell song and then we're going to talk about solo works too.

Okay. So in that order, because I'm the boss around here, Anne, okay, I'm going to ask you about The Lord of the Rings, the stage production. Yes, down at Princess of Wales Theatre, 2006, I believe it was, and I was asked to be the folk fiddler for the production which meant that I would wear a number of different hats. I would play some of the fiddle music on my good best friend here. I would also play second violin in the string quartet which was the more classical part of the score and I used a different violin for that which is a very old German violin that I have, a 1740

violin that I use for... Well, that's really old. It's really old. Is that your oldest instrument? Uh, yes, it is the oldest instrument. That makes this 100-year-old here seem like a puppy. A little, yeah, just a little puppy. 100, I could see 100 from here. Come on, okay, now we're talking here. So I was playing two different kinds of violin, but then i also was asked if i would learn how to play two other fiddles um because the composers of the score wonderful composers a r ramen who's a bollywood composer yeah big name and the uber folk group from finland called vartana, they had chosen to identify the elves with the sound of the Swedish nickel harpa, which I didn't bring, sorry.

Oh, listen, you can't bring all your instruments to the basement, we don't have enough room. It's true, it would be a little bit of a tight fit. I'm honored you brought the 100 year, you trusted that 100 year old Fiona, because I've decided I'm naming this instrument You've trusted a hundred year old Fiona in the basement. I'm honored by that I'm not so sure she's happy with that name Mike. Sorry, but did she tell you that well?

I do talk to your instrument sort of feel her Well ask her what her name is if she talks No, I think she likes just to sing. Okay, you're the boss. The voice of the hobbits was the Finnish johiko, which is a very different kind of fiddle. It's basically just a hollowed out box with a hole in the fingerboard that you put your fingers through and you play this three strings with the backs and fronts of your fingers and the strings are made from ice fishing line only in Finland. Okay, sort of like how when you're drinking it the champagne but it didn't come from that part of France you're not actually drinking champagne.

Um, you mean if I'm playing Yojiko here in Toronto? No, you can play it anywhere you want, but those strings have to come from Finland. Am I hearing that right? Um, well, I guess. So I mean, you can get ice fishing line here too. I thought maybe it had to come, like it had to be Finnish. I think what I meant by saying only in Finland was that it was a particularly indigenous to Finland creation that they would use ice fishing line.

I'm catching up to you now. I'm catching up to you now. For the strings on the fiddle. Anyway, it was a great experience and a humbling experience to learn two new instruments while I was already well established, you know, well into my career. And I had a great teacher, the fiddle player from Vartana, Lassie Logren, was my teacher and came over here a number of times and the Mervishes bought three nickel harpas and oh how many yohikos, so many yohikos because I had to play a soprano yohiko or treble yohiko and also an alto yohiko. So I was having to tune up one, two, three. I had to tune

so many instruments down there in the orchestra pit every show because I had to have a spare instrument in case I broke a string or something. And then there was, I had a set of instruments at home as well for practicing. And then we were training a sub who could fill in for me if needed as well. So there was another set of instruments for them. Did you ever need the sub? Yes, I did. Yeah. What happened? What happened? Just I needed a break. Oh, I think I think my dad was celebrating his 85th birthday or something. We were having like a family reunion in the summer. So I got to have a week off and I'd be afraid I would take the week off and the sub would be so amazing. I'd never get back to number one status. Like it's like, like when you're a goal, a starting goaltender, you don't want to

take a injury break or whatever, because you might lose the job to the backup. The backup is lights out. Oh, I don't know about that. First of all, I think you just have to have. Well, you're Anne Lindsay, you don't have to worry about these things. Well, I guess, but I guess I've learned not to worry about those things maybe, that those things aren't important. And you needed a break in your dad's birthday.

Yeah. Yojiko, by the way, also the name of the new left winger that May Believes will sign during this off season to help us maybe win our first Stanley Cup since 1967. Really? No, I'm just making a bad joke. One last thing.

You had me reeled in on the ice fishing line. I can't be the only gullible one around here. Did you know the word gullible does not appear in the dictionary? Did you know that Ann? Isn't that mind blowing? What? My nine-year-old fell for that recently. So I felt like I did. Well, I'm kind of there right with the nine-year-old. You can just reel me right in.

All right. Last, you know, that's amazing, by the way, The Lord of the Rings. That's a big stage production there. But did you play the Arctic? Did I play in the Arctic? In the Arctic. Yes, I've been to the Arctic several times. Okay. I've gone up twice to Rankin Inlet with several other musicians. Ian Tamblyn from a wonderful singer songwriter, a Canadian icon from the Gatineau area led songwriting workshops for Inuit youth in Rankin Inlet.

And I went up with Ian and Fred Guignol and Rebecca Campbell several times. I've also worked on an adventure Canada There are tour company that Does guided tours through the Arctic. I've been a musical host with them and I've gone up with Jim. We went up to Cambridge Bay and performed up there Everybody should go to the Arctic. Does it shred more in the Arctic or less? What's going on with the shredding? Good question. I believe it does because it's so dry. That would be my recollection of times up there.

So I teased I'd play something with you and Jim. So what I'm going to do is I'm going to play it, but I might bring it down halfway through to shout out some sponsors and then kind of bring it up for the the big finish here but of course you mentioned Joni Mitchell we've talked a lot about you playing of Jim Cuddy so I pulled a little taste of how that sounds and then after the break we'll discuss solo works too. Hi everybody Jim Cuddy I have the great pleasure of playing today with Ann Lindsey. And we're doing this in benefit of food banks. And this is a time of need, so thank you for watching.

This is a song about longing, longing to be back in Canada for the Christmas season, as one remembers it. It's called River. It's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees They're putting up reindeer singing songs of joy and peace I wish I had a river I could skate away on And it don't snow here, it stays pretty green Gonna make a lot of money with this crazy scene I wish I had a river I could skate away on I wish I had a river so long To teach my feet to fly

Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on cry she tried hard to hold me she put me at ease she loved me so naughty this is beautiful and like I don't even want to fade. I had a plan and then I abandoned my plan because I'm like, the way that, well, Jim has such a wonderful voice and his voice with your violin here on this song feels like it's December. I'm feeling great right here. Amazing. Yeah, it was a very sweet performance.

It's always a treat and an honor to play with Jim. We did this at York Minster Park Baptist Church in the middle of the pandemic. So it was being webcast out in support of food banks as a fundraiser for food banks. And I have an affiliation with York Minster Park because I do a service there once a month and play Celtic music along with Charlene Wallace on Celtic Harp and Eric Robertson on piano. And it's called Iona after the island in Scotland. Iona, that's okay. That's what Iona is because I know on June 8th,

which is not long from now, it's a Sunday, I know at 6 45 p.m. you're at York Minster Park Baptist Church. You know what? I think that that is actually a typo on my website. Because it is on your website. This Sunday. Okay, that is a typo. Anne, come on, what's going on over here? Okay, so it's the... I just play the violin. So you just play the violin. So it's after the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball game, like you said earlier, that's the event that's at York Minster. That's the Iona inspired liturgy, music and meditations. Mm-hmm. It's a beautiful service and we play Celtic music for about 15 minutes before the service and then during the service.

And... Should we let you wrap up here first? Sure. I'm sorry. What a beautiful place we're playing in. Ladies and gentlemen, Anne Lindsay and Jim Cuddy. Thank you very much for watching. Thank you very much for donating to Churches on the Hill, which will distribute to local food banks. The need is high and your generosity is much appreciated.

Thank you. It was in Bob Cajun where we saw Anne-Lindsay and the Jim Cuddy trio at the Bob Cajun Curling Club. Oh, this is a few days ago. You know what? We got to talk about your website because it's all out of order here. Okay. So the truly it's Huntsville.

This is a real one, everybody. Uh, not a mistake this time, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts in Huntsville, Ontario, you will be there July 23rd and 24th, 2025 with the Jim Cuddy band. Please tell me that's not a typo. That is not a typo. Okay, Huntsville. Before that, June 7th, I will be at Taws Winery,

which is our annual Solstice gig at Taws down in Vineland. That's with the Jim Cuddy band too. Okay, so okay, we got to make sure we get this right. So everybody, there's one more I'm going to shout out here and then I'm going to shout out a couple of sponsors and get to this new album. But Kitchener, you're playing the Wayback Festival at Victoria Park. This sounds like you know what, I would drive to this event Kitchener, Wayback Festival, you and the Jim Cuddy band, Saturday, July 25th. You know 25th if that's a typo and

I'm shutting this down I'm getting angry over here well I just don't want to spread any fools it's already on your official website well but you know what I think it got bumped I got bumped for a rodeo gig okay you know one of the members of the Jim Cuddy band does have a full-time full-time day but all that he's got me all excited about making the track to Kitchener. I know Jim. It's not all about the dollar bills. Come on.

Let's go. Let's see here. Yeah. The 25th is gone. It's gone. Okay. So we got to go to Huntsville for the 23rd and 24th. It's still there.

It's still there. Okay. Huntsville Festival of the Arts. You can see Anne Lindsay with the Jim Cuddy band. Okay. And everybody, if you want to know the dates again, it may be a bit out of date on Anne's site, but if you go to jimcuddy.com slash tour, I'm sure Jim's people are keeping that thing up to date there.

Okay. And Anne will make sure that her website gets cleaned up. Okay, I can't believe it. I can't believe I missed the Bob Cajun gig too, but that was May 22nd. So why did I even bother to paste this one down? Okay, so let me, first of all, that was beautiful again. I loved listening to you and Jim and that webcast you did during the pandemic.

That was a beautiful, beautiful Joni Mitchell cover there of the river. I would just ask you quickly, Anne, if you've ever played Regina Saskatchewan. Yes. How many times have you had to guess? I won't hold you to the answer here, but several times, a couple of times? Oh yes, many times. I've played there, you know, in the

concert hall, I've played there in the arena, I've, oh no, there's a, where is it there? Is it there in Saskatoon? There's one place where we play out in this sort of park, industrial park thing. But also the Regina Folk Festival was one of my favorite folk festivals to play. And sadly, it's no more. Oh, what happened to it? Well, like a number of folk festivals post COVID, they just don't have the funding or the volunteer base to make a go of it anymore. But Regina, it was such a great folk festival. It was in the park in the center of town.

And during the day it was free. Families would come and then there were ticketed concerts at night. Oh, it sounds amazing. I'm sorry that hopefully somebody gets their sense about them and finds some funding to bring that back. Yeah. I will shout out the wonderful podcast. Yes, we are open from a narrows that Al Grego hosts Al visited Regina and he talked to Jim Baton, the founder and owner of tumblers pizza. Jim shared his journey from making pizza boxes at 14 to building a pizza empire that sells

Regina style pizza. And then this is again again much like I copied and pasted your Upcoming tour from your site and we found out some of it was either a typo or was canceled and that's fine I know that happens, but I copied this from Spotify to describe this recent episode of yes We are open which I urge everybody to listen to to hear from Jim and learn about tumblers pizza and Regina But when I copy this it said that this Regina style pizza was now in over a hundred and forty locations across Saskatchewan and it turns out my guest yesterday when I read that my guess he grew up in Winnipeg That's where all the watchmen guys are from Winnipeg and he called BS on that He says Saskatchewan is not big enough for 140 locations.

Now we're not calling anyone a liar here. I think maybe it must be true. It must be true that there's 140 locations of Tumblr's pizza in Regina. Do you think that's possible? 140 locations in Regina? It's a copy and paste from Spotify. Like unless Al Grego made a mistake,

which would be his first mistake ever. Is it possible that that zero maybe wasn't supposed to be there? I need a ruling. So I'm going to make a call to Al Greggo later today and double, triple check this number here. It doesn't actually matter, except it's in the description. But the story, the song remains the same as Led Zeppelin would say this. Hear the story behind the unique name, the secret formula for their incredible sauce and challenges faced along the way. And maybe that's something we need to look into.

So Robert Lawson, you're the official official fact checker of the Toronto Mike podcast, 140 locations for Tumblr's pizza. Hmm. We are skeptical, but we we want to believe we're like Fox Molder in the X-Files. We want to believe here. Okay. And last but not least, RecycleMyElectronics.ca. That's where you go if you have old cables, old electronics, old devices. You don't throw it in the garbage because those chemicals end up in our landfill. You go to recyclemyelectronics.ca, put in your postal code and then find out where you can drop it off to be properly recycled. Recyclemyelectronics.ca.

Wow, do they clean hard drives as well? Yeah, there's a, I don't think they, I think they recommend you drill, you drill a hole in your hard drive. Like I was looking into this exact thing. So you have old laptops and maybe, you know, cause even though you wipe it, you don't want to, but they, they tell you to drill a hole in the hard drive. If you were concerned about privacy issues and stuff. And there may be, they have some other tips there, but this, this is a great way to get rid of your old electronics, recycle my electronics.ca. And I know I said last but not least, but I also lied to you because last but not least is much love to Building Toronto Skyline and Building Success, two great podcast series from Nick Ienies who has stepped up to help fuel the real talk.

Thank you, Nick Ienies, for joining the team of good people that help keep this going. I urge people to listen to Brad Bradford and Nick Aini's discuss affordable housing in the most recent episode of building Toronto's skyline. Okay, Anne, please tell me about solo works too. And I have like I have questions about St. Anne's and I'm gonna let you pick it up from there, but I would love to hear about the St. Anne's Church and all of this. Sure. Well, I already mentioned that the CD was written and recorded during the global pandemic. And when we went looking for a location to record in, I went to York Minster Park, first of all, to that church that you just heard the beautiful acoustics in when Jim and I were playing there.

But the subway runs right underneath York Minster Park, so that got ruled out. And my engineer, Tim Vesely, actually suggested that I go... I'm a big Real Statics fan. Oh, well, of course. Who isn't? I know. Good question. So Tim suggested we go to St. Anne's and walked in to this space and I don't know whether you were familiar with the church or not but

it had a Byzantine dome. It looked like it should have been in Istanbul or something like that. You walked inside and the dome inside was decorated, was painted all with murals by the group of seven. Well, that explains why you needed a rheostatics guy to be the the engineer on this because they're all about the group of seven over there. But I do know one fun fact I did learn is that this church was built in 1907. So it's also over a hundred years old. Yes. learn is that this church was built in 1907, so it's also over 100 years old. Yes, built in 1907 by, with a minister at that time who was a bit of a rebel and very connected to the whole artistic and philosophical movement that was happening in Toronto at that time. So you had the group of seven guys that were

just starting out, they were actually just finishing school. You had Francis Loring, Florence Weil, both sculptors who happened to be friends of my parents. So when I was a little girl growing up, they would come over for Christmas dinner and stuff and sit around. Mind blow. Drinking scotch and smoking cigars. And I was like, what the heck? From a very sheltered, you know, sort of lower Forest Hill upbringing and beautiful, beautiful interior. But the thing that struck me the most was as soon as I walked into the space and I whistled the incredible reverb in the

room and it just was such an amazing acoustic space. So it was a no-brainer that we would record there. And this is, sorry, you recorded during the pandemic? Yes. Okay. Recorded during the pandemic and then as it did for many musicians, once we were free to start performing again we got very busy and Jim also had a CD that he wanted to release. So we toured his whole CD for a year and a bit. And then it was time for me to release my CD. But in the meantime, tragically, a year ago, last June, 2024, St. Anne's Anglican Church burned to the ground. It's terrible. Horrible. June 9 2024. Yeah, we're coming up to the anniversary. So I had to rule that out as a possible CD release space or album release space, but I went to talk to them there anyway because I wanted to do it as a fundraiser for them as well. And I walked into the parish hall. The parish hall is very bare bones,

completely contrasting to the church. It's like a high school gymnasium from 1965 or something. But again, I pulled out my violin and played, and the acoustics were actually quite lovely. There was a stage that I could stand on, and there was a bit of a concave ceiling over the stage that we projected an image of the church and in the interior here's the CD by the way and inside it there's a picture of the ceiling of the church and we projected that onto the ceiling above the stage that I was going to do the album release on. So we did the release there. It was a great success. Lots of people came out. But it is

both sad that that space is no longer with us, but I also feel very fortunate that we have this acoustic memory of St. Anne's Anglican. And I don't know for sure, but I think that this may be the only solo instrument recording. A lot of choirs recorded in that church. It's another mind blow, but you know what this does, Anne? It also makes you the primary suspect. No! Because now that's a new angle!

Because I need to know who benefits the most from the tragic fire destroying the historic church of St. Anne's? You do, because you have. Nobody else has taken that angle. You have. In all the publicity I've done. That's has taken that angle. You have. In all the publicity I've done. That's how my brain works.

Okay. It's a very clever angle. Not the case. I'll need an alibi, but we'll talk about that later. Okay. So where were you on June 9th, 2024? I was in Toronto. I was in Toronto.

That's not a very good alibi. And I woke up and heard the story and thought about getting on my bike and riding down there. I just couldn't do it. I just didn't want to do it. Yeah. No, that's terrible. But beautiful music again, as a memento, if you will. I don't know. I don't even know. So this is the, the on air production chat we're going to have, which is, are you going to play something?

Well, it's up to you. I don't want to put pressure on you. I think it would be nice if you if you could play something that was recorded at St. Anne's. Well, I'm gonna play something for sure. Okay, so some of these names are not my native tongue and some say I what is your native tongue, Mike? Who knows? Votamane is what I have here. Votamane. Okay, see. That's Latin. Votamane. And credo.

Credo. And of course I have the airport jam, YYZ. This is a cover of a Rush song, YYZ. I don't want to tease Rush, Mike and James, but X, Y, Zed. If I had those three loaded up, which one would you like me to play of those three? Um, well, you know what gives a lovely idea of, oh, they both do actually. Do you want short or long? Well, I'm wanting to play the one you want to hear the most. I can always bring it down and hear you tell us about it.

Yeah, sure. If you play cradle, you'll hear right off the bat, the sound of the church. And I think that's really interesting how we experience architecture, not just by sight, but by other senses. And I love it. You had me at hello. Here's Crado. So so So I'm so So So so So So so So Beautiful. And beautiful. Thank you.

It's about time we got some culture in this podcast. It can't be all Sloan and Lois to the Low and the Watchmen. That was beautiful. That was recorded at Toronto St. Anne's Anglican Church. No Anne was not responsible for it burning down, but hopefully we can get get things repaired. And Tim Vesely, so he's the one capturing this beautiful audio. Yeah, I've worked with Tim a bunch. He actually was the engineer for my third CD as well. I've got five CDs out now of my music. And I love working with Tim.

He's a great engineer. He's a great musician and a good friend. Love to hear it here. And I think when I wrote the description, which hasn't been published yet because we're about to wrap up here, but I wrote that you're an award-winning musician. Maybe shout out some of these awards.

I have a long list, but what are the awards you're most proud of? You've won many an award. Oh gosh. Well, I think that first violin that I was awarded was pretty pivotal. Yeah, we didn't. Like I said, I don't think I had any. Do you have that violin still? I do. And in fact, when I was 16, I drilled a

hole in it and put a pickup in it so I could play in the first rock band that I played with. That could have been your direction. Like you could have ended up in, I'm thinking of like a band like Hey Rosetta or something like that. And the lead singer of Hey Rosetta is going to do a thing with Matt Galloway on The Current. And I was kind of reading about that earlier in Newfoundland. Right. Tim. Tim. Yeah, Tim Baker. Thank you. Great. You saved me because you could see my brain trying to come up with the he's a wonderful singer and I love to hey Rosetta but yeah you could have been in broken social scene. But I don't need to be because I'm in the Jeannie Ben and I'm in the Anne Lindsay band. You're in the Anne Lindsay band. So, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, which award?

So, other awards. So I did win... I have it here. So, can you talk about the Canadian Folk Music Awards? Producer of the... You won a few awards. You won Producer of the Year in 2007. You won Solo Instrumental you won producer of the year in 2007 you won solo

Instrumentalist of the year and you were nominated for instrumental solo artist of the year. Yes Yeah, and that was 2011 for that nomination Yeah so I I Really think that all of those awards and also any of the funding that I've received from various funding Bodies really mean a lot to me It's kind of getting a little pat on the back that, you know, what you're doing is being respected by your peers. And that means a lot.

Hey, lest we forget, you won violinist of the year at the National Jazz Awards. Right. That's it. That was a big deal. It was a big deal. These are all big deals. And how was this on your list of accomplishments and your scholarships and your awards that you are now an FOTM, you have made your Toronto Mike debut? How did this go for you? I loved coming in today to talk to you about all this.

No regrets. A shout out to Tom Cochran. No regrets. No. Oh, did you want me? You want me to say hi. Hi, Tom. No, you're not. I love you, Tom. No, it's... I just saw him a couple of weeks ago. We were traveling together and playing together. So I am going to record at a golf tournament called the Joe

Carter Classic. Right. And I'm going to record with people who are there to do this charity golf tournament. Last time I did this, which was last June, Tom was there because he loves the golf. And I had a great chat with him on Toronto Mike. And I'm now wondering, as I said, this is, I was asking you, he had no regrets coming on Toronto Mike, was'm now wondering as I said this is I was asking you he had no regrets coming on Toronto Mike was my terrible way to get there mentioning Tom Cochran but now I'm wondering will Tom Cochran be back at the Joe Carter classic this it's only in a couple weeks well I didn't ask him that I'm so sorry I didn't ask him that should have been your first question you know just going back to that question violin or fiddle yeah track five on this, Carolina Parakeet, if you ever want

to. That is really fiddly. Well, I happen to have this album, so number five. Carolina Parakeet. Okay. Okay. But most of this album is violin. I would say it's leaning, yeah, this is probably leaning, of all my recordings, this leans more to the classical or new acoustic sort of music. But Carolina Paracute is definitely a fiddle tune. Well, I'm going to check that out.

And I think it's worth the drive to Huntsville to see you at the Jim Cuddy Band, July 23rd and 24th at the Huntsville Festival of the Arts. And much luck with the Solar Works 2 release. If you were going to send somebody to grab a copy, where would you send them? Oh, go to Bandcamp. I love Bandcamp and all my music is up there. I'm also on the usual streaming culprits, but Bandcamp... Look, here's what we're going to do.

We're going to go to annlindsay.bandcamp.com and you can download SoloWorks too. That way, that's our preferred way and people should do that. And thanks for dropping by today. It was nice to meet Fiona. It's not sticky, is it? I feel like if I say it enough times, it'll stick. You know what? I'm trying to think who it was. Fred Penner. So Fred Penner was in here with an instrument. Love Fred. And during this closing song Fred Penner was in here with an instrument. Love Fred. And during this closing song, he was like playing it. Playing along.

No pressure, okay? I'm going to read a little extra here, but it was lovely to meet you. I love this very much. And that brings us to the end of our 1,701st show. Go to torontomike.com for all your Toronto Mike needs. Much love to all who made this possible. That's Great Lakes Brewery. Anne's got her fresh craft beer. Palma pasta. Don't leave without your lasagna. It's in my freezer. Menaris. Subscribe to season eight. Yeah, I love it. Love it. Yes, we are open as a fine podcast. Toronto Maple Leafs baseball

and throwing out the first pitch Sunday. Recycle my electronics dot CA building Toronto skyline and Ridley funeral home. I'm recording with Brad Jones in mere minutes. Take it away. You don't know what's coming. That's the friendly giant theme. So here's the pizza nova jingle. Can you do this one? It's an Alfie's Apacosta composition. Right. See if you can name these tunes.

Hold on. A couple more. These are the Easter eggs. This is the spoons. Romantic traffic. Wow. You've done a real mosh. Well is the spoons, romantic traffic. Wow, you've done a real masha. Well, Rob Proust did it. I just pressed play.

Hey, this is shadowy men on a shadowy planet having an average weekend from the kids in the home.