MICHAEL TIMMINS + SHARON LEWIS + KRIS SIDDIQI

On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Michael Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies. The an alternative country and folk rock band have been together, producing albums and touring, since 1985. Early on their version of the Velvet Underground song “Sweet Jane” earned them critical success and, the song’s writer, Lou Reed claimed that their version of "Sweet Jane" was his favourite. They are back with a new record called “Such Ferocious Beauty,” the band’s first release of new material in five years and follows their heralded 2022 collection of covers, “Songs of the Recollection.” It is a mix of styles Alternative? Rock? Americana? Roots? And a rumination on aging, losing parents and facing mortality. The we get to know director, actor, writer Sharon Lewis. She talks about her documentary “With Wonder,” an intimate look at the journey of members of the Queer, Christian community of colour and their attempts to answer the question: Can you be both Christian and Queer? We’ll talk about her personal experiences and how she extended the documentary into a multipart series on YouTube called WITH WONDER: Untold Stories. Finally, improviser and comedian Kris Siddiqi. In addition to his work as an improvisor at Second City and in clubs, the Canadian Comedy Awards nominee who has played a role in the Gemini winning Showcase series ‘Cock’d Gunns’, has written for and hosted YTV’s Saturday morning show CRUNCH!, the Showcase series Almost Heroes & Lost Girl, MTV’s Scare Tactics, My Babysitter’s a Vampire, and Disney’s Life with Boys. Kris is now one of the stars of the new Family Channel show "I Woke Up A Vampire.”