Radio Free Kaslo — with host RG Morse

On today's show host RG Morse talks about Kaslo's upcoming municipal election, and chats with Argenta-based singer and choral conductor Noémi Kiss about an exciting new trio — Ladies of the Lake — and their upcoming concerts in Kaslo (September 20) and Nelson (September 26).

It's time for kids in this neck of The Big Woods to return to school. On day's show, host RG Morse chats with his lovely 16-year-old granddaughter, Penny Lane Garbula, who is heading into Grade 11 at Nelson, BC's L.V. Rogers High School next week. They discuss Penny's summer, the allure of international exchange students, and what it's like to be a high school student a quarter of the way through the 21st century. Toss in some songs by Grammy winner Olivia Dean, and you have a winning combination for students, teachers, parents — and grandparents — everywhere!

On today's show, a conversation with Chris Ovington and Stasia Rezansoff of the West Kootenay band, Empire of Nothing. We talk about the music scene in Glade and Castlegar, the origins of their just-released album, Newton (and Stasia's upcoming solo LP), and their upcoming release party on September 11 at Castlegar's Harry's Hall. Local musicians. Local music. Local radio!

An update on BC's wildfires, together with a range of rainy tunes by Chilliwack, Amanda Marshall, Bob Dylan, The Lovin' Spoonful, and Blue Rodeo.

Live from Buddy's Pizza!Here's a selection from Kootenay Co-op Radio's first-ever attempt at a live broadcast, from Kaslo's venerable pie + music hangout, Buddy's. Featuring John Cathro, Buddy's co-owner Aaron Mathers, and music by Gabriel Palatchi, members of the Mountain Weather Band, and Andrew Mathers.It wasn't perfect, but the scene was warm and inviting, everyone had fun — can there be more live broadcasts looming?!

On today's show host Randy Morse spins his own tunes, including:Let's get naked in the KootenaysOpen landscapesAfrica boundThe meadowIt's up to youAnd a performance of Warren Zevon's Carmelita, featuring the short-lived but always entertaining band, The Spotted Owls, recorded live in Kaslo's historic Langham Theatre on Canada Day, 2019. Enjoy!

Lots of summer music today, from Yo Yo Mah to Sabrina Carpenter; from Cara Luft to RFK host Randy Morse. Plus a complete rundown of the upcoming (July 30 — August 2) Kaslo Block Party. Enjoy!

On today's show, Waterproof Tonight, the world's silliest late-night TV talkshow (the pilot was filmed in Kaslo) is set for a revival. Work is underway to produce a series based on Link Lafleur, Max Morgenstein, and their wacky attempt to put tiny Waterproof, British Columbia on the map — and perhaps save Canada in the process!On Saturday, July 4 in Houston, Canada takes on heavily favoured Morocco in a Round of 16 World Cup match. The men's soccer team has never made it this far before. Do they have any chance at winning? Speaking of the Fourth of July, RFK host Randy Morse bumps into two visiting Americans at the bar at Kaslo's Buddy's Pizza, and has a chat about... well, listen in and find out!

On today's show, Shakespeare rolls in to Kaslo with an extended run at the venerable Langham Theatre of one of the Bard's great comedies, As You Like It. Then host Randy Morse eavesdrops on the laughter and non-stop reminiscing among five women who have been friends since their school days in Kansas — four of whom travelled thousands of kilometres to visit their Kaslo-based pal, Janet Mayfield.

If you are a soccer fan; if you love your country; if you plan on watching Canada's first match in the 2026 World Cup against Bosnia-Herzegovina, you'll definitely want to listen to today's show!

Juno award winning singer-songwriter-musician Cara Luft is that rare artist steeped in folk and traditional roots music almost from birth, yet willing to alter the fabric, stretch the boundaries and fearlessly bend genres and styles.  A founding member of Canadian folk super-group The Wailin' Jennys and the brainchild behind Winnipeg's acclaimed powerhouse duo The Small Glories, Cara deserves her solid reputation as one of Canada’s finest live performers, armed with amazing tenacity, vision, energy and a contagious hilarity. To quote the roots magazine No Depression, “Luft has a rich tradition in folk music – it’s safe to assume that she knows her stuff – and upon listening it becomes quite clear that she is indeed a formidable songwriter and performer... [The] lovely Ms. Luft sets the bar for the talented few who’ll follow in her footsteps.”  Cara was recently in Kaslo, for an amazing concert (accompanied by the uber-talented, Cranbrook-based Clayton Parsons), and  to celebrate a dear friend's birthday. RFK host Randy Morse sat down with Cara the morning after the show at Kaslo's Blue Belle Bistro to chat about her new album, the forthcoming My Heart Will Always Be, her first solo effort in over 13 years.

As thunderstorms keep rolling through our region, accompanied by flood warnings and evacuations, the theme of today's show is.... rain. (With a final tip of the RFK hat to newlyweds Katie & Doug, who had the great good taste to decide to get married today at Fletcher's Falls)!

Today's show includes conversations with young & old participants in Kaslo's venerable May Days parade, and a stroll along a sketchy stretch of the Kaslo River that could become our only access to lovely South Beach, if a developer has his way.

On today's show, host Randy Morse wanders around Kaslo (and down to the beach), checking out buskers on Front Street, the uber-cool new Mexican restaurant, Taqueria Tiburon, and a lovely trio of side-by-side shops selling fresh-cut flowers, wares by local & regional craftspeople, artists and artisans, plus fabulous vintage clothing (Jewel + Joy, and Honeybucket Vintage). He then stumbles upon Craig Tucker. Craig and his wife, Cindy, are opening Fletcher's Chill, 10 minutes south of Kaslo across Highway 31 from the Fletcher's Falls turnout — a great spot to pull over, grab a submarine and a milkshake before wandering down to the spectacular falls & beach! The next morning, he and the dogs stroll down to Kootenay Lake, where they encounter a group of swimmers, a log raft, and some novel ideas on what to do with it.Ahh, life in Alpine Nirvana.

On today's show, host Randy Morse visits Kaslo's very own (possibly superior) version of Muscle Shoals — Propel Studios — and chats with musician and founder Marty Lynch, and audio engineer Hunter Stanway. The hills — or in this case, the mountains — are alive with the sound of music!

British Columbia's West Kootenay region is rife with musical talent. Intriguing musicians, many of them not well known, are seemingly everywhere. Allie Kane is one of them. And now, thanks to a grant from Columbia Basin Trust, and the support of the Langham Cultural Society and Propel Recording Studios, Allie and her band, Allie Kane & the Local Legends, have hit the studio at Propel.Working with sound engineer Hunter Stanway, she and the group have crafted some intriguing songs, available on Bandcamp. On today's show, host Randy Morse sits around the Radio Free Kaslo kitchen table and has a conversation with Allie, and bandmate Greg Brown.Missed an show? Every episode of Radio Free Kaslo is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Buzzsprout.

"It is with books as it is with libraries: a few good ones make all the difference."          — VoltaireThere aren't a lot of villages with a population of barely 1,000 that can boast of its own public library.Let alone a really good one.Kaslo is an exception.On today's show, host Randy Morse visits Kaslo's 21st century information hub (situated in a decidedly 19th century building), and has a lively conversation with library director Darlene Edwards and trustee Hilary Schroeder.

Live long enough and... you'll become, well, old. You know. An elder. A senior.Turns out roughly a third of us who live in Kaslo and the North Kootenay Lake region fall into that category. It's a time of life that brings with it both blessings and curses, opportunities and challenges. With that in mind, a truly useful-sounding expo is happening on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Kaslo Legion called AGING TOGETHER. Offering us a chance to wander around and learn about the amazing array of organizations and services that are available to us, all of them designed to help folks age with as much grace, comfort, and dignity as possible.Kaslo Community Services Co-Director Patrick Steiner provides a helpful rundown of what to expect this Saturday.

On Saturday, April 11 (2PM at Castlegar's Brilliant Cultural Centre), five outstanding musical acts will take to the stage.They include two outstanding choirs, Castlegar's Family of Friends Doukhobor Choir and Nelson's Cottonwood Singers, ukulele-wielding singers extraordinaire Jasmine Popoff & Julie Johnson ("Pretty Notes"), Nelson-based band APB&J... and Gates.Gates, headed by Tasha Taylor — formerly of the acclaimed pop-rock band LILLIX — and Tamara Umlah, former front woman of the alt-pop project, Familia — will knock you out with their soulful, retro-inspired R&B. Tasha and Tamara write and produce songs that draw on the timeless warmth of classic soul and rhythm & blues, creating a sound that is, as they describe it, “as heartfelt as it is holy — worshipful, honest, and full of hope.Five of their songs are featured on today's show — enjoy!

As the world continues to spiral down into anger, distrust, and war, there are some voices among us who speak out against the madness. Who remind us there is another way of being, a path lined with kindness, empathy, and love. Voices like Frantisek Strouhal and Chantal Robert, who gently, thoughtfully suggest that in times like these, we must find ways to remind ourselves of how much we have in common. Of the importance of recognizing that all of us clinging to this small blue orb, hurtling through the cosmos, are as one. The founders of the non-profit Global Symphony for a United World share the story of how they met, their art and writing, and the upcoming Global Symphony concert, slated for April 11, 2 PM at Castlegar's Brilliant Cultural Centre, with Radio Free Kaslo host Randy Morse. 

A conversation with Cottonwood Singers conductor Noemi Kiss, and Family Of Friends Doukobor Choir conductor Jasmine Popoff.Both outstanding BC community choirs will be performing together at “Global Symphony,” a concert organized by the Slocan Valley-based non-profit, World Symphony for a United World. Saturday, April 11, 2 PM, at Castlegar’s Brilliant Cultural Centre. Admission by donations, kids under 12 and seniors free. 

Lennart Lovecraft Larsson was a dog.He had long, very white fur with large black eye patches and long, lynx-like ears with tufts of hair at the ends. One eye was brown, the other blue. He was the size of a Labrador retriever, loved howling at passing ambulances, and was hypoallergenic. He enjoyed peeing on fire hydrants, chasing cats, and barking at strangers. He was smart, mischievous, and loyal to a fault.And, oh yes, he was a lifelong Democrat. ‘How might this be?’ you may ask. Well, to be clear, Lennart hadn’t always been a canine. No, for much of his life he had been L.L. Larsson, son of Rachel Slovic, a nice Jewish girl from Lincoln Park, a leafy neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side, and Lars Larsson, a Swedish graduate student from the lovely village of Leksand, in the historic Dalecarlia region, working on his PhD in political science at the University of Chicago.... On today's show, host Randy Morse reads Chapter 12 from his novel-in-progress, The Man Who Became a Dog. Lennart, newly arrived at Quirk Press, a boutique publishing house in Manhattan, has dinner with the firm's editor-in-chief, Zelda Gibbons.

What do you do when you're a radio host and the power suddenly goes out?I was faced with this dilemma yesterday. So I decided to grab a hand-held recorder, leave the studio, wander down to the beach, then stroll back via Kaslo's Front Street and simply describe what I was seeing.If you've never been to our fair village, this is a nice introduction to one of — if not the — loveliest small towns in the country. If you do live here, or are a frequent visitor, it's always nice to be reminded what a great place this is. (And be sure to send this to friends and family, to give them a small taste of what they're missing)!

On today's show, host Randy Morse chats with members of Oh Pray Tell — Shayna Jones, Sally Titasey, and Betty Supple, mothers all — a British Columbia-based band that has just released its first EP — the self-titled Oh Pray Tell — a beautifully crafted, haunting 4-song compilation.Featuring gorgeous three-part harmonies woven with banjo, stomp-clap-Cajon rhythms, and spoken word, rooted in Gospel, rhythm & blues, folk traditions, and poetic storytelling, the EP moves from hush and swell, to ritual and release.Band members talk about how they came together, and introduce each EP track —The Rain It Falls Come In,Poor Black Woman Blues I'm DoneIf you've ever listened to an album you love, and wondered what the artists were thinking when they wrote and recorded  it, you're not going to want to miss this show!As a trio of three mothers, our lived experiences shape the music

Unlike the Prairies and much of Eastern Canada, the winter of 2026 has — at least so far — been relatively mild down here by the shores of fjord-like Kootenay Lake.Ah, but that doesn't keep the hardy, outdoor-loving denizens of the tiny mountain village of Kaslo from flocking to Winter in the Forest, held every Family Day (in February, for those of you unfamiliar with the holiday), at the Kaslo Aerodrome.This year, Mother Nature decided to go along with the general theme of the event, providing a steady fall of snow to ensure that no attendee wondered if it was actually Spring.Host Randy Morse wandered around, doing his best to stay warm — no easy feat, given his gloveless hand holding a recorder — chatting with folks as they enjoyed the festivities. Subjects ranged from soup to wildlife; from tourism to housing. Listen in, and enjoy!

Our village punches way above its weight class when it comes to smart, creative — and dogged — citizens, willing to go the extra mile in contributing to Kaslo's well-being.With that in mind, here's an intriguing  conversation with tech whiz and seniors healthcare advocate, Tyler Dobie.

On today's show, a conversation with Kaslo & Area Chamber of Commerce Administration Manager, Alana Jenkins, along with Chamber member, Kaslo Building Supply's Jeff Davie. We chat about what they love about Kaslo, its virtues, its challenges — and a bit of business!With music provided by Shred Kelly and Bachman Turner Overdrive.

A musical tribute to my dear friend, Lynn van Deursen, on the occasion of her 65th birthday.With apologies to Lennon & McCartney!

Today's show is dedicated to the people of Minneapolis.Featuring a new song, The Streets of Minneapolis, by Bruce Springsteen, and classics by two towering Minnesota musical geniuses, Prince and Bob Dylan. 

Anne Malik is a prairie transplant who racked up corporate experience in Toronto before fleeing back West. She loves to garden, and always finds time to engage with local civic issues. Kaslo’s sewer system has been under her eagle eye for years.Anne's husband, Vladimir Malik (aka Laddie), hails from the former Czechoslovakia. He’s a jack of all trades who has worn many hats, and at one time hosted the most charming coffee house in Kaslo. Laddie doesn’t let an obstacle stand in his way from moving forward.   Russell Precious grew up in Vancouver and graduated from UBC and UCBerkeley. A BC organic pioneer and natural foods entrepreneur, Russell most recently developed the Nelson Commons project, and designed and oversaw Nelson's new Kootenay Co-op. A Kootenay resident for nearly 40 years, the last three in Kaslo, Russell considers this his ultimate home base.Host Randy Morse sat down for coffee and a a lively conversation with Anne, Laddie, and Russell recently at the Maliks' lovely home across the street from Kaslo's historic SS Moyie.

There's an assumption that everyone in a small town knows what everyone (else) is thinking.Like most assumptions, this one has some serious holes in it.That certainly became evident during last year's controversy surrounding the (ongoing) saga on the fate of Kaslo's South Beach.What do locals really think about their village? What do they appreciate about their home town? What do they wish would change? What do they hope remains as it is?Host Randy Morse sets out to answer these questions through a series of conversations with local residents over the course of 2026. In this first instalment, recorded live at Kaslo's Blue Belle Bistro, he sits down over a coffee with BC Rural Centre Executive Director and Kootenay Lake Historical Society Chair, Sarah Sinclair, together with Historical Society Treasurer and SS Moyie Project Manager, Kit Ashenhurst, for a lively conversation on their views of the place they call home.Enjoy!

On today's show, host Randy Morse muses on the need for more "compassionate competence" in the world as he walks along the Kootenay Lake beach in Kaslo with his dogs. He tosses in some new year's poetry, a little woodchopping, and an all-Canadian playlist by artists that include Caribou, The Fugitives, Bruce Cockburn, and the one-and-only Guy Lombardo & the Royal Canadians!

Lennart becomes a publisher. 

The first show of the new year finds host Randy Morse musing on 2025, and includes a moving essay by Frantisek Strouhal and Chantal Robert, a suggestion that we measure the passage of time all wrong, courtesy of Justin R. Joffe, and some suitably seasonal songs by Loreena McKennitt.Happy 2026!

Here's a look back — waaay back — featuring family matriarch Charlotte Morse, and Sue & Merle Williamson. Recorded on September 13, 2022, in Portland, Oregon. This recording is especially dedicated to Charlotte's grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces. Listen — and learn!

On today's show, host Randy Morse and pal Harel Challmie wander down to the Kaslo Adventure Store on Christmas Eve, to sing some carols and chat with co-owner Daphne and some patrons. Happy Holidays!

Today's show features a conversation with Hilary Schroeder, director of the Kaslo Library Association's production of A Christmas Carol, a theatrical reading by local spoken-word actors at the venerable Langham Theatre, as well as an inside look at Kaslo Food Hub's Christmas hamper program, and a performance by Kaslo's Kuimba Choir from the ensemble's recent Songs for a Winter's Night concert, recorded at Kaslo's historic St. Andrew's church.Happy Hanukkah, Happy Solstice, and a very Merry Christmas to you all!

For 182 years and counting, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, has touched the hearts of generations around the world.On Friday, December 19, 7 PM at Kaslo's historic Langham Theatre, the Kaslo & District Public Library's New Library Project is hosting a theatrical reading of Dickens' immortal seasonal story of redemption.Randy Morse, host of Kootenay Co-op Radio's long-running Radio Free Kaslo, sat down with the show's director, Hilary Schroeder, to chat about Dickens, the story, and the upcoming event. Tickets @ $20  at Sunnyside Naturals, and the Kaslo & District Public Library

The holidays are upon us.Here in tiny (but oh-so lovely) Kaslo, we've put the Christmas Market at the Canadian Legion and the Lightup Parade down Front Street behind us. Next up?On today's show, host Randy Morse reminds listeners that Songs for a Winter's Night, Kaslo's Kuimba Choir's holiday concerts, happen Friday December 12, at 7 PM, and Sunday December 14, at 2 PM — both at St. Andrew's United Church. Tickets available at Sunnyside Naturals and at the door.He ventures west to the snowy Slocan Valley, where he visits the annual Linden Lanes Farm Christmas Fair, and chats with the third generation farmer who makes it happen.Then he heads north, to Argenta, to a magical workshop where craftspeople and artisans are building gigantic, fire-breathing wooden dragons.And finally, he sits down with Hilary Schroeder for a conversation focussed on the most famous holiday story in the English language. Hilary is directing a dramatic reading featuring over a dozen locals, of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol at the venerable Langham Theatre on Friday, December 19, at 7 PM. Tickets available at Sunnyside Naturals and the Kaslo library.Throw in holiday-centric songs by brilliant Canadian artists Sarah McLachlan, Loreena McKennitt, and Kate & Anna McGarrigle, and you have a half-hour of seasonal listening guaranteed to get you in a celebratory state of mind — and heart!

Lennart discusses dogs and death with Delilah.

There aren't many tiny, isolated mountain villages that can boast of having a vibrant, long-running community choir like Kaslo's Kuimba!Come and join your friends & neighbours for the annual Kuimba Choir holiday concert — Songs for a Winter's Night — this Friday, December 12th, 7PM at Kaslo's historic St. Andrew's United Church, and/or this Sunday, December 12th, 2PM, also at St. Andrew's.Tickets are available at Kaslo's Sunnyside Naturals, or (if there are any left!), at the door.Come join your friends & neighbours, and usher in the festive season in style!

A team of intrepid artists, artisans, and craftspeople, tucked away in the forest in Argenta, British Columbia, are creating astonishing — and very large — wooden sculptures, all of them ultimately destined to go up in flames. Metaphors for the fleeting nature of life? Or simply really cool sh*t? Or perhaps both? You be the judge!

Winter is here. And for those of us who live in Kaslo, British Columbia that means a Kuimba Choir concert must be just around the corner!Radio Free Kaslo host Randy Morse sits down with Kuimba conductor Tamara Sunsong for a conversation that covers Tamara's musical background, and some of the highlights of the choir's upcoming Songs for a Winter's Night performances at Kaslo's St. Andrew's United Church, Friday December 12 (7 PM), and Sunday December 14 (2 PM).Enjoy!

Lennart muses about what it might be like to be a dog; he muses on what it takes to be a man; he meets alluring English librarian Delilah Freemantle.Enjoy!

On today's show, American Thanksgiving and Chapter Nine of The Man Who Became a Dog are featured. Enjoy!

On today's show, a conversation with Zia Fehrenbach about the upcoming Kootenay Roots Artists Showcase, and Chapter 8 of The Man Who Became a Dog,Enjoy!

A conversation with Zia Fehrenbach, Program Manager at Kaslo's Langham Cultural Centre and organizer of the upcoming Kootenay Roots Emerging Artists Showcase (Saturday, November 22, 7 PM at the Langham Theatre).

On today's show, how to help save a brave and indispensable weekly newspaper, The Valley Voice, and Chapter Seven of the RG Morse novel-in-progress, The Man Who Became a Dog.

On today's show, host Randy Morse muses on the role the arts could play in rural revitalization, and reads Chapter Six of his forthcoming novel, The Man Who Became a Dog.