Exclusive: The Long Road To Flin Flon – The Birth of Blues & Roots Radio

Stevie Connor circa 2024 - Photo Credit: Anne Connor

Introduction by Megan Routledge

In this deeply personal and exclusive feature, The Sound Cafe proudly presents a chapter from The Long Road to Flin Flon, the forthcoming memoir by our founder Stevie Connor.

Titled 'The Birth of Blues & Roots Radio', this installment offers an unfiltered glimpse into the pivotal moment when a small group of determined individuals — spanning continents —came together to reshape the future of community-driven radio.

Set against the backdrop of The Cove Inn in Westport, Ontario, and laced with transatlantic collaboration from Canada, Australia and Switzerland, Stevie recounts the formation of what would become a globally recognized platform for independent music. With candour, clarity, and characteristic emotional insight, he reflects on the fractures that led to reinvention, and the quiet strength required to break new ground.

This is more than a story about radio. It’s a story about trust, tenacity, and the kind of vision that can only be forged in the fire of hard-earned experience.

Over twelve years ago, my wife and I embarked on a journey that would redefine my passion for music and the very essence of community radio. The memories of those days are etched in the corridors of time, and looking back, it feels like a bittersweet melody playing in the recesses of my mind. It all began in Port Credit, Mississauga, a quaint town on the shores of Lake Ontario that we call home, it became the birthplace of my radio venture.

A local online radio station served as my creative canvas, and for 18 months, I curated a weekly Celtic, Folk, and Roots show. The music resonated through the digital airwaves, weaving a sonic tapestry that connected with hearts far and wide. Despite occasional hiccups in scheduling, the journey felt right, like dancing to the rhythm of an unpredictable tune.

Then, like a plot twist in a novel, fate knocked on our door. A meeting with the station owner revealed an unexpected proposition - the keys to a brand new URL he had bought named Blues & Roots Radio.

The prospect of leasing the URL, along with a provided producer and a monthly fee, hung in the air like a suspended note waiting to be played. Three existing shows formed the foundation, one of which was mine, and as the meeting progressed, a decision loomed on the horizon. We were given fifteen minutes to decide the fate of a dream.

My wife and I deliberated, weighing the risks and rewards. What did we have to lose?

With a leap of faith, we agreed to take on the challenge. We signed a lease agreement, and the responsibility to attract shows to the station became my new task. Day-to-day scheduling rested in the hands of the existing producer and owner who we would pay a monthly fee to. Months passed, and the station blossomed with a diverse lineup of quality shows I had spent time on bringing to the station, a harmonious collaboration spanning Canada and beyond. Yet, behind the scenes, a dissonance emerged.

Advertisements and stingers found their way into the back end without my knowledge, and the unsettling feeling that someone else was reaping the benefits gnawed at me. The whispers of discontent grew louder, and six presenters whose shows were now on board urged us to take control.

A pivotal meeting was held at The Cove Inn in Westport, Ontario, not far from Ottawa, initiated by two new Blues presenters who had recently joined our ranks. Anne and I made the journey, with some of us traveling from across Ontario, others from as far as Switzerland, and Neil Mitchell, co-founder of the newly acquired station, offered his insights and support from Australia, bridging the distance with his usual unwavering commitment.

Stevie Connor pictured with Blues & Roots Radio hosts after their meeting at The Cove Inn, with the evenings entertainment, The Hogtown All Stars

Photo Credit: Randy MacNeil

Out of that gathering, a plan quietly took shape. Trust had been strained in some quarters, and it was clear that for us to move forward with clarity and purpose, a new path had to be forged. What emerged was a parallel vision — a fresh start under the working name of a “ghost station”— agreed upon by all present. With consensus reached, Anne and I were given the responsibility of securing the infrastructure needed to make this transition possible, allowing us to move ahead free from the complications that had previously hindered progress.

Stevie & Anne Connor at The Cove Inn - Photo Credit: Randy MacNeil

The back end, a new website, and a collective financial effort by all in attendance laid the foundation for an alternative if negotiations faltered. The weight of uncertainty pressed on as we confronted the owner back in Toronto the following week. A fair offer was made, and we laid bare the shadows that had clouded our journey. We gave the owner the same fifteen minutes he gave us for an answer, those minutes stretched into an eternity as we awaited the owner's decision.

With a legal agreement in hand written up by our entertainment lawyer, the pen danced across the paper, and the deal was sealed. Blues & Roots Radio was now officially ours - a phoenix rising from the ashes of uncertainty.

Among the original roster of shows, one was quietly phased out early on. The presenter behind it was someone local — gregarious, someone we had once counted as a friend. But beneath the charm, we came to learn of manoeuvres that ran counter to everything we were trying to build. His reputation for leaving a trail of discontent wasn’t new; in fact, it had preceded him. Still, the decision to cut ties stirred some local unrest. But we weren’t in this to appease a neighbourhood circle — we were building something that resonated far beyond. Our compass was set to global.

In hindsight, that moment was a turning point. The station, now firmly in our hands, stood on the threshold of something greater. But the storm was only just gathering. In a last-ditch attempt to undermine us, the former presenter took to social media, throwing around slanderous accusations in a clear effort to discredit what we’d built. What he didn’t count on was that we’d anticipated this very move. Buried in the fine print of the agreement signed by the owner of the URL — when the URL was officially handed over —was a clause that spelled it out plainly: any public defamation would trigger legal action.

The posts vanished almost as quickly as they had appeared. Sometimes the loudest voices fall silent when met with their own signatures. The true colours of a few were beginning to show — and this was just the start.

Before the social media posts were removed, I made a point of reading every single comment — and I screen-shotted each one. shockingly, some of the more derogatory remarks came from the new presenters we had recently welcomed and who had been part of the get-together at West Port. Others came from artists we had previously featured and supported. Go figure.

Some of the comments we reviewed were not only harsh, but shockingly uninformed and unnecessarily personal. Ironically, some of those same individuals — including artists who either left comments themselves or were closely aligned with those who did — would later go on to submit their music to us at Blues & Roots Radio for feature consideration.

I still can’t quite fathom how, as an artist, publicist or manager, as someone who could publicly post such remarks, would then ask us down the line, to support their work!

The station, now firmly in our hands, stood on the threshold of something greater. What I didn’t yet realize was that this was just the start of the real storm — where true colours would surface, and loyalty would be tested in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

It's funny how life throws unexpected turns your way, leading you down paths you never thought you'd tread. Back then, as an independent artist, I found solace in the harmony of instruments and the camaraderie of a band. The stage felt like home, but life had other plans, and I found myself at the crossroads of necessity and opportunity. The struggle for financial stability is a tale familiar to many artists.

The stage lights that once embraced me were replaced by the fluorescent hum of a production line. The automotive world, a realm I had left behind in the UK, beckoned me again in Canada. The call came from a tier two supplier to Ford, seeking hands for their assembly line. I hesitated, uncertain about this detour from my musical journey. However, bills don't wait for the perfect gig, and dreams need to be fuelled by a steady income. So, I donned a different hat, adding components to car seats destined for a Ford plant.

Surprisingly, the monotony of the production line didn't suffocate me. Instead, I thrived in the routine, finding satisfaction in the simplicity of a manual job. I couldn't stand idly by, and soon, my work ethic caught the eye of the supervisors. One day, an unexpected opportunity knocked — a chance to oversee agency personnel offsite. I accepted the challenge, and this small step led me to the plant manager's office. The supervisor's departure opened a door, offering me a permanent position running the night shift. It wasn't the spotlight I was accustomed to, but it was stability. Years slipped by, and my role evolved. Night shifts turned into overseeing plant operations, and then, a chance to step into the daylight emerged — the role of Quality Control Supervisor on the day shift. The transition wasn't smooth. Stress became a daily companion, and the plant manager's disapproval lingered in the air. I found myself navigating a complex dance, ensuring my tracks were covered in the intricate choreography of corporate life.

The pressure was relentless, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this path was taking a toll on my well-being. And then, it happened — an unexpected blow from fate. I had handed in my notice and was about to start a new job in the aerospace industry on the coming Monday.

After a night out with friends at the weekend taking in some music, we had returned home, and I began to feel unwell, losing my bearings, feeling confused and nauseous.

The brain aneurysm struck that Sunday evening, casting me into the unknown.

I was rushed to hospital, thanks to the quick thinking of my wife, and I spent the next seven days in emergency and then on to a ward. I was unable to take up the position of my new employment and the ensuing financial limbo compounded the situation. The government's assistance remained elusive, leaving me adrift.

In the midst of this crisis, a familiar call resurfaced — the call of music. It echoed with a renewed determination, a resolve to conquer the challenges ahead. The forced pause became a pivotal moment, pushing me back into the arms of my true passion. As I faced the uncertainty of recovery, I realized that life's twists and turns had a way of guiding us back to where we truly belong. The beat of the drum, the strum of the guitar, the skirl of the pipes — it was time to reclaim the rhythm of my life and face the music, not as an escape, but as a triumphant return.

It's not often that we share our most vulnerable moments. The intricacies of our struggles often remain hidden beneath the surface, visible only to those who truly know us. I want to peel back the layers of my own story, not as a plea for sympathy but as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Stevie with his youngest brother Euan, who travelled to Port Credit to see him after his brain aneurysm in 2014

In 2014, my life took that unexpected turn. A brain aneurysm, an uninvited intruder, barged into my existence, leaving behind a trail of challenges that would test the core of my being. Most people in my circle were oblivious to the battle I was waging within, the silent war against a force that sought to redefine my very existence.

In the aftermath of the stroke, I found myself grappling with a darkness I had never known. For a day or so, the world plunged into blackness as I lost my sight entirely. It was a disorienting experience, a stark reminder of the fragility of the senses we often take for granted. Slowly, the light began to seep back into my world, but it was accompanied by a new set of hurdles.

Communication, once a seamless dance of words, became a tangled web. I found myself forgetting sentences midway, words slipping through the cracks of my mind like sand through fingers. Weeks turned into a blur of frustration as I navigated this unfamiliar terrain. Coordination, that effortless symphony of movement, betrayed me. A simple act like pouring sugar into my coffee became a comedy witnessed by friends who, bless their hearts, turned those moments into shared laughter, a lifeline in the chaos.

The sterile scent of the hospital lingered in my memory long after I was discharged. Seven days confined to a hospital bed felt like an eternity. I replayed those moments over and over, each tick of the clock echoing the fragility of life. The brain aneurysm had knocked me off my feet, and for a day or two, it had stolen my sight.

But gradually, the world around me re-emerged from the shadows, and I was allowed the luxury of returning home. Home, however, was not quite the sanctuary I remembered. Anne, my steadfast partner in both life and radio, was doing her best to maintain a sense of normalcy.

Yet, beneath her reassuring smile, I sensed an undercurrent of unease. Something had shifted, and I was about to discover the seismic tremors that had shaken the foundation of Blues & Roots Radio during my hospital stay. In my absence, the station had teetered on the edge of chaos. I had been the architect of its schedule, the curator of its shows. But when illness struck, the responsibility fell on Anne and Neil, our partner on the other side of the world in Australia. They juggled the intricate dance of programming to keep the music flowing seamlessly.

Stevie at home in Port Credit, Ontario, Canada talking music, circa 2016

Photo Credit: Anne Connor

Then, the unexpected call came. Late into one of those interminable hospital nights, a radio host — one of the six who had once cheered us on to buy the station URL — decided to make a power play. Ignoring any semblance of empathy or concern, he demanded that Anne sign everything over to him. The station, the heart of our collective passion, was being held hostage by someone who saw opportunity in my vulnerability.

Anne, caught off guard and undoubtedly stressed, made a swift transcontinental call to our partner, Neil, in Australia. Within the hour, our errant host had been put in his place, firmly reminded that his ambition had overstepped the boundaries of decency. The attempt to wrest control from us was thwarted, but the damage to my perception of trust was lasting.

As I lay recuperating in a bed, blindsided by the very community I had helped foster, a flame of determination ignited within me. Livid at the audacity of this individual, I made a silent vow. This setback was not going to define us. It would be a catalyst for a renewed commitment to our shared dream.

Stevie Connor & Neil Mitchell, Lorient, Brittany, France circa 2017

Photo Credit: Anne Connor

The three amigos — Anne, Neil, and myself — forged an unspoken pact in the crucible of that moment. We decided, with unyielding resolve, to build the best international radio station in the world, a platform dedicated to independent artists who deserved to be heard.

Neil delved into the technical intricacies, Anne fortified the business foundations, and I, fuelled by a visceral disgust for betrayal, took charge of the scheduling. The road to recovery stretched before me, and I embraced it with a determination born from adversity.

The physical healing was just one part of the journey; the other was the resurrection of Blues & Roots Radio from the ashes of a nearly disastrous turn of events. I was going to get well, and together, the three of us were going to build the best damn station in the world.

In the midst of the chaotic swirl of 2014, a year that seemed to echo with uncertainty and change, our small venture embarked on a journey that would shape its destiny. It was a time when the world was navigating the uncharted waters of technological evolution, and we, too, sought to harness the power of innovation to carve our niche in the vast landscape of global media.

Neil, with his keen sense of foresight and determination, took it upon himself to navigate the sea of possibilities that lay before us. The task at hand was monumental — developing a robust system to acquire shows from around the world for our programming schedule. Amidst the noise, he delved deep into the intricacies of platforms that promised not only quality output but also ease of uploading and scheduling. Our salvation came in the form of a company called Wavestream, nestled in the heart of the UK. Little did we know that this discovery would become the linchpin of our success.

Wavestream, like a hidden gem, transformed over the course of a year into Radio.co , based in the vibrant city of Manchester. It was a serendipitous find, and despite a few initial learning curves and hiccups, it became the sturdy platform upon which we built our digital empire. Everything was now cloud-based, a concept that seemed almost ethereal at the time. However, with persistence and a commitment to learning, we seamlessly integrated this technology into our operations. In 2014, we stood at the forefront as one of the first online radio businesses to sign up for Radio.co's revolutionary venture.

As the years unfolded, our marriage with Radio.co proved to be enduring and fruitful. The quality of our presenters, coupled with the impeccable sound quality delivered by Radio.co, garnered us accolades that adorned our journey like milestones. In 2017, we were honoured to receive The Mississauga South Home-Based Business Excellence Award from the legislature of Ontario, presented to us by Charles Sousa MPP. It was recognition of our dedication to independent artists across the globe from our base in Port Credit..

The pinnacle of our journey materialized in 2021 when the International Singer-Songwriter Association (ISSA) in Atlanta and Nashville named us the Best International Radio Station.

This recognition was particularly special as it emanated from the very community we were established to serve — the international artists whose voices we amplified. It takes a village, they say, and in our case, it was a global village that contributed to our triumphs.

The fantastic presenters, the dedicated core team, our loyal listeners, managers, publicists, and the trusting artists who shared their creations — each played an indispensable role in our narrative.

Stevie Connor accepting the ISSA Award for Best International Radio Station 2021

As I reflect on the journey, the glint of those awards on our office shelf serves as a poignant reminder of the collective effort that propelled us forward. Every accolade, every moment of recognition, is a testament to the power of collaboration and the extraordinary potential that lies within a global village united by a shared passion. I am humbled, eternally grateful, and ever so proud of the village that helped us transform a dream into a reality.

As I sit here, reflecting on the journey we embarked upon, it feels like a lifetime ago when the three of us, Anne, Neil and I made that pivotal decision. The notion that for our platform to truly shine, we needed to be more than just a virtual entity. We needed to immerse ourselves in the vibrant tapestry of festivals and conferences around the world. Our ambition was audacious, but so were our dreams.

Boots on the ground, that was our mantra. Canada was our starting point, but Australia and Europe beckoned.

Those are entirely different chapters on The Long Road To Flin Flon ...

Stevie Connor, a Scottish-born polymath of the music scene, is renowned for his versatility across various domains within the industry. Initially destined for football, Stevie's heart found its true calling in music. His multifaceted journey has seen him excel as a musician, composer, recording artist, journalist, and internet radio pioneer.

In 2012, Stevie laid the foundation for Blues and Roots Radio, an online platform that quickly became a global stage for blues, roots, folk, Americana, and Celtic music. His visionary leadership propelled the platform to international acclaim. Not content with just one venture, Stevie expanded his influence in 2020 by founding The Sound Cafe Magazine, a multilingual platform dedicated to artist interviews, album reviews, and music news.

Stevie's impact extends beyond these platforms. His discerning ear and industry acumen have presented opportunities to be selected as a juror for national awards such as the JUNO Awards, the Canadian Folk Music Awards, and the Maple Blues Awards. Through his tireless efforts, he has earned a solid reputation within the music community, garnering respect from peers and artists alike.

Despite his extensive responsibilities, Stevie remains deeply connected to his roots, both musically and geographically. He continues to contribute to the vibrant tapestry of the music world, ensuring his influence resonates far beyond any single platform. Stevie's enduring passion and commitment to music make him a true luminary in the industry.

Stevie is a verified journalist on the global PR platform, Muck Rack.

muckrack.com/stevie-connor

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