The holidays are nearly here, and CKUA has heaps of programming to keep you listening through the break. From deep musical conversations to thoughtful tributes and season-shaped soundtracks, CKUA’s holiday programming offers something special for every listener. Here’s a closer look at some of the highlights you can hear over the holidays.
Shimmer Johnson on Open Nights with Mark Rodgers
Saturday, December 20 and Saturday, December 27, 9pm – 12am MT
Get ready for a standout double-feature on Open Nights with Mark Rodgers! Across each three-hour show, Rodgers will spotlight Shimmer Johnson’s genre-defying talent, from pop and rock to EDM and metal, and more.
As a Grammy-nominated, Recording Academy member, Shimmer Johnson has been turning heads with everything from emotional singer-songwriter tracks to electrifying collaborations with EDM producer YELRIHS and beyond.
Shimmer’s heading to L.A. this February for the Awards and major industry networking, and she’ll share the story of how she became an Academy member and what’s on the horizon. Learn about her wide-ranging projects, from Circle the Wolves’ metal to dance collabs that light up the floor. Don’t miss this deep dive with an artist who truly covers it all!
Holger Peterson Remembers Tim Williams on Natch’l Blues
Saturday, December 20, 3pm – 5pm MT
Natch’l Blues with Holger Peterson opens with a heartfelt tribute to the late Tim Williams during the first hour of the show. He’ll celebrate Tim’s remarkable legacy through his own recordings and his powerful collaborations with Little Miss Higgins, Triple Threat, The Highwater Jug Band, BMW, and C.J. Chenier on a journey through the many sounds he helped shape.
The night also brings a special seasonal twist, featuring holiday blues classics from Jimmy McCracklin, Katie Webster, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robert Nighthawk, Lou Ann Barton, and more.
Bob Chelmick Celebrates the Longest Night of the Year on The Road Home
Sunday, December 21, 10pm – 12am MT
Join Bob Chelmick on The Road Home as he marks the longest night of the year and welcomes the slow return of light at the start of Christmastide. The program will feature a rich soundtrack for the season, with festive and contemplative contributions from Mary Chapin Carpenter, Calexico, Tori Amos, The Wailin’ Jennys, Mark Knopfler, Kate Rusby, Peter, Paul and Mary, Sting, and many more. Poetry, song, and storytelling weave together voices including Annie Dillard, Mark Strand, Sheri-D Wilson, and Thomas Trofimuk, creating a warm, thoughtful companion for the turning of the year.
Christmas Day programming on CKUA
Thursday, December 25
You’ll hear different voices in the mix during our Christmas Day programming. Kerry Clarke will host Alberta Morning, followed by Jeff Kynoch hosting Discoveries. Leeroy Stagger will present a special holiday episode of The Upload, and Terry David Mulligan is your host for Thoroughfare. Grant Stovel will host a special Christmas program during the Traffic Jams timeslot. You’ll hear jazz with a holiday flavour when Kodi Hutchinson hosts A Time for Jazz and Jeff Kynoch hosts The Cookbook. Amy van Keeken will help us relax after a busy day with a special episode of Twilight.
Cam Hayden’s Top 12 of 2025 on Friday Night Blues Party
Friday, December 26, 9pm – 12am MT
Celebrate the year in blues on Friday, December 26, with Cam Hayden’s Friday Night Blues Party. This special edition counts down Cam’s Top 12 Blues Albums for 2025, plus a deep stack of honourable mentions drawn from a list of more than 30 standout releases. Hear essential tracks from Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’, Maria Muldaur, John Primer, Doug MacLeod, Roomful of Blues, and many more, alongside powerful new voices like Angelique Francis and Candice Ivory.
Sarah McLachlan on Mulligan Stew
Saturday, December 27, 5pm – 7pm MT
This episode of Mulligan Stew with Terry David Mulligan features a special in-depth conversation with Sarah McLachlan. She reflects on her 1991 World Vision trip to Thailand and Cambodia and how it shaped her values, her iconic Lilith Fair festival, and the story behind the new documentary. She also discusses the 30th-anniversary tour of Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, her new album Better Broken, and the realities of motherhood and music. She also talks about the Sarah McLachlan School of Music, CKUA’s 100th anniversary, the health of her voice, and how deeply her songs continue to affect audiences.
View CKUA’s full Holiday Schedule to see even more great programming this season.
