Winterfolk Blues & Roots Festival in Toronto

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The Winterfolk Blues & Roots Festival is proud to announce the stellar lineup for the upcoming TENTH ANNUAL WINTERFOLK FESTIVAL which will take place from February 17-19, 2012 at the Delta Chelsea, Toronto’s Entertainment Hotel. Performances will fill Monarchs Pub, the Market Garden Stage and various other stages, all within the hotel. In this 10^th year, the festival will feature alumni from the first year including Danny Marks, David Gillis, Jack DeKeyzer, Jory Nash, Laura Fernandez, Mr. Rick & The Biscuits, Noah Zacharin, Tony Quarrington and founder Brian Gladstone. Returning artists and newcomers include Lynn Miles, Ariana Gillis, Lynne Hanson, Jay Aymar, Gary Kendall, David Essig and more! For more information and complete schedule please visit www.winterfolk.com

From its humble roots (initially the festival was staged at a few clubs in the Spadina and College area and drew about 500 people), it moved to the Danforth and grew in concept, scope, appeal and artistic value. It rapidly drew attention from artists, media, venues and audiences as well as all facets of the blues and roots communities in Toronto. Winterfolk’s success in part, came from providing much-needed commerce and revenue to area merchants during a typically slow retail time. Presented annually in February, Winterfolk fills a gap in the calendars of festival- goers, artists and the community.

Winterfolk, now celebrates its 10^th year by featuring those artists that were there from its inception and those returning to join the festivities. Singer/storyteller Jory Nash was one of the first-year musicians along with sultry Latin singer Laura Fernandez, mesmerizing singer-songwriter Noah Zacharin, guitar genius Tony Quarrington, original alt-country power trio Mr. Rick & The Biscuits, award-winning fingerstyle guitar champ David Gillis and  outstanding blues faves Danny Marks and Jack DeKeyzer. Returning artists include “Bernie Taupin fave” Ariana Gillis, shoot from the hipster Jay Aymar, bluesmen Gary Kendall (Downchild), Al Lerman (Fathead), the legendary David Essig, and award-winning Rick Taylor.

Juno and Canadian Folk Music Award winner Lynn Miles will showcase on the Market Garden stage as well as present workshops in the special “Listening Room” on the 27^th floor. Another award-winning Lynn (Lynn Hanson) will bring her ”porch music with a little Texas red dirt” to the festival stages.

Many of this year’s lineup have played the festival in previous years such as roots music pioneers Crabtree & Mills, “colour blind” Brian Blain, known for his successful campfire jam sessions at various festivals, powerhouse roots/pop songstress Grainne, John Jackson of Kensington Market and Perth County Conspiracy fame, dynamic vintage hillbilly swing duo HOTCHA!, five-piece veterans of Tommy Hunter fame Whiskey Jack, earnest folk duo Sue & Dwight, driving guitar-picker Phillip Brown, preacher to the choir, the Reverend Max Woolaver Band and roots/folk/country picking icons The Guitar Boys of Alderon.

Winterfolk prides itself on helping to boost the careers of newcomers and this year is no exception. Audiences will be stunned by the extreme talent and high energy of emerging bands like frenzied fiddler Jaron Freeman Fox & the Opposite of Everything, gypsy/Balkan/klezmer street-folk revolutionaries The Lemon Bucket Orkestra, wild gypsy, old-jazz, klezmer, folk troupe The Boxcar Boys, “Emmylou Harris meets unplugged vintage rock ‘n roll” band The Wanted, harmony queens from Kingston The Lady Racers and rockabilly sensation The Allistair Christl Trio.

ARTIST LINEUP: (For complete bios & websites please visit www.winterfolk.com )

Al Lerman

Alastai Artingstall

Ariana Gillis

A Yellow Field

Brian Blain

Brian Gladstone

Crabtree & Mills

D’Arcy Wickham

Dan McVeigh

Danny Marks

David Essig

David Gillis

Gary Kendall

Grainne

Greg Quill

HOTCHA!

Howard Gladstone

Ian Reid

Jack DeKeyzer

Jaron Freeman Fox & the Opposite of Everything

Jay Aymar    

John Jackson

Jory Nash

Laura Fernandez

Lynn Miles

Lynne Hanson

Maneli Jamal

Marie Lynn Hammond

Max Woolaver Band

Michael Fitzpatrick

Moonshine Café

Mr. Rick

Mr. Rick & The Biscuits

Noah Zacharin

Phillip Brown

Phonogarde

Richard Henderson

Rick Donaldson

Rick Taylor

Roger Scannura & Ritmo Flamenco

Russell Leon

Same Latidude as Rome

Steve Raiken

Sue and Dwight

The Allistair Christl Trio

The Boxcar Boys

The Guitar Boys of Alderon

The Lady Racers

The Lemon Bucket Orkestra

The Wanted

Tia McGraff

Tony Quarrington

Whiskey Jack

PLUS Community Stages: Best of Acoustic Tuesdays at the Delta, Pete Otis Presents, Sunday afternoons at Sarah’s Cafe & Bar, Moonshine Café, SPEAK Music Presents, Seneca College Independent Music Program, Songwriters Unite, Jim Priebe Presents Stouffville Artists and NSAI.