Reprinted from the Beach Metro Community New

By Melinda Drake • March 7, 2012

Mark Denington may be a renovator by trade but he is a blues guitarist at heart. The Beach contractor spends his days taping drywall and nailing trim, but at night he sits down with his six-string Martin guitar and sings the blues. Read the rest of this entry »

Reprinted from Canadian Special Events

Music, conversation and laughter filled the air on February 16^th as the tenth annual Winterfolk Festival kicked off its official launch party at the Delta Chelsea Hotel in Toronto, Ontario.  Presented by not-for-profit organization, The Association of Artist for a Better World, and running from February 17^th to the 19^th, volunteers, media and artists were treated to a night of music at the hotel’s Monarch Pub.   Attracting close to 7000 people per year, the event is free and is run solely by the support of volunteers, granting agencies, and a series of fundraising events throughout the year. Read the rest of this entry »

Road veteran Jay Aymar was one of many acts showcased this past weekend at Winterfolk’s 10th anniversary festival in Toronto, held for the first time at the Delta Chelsea Hotel. Jay’s keen eye makes this post, from the performer’s perspective, a charming capsule of the weekend. There’s more where that came from on his excellent blog, Jay Aymar – Road Stories.

I walk through the big glass revolving door and am met with two small children having their faces painted by a friendly looking teenage girl. They appear happily innocent as they stand Read the rest of this entry »

CLICK HEADING FOR THE FULL STORY

Reprinted from Oye! Times

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 10th 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. Read the rest of this entry »

WINTERFOLK: This annual festival helps chase away the winter blues for Toronto lovers of roots and folk music. In past years it has been held in different venues in the Danforth/Broadview area, but this year (its 10th anniversary) Winterfolk will be held under one roof, at different stages in the Delta Chelsea Hotel, Feb. 17-19. Read the rest of this entry »

by: norm nelson 

Guests and vistors at the downtown Delta Chelsea Hotel might be forgiven over the Family Day weekend for thinking a summer folk festival has broken out. And they won’t be too far off the mark with Winterfolk – Toronto’s unique winter roots music festival now in its 10th year – literally taking over the hotel. Read the rest of this entry »

The Winterfolk music festival is planting new roots for its 10th annual weekend in February, moving from the Danforth to the Delta Chelsea Hotel in downtown Toronto.

The three-day roots music festival will run Feb. 17 to 19 at Monarchs Pub, the Market Garden Stage and various other stages all within the hotel which is located at 33 Gerrard St. W. Read the rest of this entry »

 The Winterfolk music festival is planting new roots for its 10th annual weekend in February, moving from the Danforth to the Delta Chelsea Hotel in downtown Toronto. Read the rest of this entry »

WINTERFOLK BLUES & ROOTS FESTIVAL

 Folk music’s its own world, so it seems appropriate that this annual winter festival sets up camp east of Yonge, where roots music fans and musicians crisscross the Danforth through wind and snow. A multi-generational, volunteer-driven, pay-what-you-can affair, Winterfolk offers up-and-comers like a cappella duo the Blackest Crow the opportunity to play alongside veterans like Mose Scarlett, Melwood Cutlery and David Essig Read the rest of this entry »

February 21, 2011Author: Shawna Caspi

Canadians boast of our winter heartiness, our perseverance through sleet and slush, teeth bared and shovels brandished. We’re proud of how we brave the elements and celebrate the snowy season with outdoor sports and activities.
Read the rest of this entry »

On The Beat
By Kerry Doole
Originally Published: 2011-02-20

WINTERFOLK: It has certainly been a miserable winter to date, but Toronto folk and roots music fans will be warmed by the return of this popular and mostly free festival. Now in its ninth Read the rest of this entry »

Winterfolk IX Blues and Roots festival

w/ Freeman Dre & the Kitchen Party, Minotaurs, Jack Marks and more

Various venues, tonight (Thursday, February 17) to Monday (February 21)

Entering its ninth year, the folk, roots and blues festival takes over the Danforth February 17 to 21, with 150 artists playing at six local venues. All of the gigs are free except for Saturday night’s talent-stacked bash at Eastminster United Church (310 Danforth), where you can catch the Warped 45s (pictured), the Minotaurs, Freeman Dre & the Kitchen Party and many more for $15, or $12 in advance. winterfolk.com.

Cure the February blahs with four-day roots music festival

 

The ninth annual Winterfolk music festival on tap throughout this Family Day holiday weekend will feature more than 150 musicians on seven stages in six venues, on the west Danforth between Broadview and Chester subway stations. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Marie-Lynn Hammond

Four musicians from the region will be showcased at Winterfolk, the roots/folk/blues fest in downtown TO, on Sunday, 20 February, at 1 p.m. at the Black Swan pub, 154 Danforth. Details here. It’s a FREE, not-for-profit festival, happening all week long in various venues on the Danforth, though donations are certainly welcome to help pay the musicians.

The Performers Read the rest of this entry »

More than 150 artists on seven stages

By NORM NELSON – Local music lovers are in for a treat over the upcoming Family Day holiday weekend as the annual Winterfolk music festival will once again take over the western end of the Danforth.

More than 150 artists are slated to perform on seven stages located in six different venues from Friday, February 18 right through to Monday, Feb. 21.

Venues include Black Swan Tavern (two stages), Mambo Lounge, Dora Keogh, Terri O's Sports Bar, Eastminster United Church and Danforth Baptist Church. Toronto Community News and The Mirror are an official sponsor.

With the festival run on a not-for-profit basis, volunteers and sponsors are also always welcome. Read the rest of this entry »

by Jacqueline Delange , Posted Friday 4th February
 

Winter is when much of the world hibernates, but Canadians are Winterfolk at heart.

So it's only natural that Toronto is hosting its annual Winterfolk Festival for the ninth consecutive year.From February 18th to 21st, 150 artists will scatter along Danforth hot-spots for the ultimate indoor "urban blues and roots festival."

All ages are welcome to rock out to artists such as James Gordon, Mose Scarlett, Jory Nash, Joanne Crabtree and Tannnis Slimmon. Read the rest of this entry »

A Four-Day Live Music Wonderland

Written by Ori Dagan

AS THE WINTER WEEKS DWINDLE down to a precious few, here are some good excuses to head straight to the clubs:

Who knew Toronto was such a hotbed of folk, roots and blues talent? Meet The Association of Artists for a Better World, organizers of Winterfolk. Read the rest of this entry »

A Better World Songs of Canada Album made Top 30 Charts in B.C.! WOW! We really made our way across the nation! Great hits played by CFBX 92.5 FM, 350 Watts in Kamloops, B.C.!  http://www.thex.ca/ Right on!

The ninth annual Winterfolk Festival will again take place in Toronto this February.

But before then, its organizers and musicians are offering people a sneak peak at what’s to come with a fundraising concert right here in Oakville.

The Winterfolk IX Preview Show will take place at the Moonshine Café on Saturday, Dec. 11. Read the rest of this entry »

By Greg Quill Entertainment Reporter, Entertainment Columnist

Where Have All the Protest Songs Gone

Back   Interview Portion with Brian Gladstone below.

One after another, the simple yet profoundly affecting songs that moved a generation — a couple of generations, actually — poured forth like some kind of healing sacrament.

“Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” “Turn, Turn, Turn.” “We Shall Not Be Moved.” “Amazing Grace.” “We Shall Ove Read the rest of this entry »

By Martin C. Winer, www.martincwiner.com – Reprinted from Folkprints Magazine, Spring / Summer Edition, 2010 – Photos by Madelon Cooper

Record crowds attended the eight annual Winterfolk Roots and Blues festival held in downtown Toronto, over the weekend of February 12-15, 2010. Most of the venues were at, or over capacity. Similar to a summer park festival, schedule-toting attendee’s strolled from stage to stage to see their favorite artists. When Winterfolk joined the OCFF in 2003, folk festivals were customarily rural events, staged in parks scattered throughout Southern Ontario. When campgrounds fell silent, so too did much of Ontario’s folk music.

 Brian Gladstone founded Winterfolk determined not to let Canada’s climate restrict the artform. Winterfolk was conceived to break the mold of a traditional folk festival and bring the music to the people in the city, in the depth of winter. In recent years, Winterfolk has been able to waive admission fees, and Read the rest of this entry »

More than 100 musicians to performs at four Danforth venues

By Norm Nelson The eighth annual Winterfolk festival is coming back to the Danforth, running all four days over the Family Day holiday weekend, Feb. 12 to 15. More than 100 musicians will perform in four Danforth venues on six stages. The venues are the Willow Restaurant and the Black Swan Tavern, each with two stages, as well as Dora Keogh and the Mambo Lounge.

Read the rest of this entry »

WINTERFOLK VIII — FEB 12-15, 2010

TORONTO – Mark it in your calendar! The EIGHTH ANNUAL Winterfolk Festival is back for, not three, but FOUR days of your favourite folk, roots and blues musicians. After an extensive search for new talent through auditions held in several Ontario cities, the Winterfolk festival – which runs from Read the rest of this entry »

 Reprinted from Toronto Moon Magazine Read the rest of this entry »

Auditions for Winterfolk VIII are heating up and aspiring performers have two more chances to try their luck. The Toronto festival promoting roots, blues, folk and other musical styles has been expanded to four days. Read the rest of this entry »

Reprinted from the Toronto Star

GREG QUILL – ENTERTAINMENT COLUMNIST

Brian Gladstone started Winterfolk to help his music career. Now he keeps in the background Read the rest of this entry »

  Jessica Brooks – A & E Reporter

NORM NELSON | Feb 05, 2009 – 1:49 PM The seventh annual Winterfolk music festival, which runs next weekend at four Danforth establishments between Broadview and Chester subway stops affords a great chance for local roots music fans to beat both the February blahs and the recession blues. About 100 artists will perform throughout the weekend, which runs Friday, Feb. 13, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday, Feb. 14, 2 p.m. to 1 a.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 15, 2 to 7 p.m. They'll perform on six stages in the four Danforth establishments – The Black Swan Tavern (two rooms), The Willow Restaurant (two rooms), Read the rest of this entry »

   Winterfolk –  February 8 – 10, 2008 • Various Venues • Toronto Tzatziki + Acoustic Guitar + Snow = Winterfolk by Laila Boulos with photos by Dougal Bichan A folk music festival on the edge of Toronto's Greektown? It seems ambitious and, perhaps, a tad out of place. Yet, surprisingly, the neighbourhood and venues chosen are perfect complements for the music during this annual folk festival. A brief history of Winterfolk: originally created to heal all those suffering from that dreaded illness that inflicts the majority of our population at this time of year. Yes! We’re talking about the reviled…Festival Read the rest of this entry »

Reprinted from Guitar Licks and Tips

By: Chris Category:. The 2009th Winterfolk Festival is a roots/folk/blues festival that is held in the East end of Toronto known as The Danforth, in selected Pubs. Read the rest of this entry »

 Feb 08, 2008 By Rick Kardonne Tribune Correspondent  TORONTO – Perhaps one of the most openly creative eclectic folk festivals yet to be experienced in Toronto will happen at various venues on Danforth Avenue on from Feb. 8 to 10: the Sixth Annual Winterfolk Blues and Roots Festival. Festival Director Brian Gladstone personifies this feeling of creative openness. Read the rest of this entry »

Reprinted From Penguin Eggs Magazine Issue 32, Winter 2006 Winterfolk V by David McPherson

Brian Gladstone, a child of the folk revolution of the 60's, was bred on Dylan. Forty years on, he still sports the hippie-long locks as a physical reminder to this seminal time in roots music. Meeting the founder of Winterfolk for a pint, one learns how this former design and research engineer gave up a six-figure day job to pursue his passion. "It's a vision I had," he says. "Its one of those spur-of-the-moment things that came to me and it has taken on a momentum of its own" What Gladstone did with this musical momentum, from the outset, was try to emulate a summer festival. He lined up a bunch of venues in close proximity on the Danforth, Read the rest of this entry »

  Benefit Concert for Street Haven .. Read the rest of this entry »

Sept 26, 2006 

This 15-track collection of songs from both female and male North American artists (with Australian and Norwegian representation) is a life-affirming musical project humbly shadowing its more famous and forceful predecessor, “Woodstock”. Check out the Bob Dylan-inspired ‘Gift (One Iraqi Child)’ and ‘No One Can Stop Me When I’m Out to be Good’, from Josh White Jr., a latter-day Richie Havens. One of the many things I like about this CD is that it offers a wide exposure to lesser-known female musicians, who, unless they are willing to expose more than their musical talent, are very often overlooked in the higher echelons of the industry. West Coast ladies Christa Couture, Quincy, Elaine Dempsey, Blair Hansen, Adrienne Jones, Margo Hennebach and Toronto’s Laura Fernandez all deserve Read the rest of this entry »

Various Artists

Available from IndiePool.com

A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange by Mike Jurkovic ([email protected]) Well you won't find anything close to Blowin' In The Wind or The Times They Are a-Changin' here, but you will find plenty of awareness and the need for vigilance in these unstable times. Read the rest of this entry »

Reviewed June 2006

Vertrieb-Nr.: 001-2004 Titel: Day 4, Give It Away, Beggar's Audience, Gift (One Iraqi Child), Hollows, Our Love Is Beautiful, Guardians, Change My World, Riverboatman, Too Young To Die, Weapons Of Mass Instruction, Catch The Spirit, A Mouse's Crumb, The Other Side, N Read the rest of this entry »

 Copyright 2006). All rights reserved. ) Music lovers can enjoy a little free entertainment and goodwill at the fifth annual Brian Gladstone's Picnic for Peace at Mel Lastman Square. The event, presented by the Association of Artists for a Better World, will feature 13 blues and roots artists continuously from noon to 10 p.m. on July 29. Read the rest of this entry »

Protest Songs For A Better World 2006 Submissions are open: Learn More Years with Sonicbids: 2 # of Artists Selected in 2006: 12

1) How many Sonicbids artists did you select?

We selected twelve Sonicbids artists for the compilation CD ‘Protest Songs for a Better World – Volume 1’. Due to the large numbers of high caliber submissions received, we found the evaluation and selection process to be tremendously difficult. However, after much deliberation, our team of judges was able to narrow it down to required twelve tracks Read the rest of this entry »

Reprinted from North York Mirror Newspaper

North York roots musician Brian Gladstone is bringing a huge roots festival, called Winterfolk, with more than 80 artists to the Danforth area of Toronto this weekend. But for his next major endeavour, the former student at William L. Mackenzie Collegiate Institute is promising to stay right at home in North York where he was born, raised and still lives. He said the first annual Brian Gladstone picnic for peace will be held July 19 in Mel Lastman Square. "I'm having a good old-fashioned peace rally," he said in a recent interview. This weekend, however, all his energies will be on his huge Winterfolk festival, which is now in its fourth year, having started at College and Spadina but is now in its second year at the Danforth location. Winterfolk is billed as a blues and roots festival, "which basically leaves it wide open", said Gladstone. "Roots music, to me, what that means is music that evolved or is indigenous to Canada or North America, which is all the folk styles, country music, bluegrass – those things evolved here. And that's mainly what we're focusing on." Read the rest of this entry »

Reprinted from the North York Mirror Newspaper by NORM nelson More from this author

Jan. 26, 2006 Winterfolk Brings Roots Music To Danforth

Big city residents who are fans of guitar pickin' and roots music usually have to pencil in a summer folk festival in a rural area to get their fill. Next weekend, however, a festival is coming to you. In its fourth year, Winterfolk will run all next weekend (Feb. 3-5) from Friday night to Sunday. And for the second straight year, it's being held right in our neck of the woods, in a cluster of a half a dozen venues on the Danforth, near Broadview. The festival is the brainchild of Brian Gladstone, born and raised in North York and a noted roots musician himself with four CDs to his credit. He is also one of the more than 80 performers lined up. With Randi Fratkin on board this year as artistic director, Gladstone, the founder and festival director, said it should appeal to an even broader audience. Read the rest of this entry »

reprinted from to-nite Magazine, GTA CORE –  Issue 329, Sept. 9 – 22, 2004

Brian Gladstone Trying To Make  A Better World – One Song At a Time

 You may call him a dreamer, but Brian Gladstone’s not the only one. The self-described ‘psychedelic pholkie’, who’s also the impresario behind the now annual Winterfolk February Folk festival (the third edition takes place this Feb. 4-6 ‘05) has started up yet another new initiative to promote local music and, hopefully, improve the mental environment. The Association of Artists For A Better World is a non-profit organization Gladstone has registered to “advocate artistic activism” by stimulating artists’ “awareness of social, cultural and ecological issues” and encouraging them to express their understanding through their art. To get the ball rolling, Gladstone has assembled a collection of songs from artists across the country whose songs he became aware of through their applications for or performances at Winterfolk. A compilation disc, Peace Songs For A Better World, contains 15 original tunes and is now available for sale at www.abetterworld.ca .  A follow-up disc, 'Songs For A Better Planet', is scheduled for release in January. Gladstone also continues to hold a very successful weekly open stage at artist-friendly Renaissance Café at 1938 Danforth Ave. a block west of Woodbine. He’s bringing is some of Folk’s local superstars as weekly feature guests, including Noah Zacharin (Sept. 9), Michael Laderoute (Sept. 16) and, coming Sept. 30, Suzie Vinnick. In the midst of all that the gifted fingerpicker also finds time to perform — recently he placed fourth in the Canadian Fingerstyle Guitar Competition. by Gary 17

Held January 30-February 1/04 By Angela Boudreau, Tuesday, February 03, 2004

This was the second year for this indoor folk festival. Held in 5 venues in the Spadina/College area of downtown Toronto. Friday evening at the Thymeless Bar & Grill I had the pleasure of seeing and hearing one of my favourite singer/songwriters David Leask. David is originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, but has been living here in Canada for 12 years now. His latest CD is called Tightrope of Dreams and I highly recommend it. Every River is included on the CD along with Caledonia. You can check out his website at http://www.davidleask.com and hear clips of the songs. The same night we heard Michael Laderoute, Doug Doughty, Michael Troy, and then we had a show titled Guitar Aces – High Speed Pickers which included David Gillisas host (neat man), Shane Simpson, Norman Liota, and Noah Zacharin. If that wasn't enough for one night we went onto a Song Writing Workshop which included the amazing Norm Hacking as host, David Bradstreet, Joe Hall, Tony Turner, Sam Larkin, and Norman Liota, and Michael Laderoute again. This was a neat session as each one talked about where their inspiration comes from to write. Saturday got off to a later start then I would have liked. Read the rest of this entry »

Feb 2, 2004 

Festival takes over five venues this weekend Blues and country acts join varied line-up

(Copyright (c) 2004 Toronto Star, All Rights Reserved. ) Jan 2004 Someone out there had a psychic connection to Mother Nature. Between the cold and the snow, we can use a bit of a distraction right about now, and the various events happening under the Wintercity festival umbrella should help do the trick. Among these happenings is Winterfolk which, despite its name, also has a substantial blues and country component. Starting tomorrow night and running to Sunday night, Winterfolk rounds up 70 musicians into five College St.-area venues for music, talk and schmoozing. The organizers are billing it as an indoor winter equivalent to a summer folk festival. Read the rest of this entry »

 Toronto Sun  Posted on Thursday January 29, 2004

There's a movement afoot to keep us from succumbing to the obvious temptations of hibernation this weekend. It's called Winterfolk, an annual festival that brings nearly 70 folky, bluesy and otherwise rootsy artists to five club venues in the College and Spadina area starting tomorrow and running through Sunday. Besides showcases from well-known artists like Ray Materick, Joe Hall, Bill Garrett, Ron Nigrini, Norm Hacking, Jack de Keyzer, Danny Marks and Michael Pickett, Winterfolk also presents the winners of its continent-wide emerging talent showcase, who include New Mexican Kyle Lange, Saskatchewan guitarist Joel Fafard, acclaimed "sentimental soul" pianist Michael Johnston and Ottawa jazz/folk duo Clear.

   Jan 30, 2003

Festival to Chase Off Winter's Chill

First Winterfest debuts tomorrow Roster includes folksy who's-who Read the rest of this entry »