Toronto’s Winterfolk Preview Rocks Stouffville on Saturday Night

Winterfolk IX Preview

Artists who performed at the Winterfolk IX Stouffville Preview last month will be on stage on Sunday Feb 20th, 1-3 pm, at the Black Swan Tavern on the Danforth.

Here are videos of two performances from Ewan Dobson, an instrumental guitarist, and HOTCHA!, a hillbilly swing band.

Video Collage from the Winterfolk IX Preview

Toronto's Winterfolk Preview Rocks Stouffville on Saturday Night

Over 50 people were packed into the second floor of the Earl of Whitchurch on Saturday night to hear seven performers in a Winterfest IX Preview. Stouffville Connects was there and took video that will be made available at a later date. For those who were at the event and wanted to buy a CD from one of the artists, you can find more about each performer at his/her website:

The Winterfolk IX Preview concert was held to promote the upcoming Winterfolk IX Festival, which will be held in Toronto, Ontario from February 18 – 21, 2011.

Winterfolk IX will see over 150 artists perform on six stages over four days and the festival is FREE, with all ages welcome. For more information on Winterfolk IX, visitwww.abetterworld.ca.

Profile of Winterfolk IX Preview Artists

An impressive group of artists came out to perform at The Earl on Saturday, January 15th to promote the upcoming Winterfolk IX festival that will take place in Toronto from February 18 – 21, 2011.

GLEN MARAIS

Glenn Marais is a singer/songwriter who uses his music for healing and hope through his company, Music in Mind.  He teaches character education through music, motivational speaking, curriculum kits, workshops, activities and school assemblies to thousands of students inspiring them to get involved locally and globally with his universal motto, "Give to Live".  His groundbreaking educational kit, Songs in the Key of Character, teaches character traits through ten songs and activities.  Glenn traveled to Africa to film a video for his song, "Like a Child" that went to number one on Much More Music, and a documentary on the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa.  The CD/DVD of Like a Child raises money and awareness for the children of Africa.  The song and video were featured at the International AIDS Conference in Toronto in 2006 and Glenn closed the conference with a live performance in front of 7000 people that was broadcast around the world.  He is currently raising funds for the Cotlands Orphanage in Cape Town South Africa, under the Kids for Cotlands campaign.  $75 000 has been raised to date.  He orchestrated the One Candle campaign in Dec.2007 to raise money for families of Canadian Military personal in the Afghanistan War, www.onecandle.ca.  He recently composed a song, "On the Shoulders of Giants" that was selected by the Nelson Mandela Children's Foundation to commemorate Nelson Mandela's upcoming 90th birthday.

Glenn has been nominated for a Juno award for the song, "Everybody Wants to be like You", by the artist Snow. The song is the 5th most played song in Canadian History. 

ERWIN SCHACK

Acoustic Fingerstyle Guitarist

Member of the Toronto Fingerstyle Guitar Association, York Region Fingerstyle Guitar Association, Durham Region Music Society. 

Repertoire includes various instrumental Guitar pieces spanning the Blues, Jazz, Celtic, Folk and Classical genres by artists like Bruce Cockburn, Don Ross, Preston Reed, Leo Kottke and Bob Evans.

Previous engagements include:

The Foster Memorial , Art in the Park,

Port Perry Music Festival, Unionville Jazz Festival, Bluebridge Festival as well as volunteering at Markham Stouffville Hospital and local Seniors Facilities

MARIE-LYNN HAMMOND

Marie-Lynn Hammond is a veteran of the Canadian music scene. Co-founder of the pioneering Canadian folk group Stringband, she's played every major Canadian folk festival and recorded five solo CDs. She's also a playwright and former CBC radio host. She's known especially for her finely crafted lyrics, that can range from personal and moving to wickedly hilarious. Five years ago she happily escaped from Toronto to Stouffville.

CAROL TEAL AND DAVID JOYCE

Carol Teal and David Joyce joined forces in 1997 and perform mainly original songs of life's delights and dilemmas as well as fulfilling the troubadour's role of critical commentary on society today!  They delight and engage audiences with their thoughtful and witty lyrics, tight harmonies and wide variety of instrumentation (guitars, mandolin, banjo, washboard, harmonica & feather boa!)  Serious, sensitive and audaciously funny with a side of vaudeville thrown in for fun- check them out!

David's songwriting reflects his love of the guitar as his first instrument. He also adds skills on harmonica and banjo to the duo's performances.     

Carol – passion for songwriting has won her two Honor Awards in the Great American Songwriting Competition.  Carol plays guitar, mandolin (and feather boa) in performance.

Ewan Dobson

Ewan has performed at the 2010 Montreal Jazz Festival alongside Gareth Pearson, Craig D'Andrea and Don Ross.  He also demonstrated guitars at the 2010 Montreal Guitar Show.

In September and October 2010 Ewan hit the road with fellow guitar virtuoso Antoine Dufour for his first Canadian tour that featured performance dates with the legendary Don Ross. This eastern tour brought Ewan to several cities including Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Fredericton, Halifax, Charlottetown, New Glasgow, and more. The impression he left behind has already warranted a return trip within the year. 

Ewan Dobson II, the new self-titled album released by Candyrat Records, brings with it 18 new recordings.  As generous as his last album, Ewan continues to deliver his unique style that has proven to be a force to be reckoned with.

HOTCHA!

High-energy hillbilly swing duo blends old-time Western, bluegrass, early swing and country gospel delivered with the energy of a runaway train. Soaring vocals, lively accordion, gritty guitar, wailing harmonica and big-beat bodhran. Debut CD Dust Bowl Roots: Songs for the New Depression, intended as a true tonic for the times we live in.

• Top 40 CBC Galaxie Folk/Roots Year end Chart 2009!
• 4 features in the Toronto Sun
• 4 star (out of 5) review in SING OUT! Magazine
• 4 star (out of 5) review on Amazon.com

BRIAN GLADSTONE

Brian Gladstone is a fingerstyle guitar player, an insightful lyricist, a colourful story-teller, and a dynamic performer. His four albums have all attained global airplay, and he has been reviewed in over 100 publications all over the world including an article in "Review on Pop Culture". Founder of "A Better World", and Toronto's "Winterfolk" festival, Brian remains active on the music scene touring in the summer, and playing locally the rest of the time. "Brian's particular way of seeing things through irony and old time approach reminds me of great artists as John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, and Mississippi John Hurt. He is their own true son and he continues their great sounds."  ~ Susa Onda Radio, Italy