The Winterfolk XI Blues & Roots Festival has just announced a stellar lineup for the upcoming ELEVENTH ANNUAL WINTERFOLK FESTIVAL which will take place from February 14-17, 2013 at the Delta Chelsea, Toronto’s Entertainment Hotel. A variety of music styles will fill four stages – Monarchs Pub, the Market Garden Stage, the Mount Batten Room and the favourite “Listening Room” – all within the hotel. Featured artists include Sonny Ochs (sister of ‘60s legend Phil Ochs), The Whiteleys (Ken, Chris, Ben, Dan & Jesse) who will perform in this configuration for the very first time, Brent Titcomb, Liam Titcomb, Danny Marks, Jack de Keyzer, Al Lerman, Fraser/Daley, Wendell Ferguson, QuiQue Escamila, Julian Taylor, new rising stars Irene Torres & the Sugar Devils, Gary Kendall, David Essig plus founder Brian Gladstone. and more! For more information and complete schedule please visit www.winterfolk.com
Winterfolk, now celebrates 11 years and will once again feature many of Canada’s top blues/roots and folk artists. For the first time ever, they have brought together all the male players from the infamous Whiteley clan! Ken, Ben, Chris, Dan & Jesse Whiteley will all perform as the Fabulous Whiteleys, on the Friday night. Add the have a fantastic lineup of singer-songwriters joining Sonny Ochs, the sister of the late, legendary musician/activist Phil Ochs. Singer/storyteller Jory Nash, mesmerizing singer-songwriter Noah Zacharin, Jon Brooks, Eve Goldberg, guitar genius Tony Quarrington and more, will pay tribute to Ochs. Rising star Maria Dunn will be on hand with her sweet and salty originals and Latin star QuiQue Escamila will bring a little spice to the fest. Danny Marks and Jack DeKeyzer return to continue captivating the Winterfolk audiences, along with fellow bluesmen Gary Kendall (Downchild), Al Lerman (Fathead), the legendary David Essig, and award-winning Rick Taylor.
Many of this year’s lineup have played the festival in previous years such as roots music pioneers Crabtree & Mills; wailing guitar guru Wendell Ferguson (who will reprise the “Trio of Fun” with Tony Quarrington & Paul 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 and award-winning vintage hillbilly swing duo HOTCHA!; feel good folk duo Sue & Dwight; preacher to the choir, the Reverend Max Woolaver Band; poet laureate of Parkdale Freeman Dre & the Kitchen Party; and “Emmylou Harris meets unplugged vintage rock ‘n roll” band The Wanted.
Winterfolk has always prided 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, Irene Torres & the Sugar Devils, sizzling fiddle & mandolin duo Rye & Fairy Tales, Old timey duo The Blackwood Two and singer songwriter Jeffery Straker.
PLUS Community Stages: Benefit for ArtsCan Circle, Songwriters Unite, Best of the Freetimes Cafe, Best of Brian Gladstone’s Open Stage, Best of Whistle Radio’s Nite Out, Pete Otis & Songtown Presents, Moonshine Café Presents, SPEAK Music Presents, Seneca College Independent Music Program, Honouring Our Own and more!
Details at a glance:
WHO: Sonny Ochs, The Whiteleys, Brent Titcomb, Liam Titcomb, Maria Dunn, Danny Marks, Jack de Keyzer, Al Lerman, Fraser/Daley, Wendell Ferguson, Irene Torres & the Sugar Devils, Jeffery Straker, Jon Brooks, Julian Fauth, Jory Nash, Laura Fernandez, Mr. Rick, Noah Zacharin, Tony Quarrington, Brian Gladstone, Gary Kendall, David Essig, Rev. Max Woolaver, HOTCHA!, Grainne, The Wanted, Crabtree & Mills, Rick Taylor, David Celia, David Newland, Dan Livingstone & the Griffintown Jug Addicts, Freeman Dre & the Kitchen Party and many more!
WHERE: The Delta Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard Street West, Toronto, ON / 416-595-1975
WHEN: February 14-17, 2013 (the 14th is the launch party from 6-9 pm at MonarchsPub
TICKETS: Free! (Some ticketed events in the “Listening Room”)
WEBSITES: www.winterfolk.com / www.deltachelsea.com