READ THIS AT 5:55, 7;55
THEN YOU CAN INTRODUCE THE ARTISTS.
MC SCRIPT David Newland
Introduce Self
Hello and welcome to the 22nd Annual Winterfolk Festival, now featuring its first-ever Spring Edition! We’re thrilled to have you here at Toronto’s historic Redwood Theatre.
At Winterfolk, you’ll find three fantastic stages to enjoy. The main stage, where you currently are, will be running non-stop until midnight, ensuring continuous entertainment throughout the day and evening.
Don’t forget to visit our cozy lounge on the second floor, open until midnight, where you might just have the chance to mingle with your favorite musicians and friends. Artists may even drop hints about their lounge visits, or feel free to ask them directly.
Our dedicated team of volunteers is working hard to ensure Winterfolk is an enjoyable and fulfilling experience for everyone in the music community.
If you have any questions or need more information, look out for our friendly greeters—they’re easily recognizable by their bright white Winterfolk Badge of honor. Don’t forget to hug a volunteer.
There are posters around the room which contain a QR link to the performance schedule on your devices.
To make sure everyone has a great time, we kindly ask that noise levels are kept to a minimum while artists are performing. Sets start at the beginning of each hour and last about 45 minutes, with a 15-minute break between sets.
Winterfolk extends its gratitude to our sponsors whose financial support has made this event possible. A big thank you to the Government of Canada, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, and the Socan Foundation.
Enjoy the festival, and if you need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly team!
David you can read these, or use your own introductions
6:00 – Roast Chicken Ramblers with Isaak Bonk
The Roast Chicken Ramblers are a Toronto based vintage blues, jazz and ragtime group. The roast chicken repertoire is largely based upon pre-war/swing era tunes curated by band leader Isaak Bonk. Whether it’s with Horns and drums, or a simple string band, the ramblers are sure to entertain.
7:00 – Robert Priest
Think Jim Morrison meets Leonard Cohen and maybe throw in a little Patty Smith and you get Robert Priest. Robert is one of that small group of singers who has achieved bestseller status as both a songwriter & a poet.
The co writer of two hit songs, his words have been debated in the legislature, posted in transit systems, quoted in the Farmer’s Almanac and embedded in pavement.The fiery rock ballad, Song Instead Of a Kiss, co-written with rock diva Alannah Myles, spent two weeks at #1 in Canada and still receives airplay all around the world.
8:00 – Donne Roberts Band
Donné Roberts (2x Juno Award Winner & 4x Juno Award Nominee) is a Toronto based Folk/world/singer songwriter/guitarist from Madagascar.
Finalist at the International Songwriting Competition in the USA in 2024, Performs African jazz fusion with joyful rhythm from Madagascar
Delivers songs with a deep message, an easy to sing along melody with a joyful groove that can move a crowd to smile. He first came to wider recognition in his adopted home of Canada with the release of two great albums: Rhythm Was Born, Internation and for
his contribution to Juno Award winning projects African Guitar Summit and Okavango African Orchestra. His success led to CBC Radio asking him to compose the theme song for their popular morning show Fresh Air, which still runs today.