The Winterfolk XV Blues and Roots Festival will offer a collection of community stages at the festival this year. As a key component of the festival, local community groups such as Acoustic Harvest, Nashville Songwriters Association of Canada (NSAI), the Seneca College Independent Music Program and Best of The Moonshine Café present showcases throughout the weekend event, which runs from February 17-19 on the Danforth in Toronto.Winterfolk organizers always invite community presenters and promoters to showcase the best of their stages or institutions during the festival. This cooperative effort not only benefits the festival in providing quality entertainment, but also the presenters, who have the opportunity to bring visibility and publicity to their specific artists and programs.

This year, the list of Community Showcases have plenty of talent to offer for all of us to enjoy.

Seneca College Independent Music Program
Saturday, February 18 @ 4:00-7:00 pm
Black Swan Tavern (Main Floor), 154 Danforth Ave.
Hosts John Switzer and Linda M present Collin Clowes, K.E.V., Cory Feigen, Jake Feeney, Liron, Alexi Halket, Matthew Kelly, Emily Bridle, McKinley Leonard-Scott, Vanessa Persichitti, Connor Duncan, Jana Teovano, Yvanne Dandan

Speak Music Presents
Saturday, February 18 @ 4:00-7:00 pm
Dora Keogh Irish Pub, 141 Danforth Ave.
Bev Kreller (MC Howard Druckman) and her publicity company SPEAK Music present budding artists Tragedy Ann, Isaak Bonk, The Redhill Valleys

The Best of Dr. B’S Acoustic Medicine Show
Saturday, February 18 @ 4:00-7:00 pm
Terri O’s Sports Bar, 185 Danforth Ave.
w/ Host Tom Hamilton presents
Hour 1 – Roger Zuraw, Kirk Felix, Sean Peever, Linda Saslove
Hour 2 – Nadia High, Juha Juppi, Dougal Bichan, Aidan Devine

Nsai Presents
Saturday, February 18 @ 1- 3:00 PM
Dora Keogh Irish Pub, 141 Danforth Ave.
Nashville Songwriters Association of Canada Showcases some of their talented songwriters.
Hour 1 – Roger Beckett, Brittany Brodie, Karli June
Hour 2 – Dan McVeigh, Annie Bonsignore, Aimie Page

Brampton Folk Club Presents
Saturday, February 18 @ 2:00-4:00 pm
Terri O’s Sports Bar, 185 Danforth Ave.
Hour 1 – Creative Covers with Fiddle and Frets Rebecca Phillips, Carlos Medina
Hour 2 – In the Celtic Tradition with Moira and Elena, Brown Ale, Sylvia Genders

Acoustic Harvest Presents
Saturday, February 18 @ 7:00 pm-midnight
Globe Bistro (2nd Floor) 124 Danforth Ave.
Host Lillian Wauthier showcases artists from her monthly concert series.
w/ Mary Kelly, Missy Burgess, Anne Walker, John Prince & Bruce McDaniel (from the End of the Road Trio)

Songtown Presents
Sunday February 19 @ 1:00-3:00 pm
Terri O’s Sports Bar, 185 Danforth Ave.
Host Pete Otis presents Paul Cross, Pat Little, Michael Bar, Stephen Court, Romas Project

The Smokin’ Guitars Of Winterfolk
Sunday February 19 @ 8:00-9:00 pm
Dora Keogh Irish Pub, 141 Danforth Ave.
Host D’Arcy Wickham with Brian Gladstone, and Noah Zacharin

Winterfolk Blues Campfire
Sunday February 19 @ 3:00-5:00 pm
Terri O’s Sports Bar, 185 Danforth Ave.
The Blues Campfire with host Brian Blain
Hour 1 – Danny Marks, David Essig, Jerome Tucker
Hour 2 – Mr. Rick, Kim Doolittle, Julian Taylor

Americana Pie
Sunday February 19 @ 9:00-11:00 pm
Dora Keogh Irish Pub 141 Danforth Avenue
Hillbilly swing duo HOTCHA! hosts with special guests Mr. Rick and Dr. Tom Hamilton from Toronto and All Day Breakfast Stringband from Montreal. Chow down on a tasty slice of old time flavour accompanied by some skillet lickin’ pickin’. This Americana pie is sure to make yer eyes light up and yer tummy say “Howdy!”

Best Of The Moonshine Café
Sunday February 19 @ 1:00-3:00 pm
Black Swan Tavern (Main Floor), 154 Danforth Ave.
Hosted by John Marlett w/ Neil MacNaughton, Danielle Donville, Martin Rouleau, Alex Antinori, Rick Furtado, James MacKay, John Marlatt.

Plenty of music variety for the whole weekend folks! Be sure to head out to Winterfolk early so you can enjoy all the various shows and venues. For full festival listings, please visit www.winterfolk.com.