Although the virtual festival is free, with the option of making a donation to support it, advance registration is required to view the Winterfolk streams. Private credentials — including login data and a password — will be sent via email to those who register online at winterfolk.com/get-stream/.

The Event’s Producer and Participating Artists Share Some Thoughts

Graham Lindsey is playing a major role in bringing Winterfolk to screens (as the virtual producer, recording some performances, editing, and then streaming the festival itself), as well as performing in it as a composer and multi-instrumentalist. “It’s a tough time for many, on a whole lot of fronts, but Winterfolk is a great way to kick off 2022 from a performer’s perspective and as a virtual event producer,” he said.

“I treat virtual shows as a new way of getting music out there, and it’s an exciting way to reach new audiences and people,” said Lindsey, an Ottawa, Ontario-based video producer for nearly three decades, who has been involved in streaming video since 1998. “We’d all love to be in a time when we could safely get together with other people. Listen to music, and enjoy life as we used to … but I think of all the people who wouldn’t be able to join us: people far away, folks who are unable to get out of their homes, people who are economically unable to afford a ticket,” he continued. “The era of virtual shows has really allowed people to pay what they can, to donate to festivals if they’re able, to contribute a little … or nothing if they’re unable. Festivals like Winterfolk have been able to push forward with great looking and sounding productions that are pushing the boundaries of what we’re able to accomplish with the restrictions we have … and we are bringing music to the people!”

“Playing Winterfolk signals the start of 2022 and a path out of only playing virtual shows across the country. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of a well-established folk festival is the perfect first stop on my 2022 tour that will take me to Canada’s East Coast and out to the West Coast as well,” he continued. “ I’m excited to play everywhere between, with a focus [on] being accessible online and in-person – allowing people at all levels of ability (economic, mobility, etc.) have music in their lives.”

Among the other artists who will showcase their talents during Winterfolk is Lucy Kaplansky. “It’s wonderful to be performing for a Toronto festival,” she told AcousticMusicScene.com. The acclaimed New York City-based contemporary folk singer-songwriter noted that’s where her dad grew up and where his entire family lived for decades. “So I have lots of cousins there and lots of history,” she continued. Kaplansky, whose solo recordings have topped folk and Americana charts over the years and who was part of the folk supergroup Cry Cry Cry, said that she will perform old and new songs, as well as an unrecorded one, and talk about how she wrote them. “I’ve performed in Canada a few times — including Toronto, Montreal, and a couple of festivals,” she added. “So glad to be back, even if virtually.”

Winterfolk seeks to entertain, educate and enlighten audiences about the various folk music styles — including roots, blues, folk, and more – and to engage and support the music community.

American, Canadian, Irish and Scottish artists will be featured in what Cheryl Prashker, the festival’s artistic director and general manager; hopes will be “a magical online experience.” Nearly eight hours of pre-recorded music made especially for the festival will be viewable via the festival’s website (CelticFestival.ca), as well as its Facebook page (https://facebook.com/goderichceltic) and YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/channel/UCHRa3SZ8Y1wn88xYtNvR4Lg/featured?view_as=subscriber). FolkMusicNotebook.com, a 24/7 online music channel, will also stream the festival on its website.

From its humble beginnings as one-time memorial concert in 1993, the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival is now the oldest pan-Celtic festival in North America. In addition to a three-day outdoor festival showcasing some of the world’s best Celtic musicians, dancers and artists, it has grown/evolved to include a weeklong Celtic College and a Celtic Kids Camp, as well as a series of rural outreach mini-concerts,

The festival –- whose physical location is surrounded by the Irish and Scottish heritage reflected in the nearby communities of Belfast, Dublin, Kincardine, Lucknow and Seaforth — was founded on the spirit of community and connecting people with Celtic roots and exploring new Celtic expressions. It generally features more than 60 hours of live musical performances by dozens of artists and acts on five stages, ranging from small intimate ones to a high-powered main stage.

Postponing the 28th edition of the Goodrich Celtic Roots Festival to August 2-8, 2021
“was a really emotionally hard decision to make,” Prashker acknowledged, ”but we’re going all out with this virtual one.” Prashker -– who is also part of the Celtic roots group RUNA and a ‘percussionist to the folkies’ — noted that when she assumed her position with the festival two years ago it was her “secret hope to put the beautiful small town of Goderich on the world map … and now it will be on the world stage virtually.”

Here’s a link to view a short commercial for the festival:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_fcUWQrzE0

The virtual Goderich Celtic Roots Festival 27.5 will feature pre-recorded performances by Ariko (Canada), Bourque Emissaires (Canada), Cherish The Ladies (U.S.), Shane Cook (Canada)), Joe Crookston (U.S.), The deBarra Brothers (U.S. & Ireland), Flack (Canada), Eve Goldberg (Canada), Joe Jencks (U.S.), Kruger Brothers (U.S. & Ireland), Emory Lester (Canada), Malinky (Scotland), North Atlantic Drift (Canada), Brian O’Headhra & Fiona MacKenzie (Scotland), One for the Foxes (Ireland & U.S.), Reynolds, Robinson & Lodge (Canada), and RUNA (U.S. & Canada).

“We returned to the festival the following year and, by that time, I had absolutely fallen in love with the town and the people, not to mention the beach at Lake Huron,” said Prashker. Noting that “There is an energy here that many say is what keeps them coming back time and time again,” she continued, “Each year after that, even if RUNA was not booked at the festival, I would come back anyway and teach at the Celtic College.” That led to her spending more and more time in Goderich — visiting and eventually moving there and assuming her current dream job. “It reads like a fairy tale (at least to me it does.), and I am so honored to be here,” she added, expressing hope that online festival viewers will get a small glimpse of the spirit and beauty of Goderich that drew her there.

The annual Celtic Roots Festival is run under the auspices of the Goodrich Celtic Folk Society — a charitable nonprofit organization that produces events designed to foster awareness, participation, and education in the world of traditional Celtic culture. Although admission to the virtual festival is free, there will be a virtual tip jar (celticfestival.ca/donate) and all contributions will go to the participating artists.