Winterfolk XII - 2014 - Live Auditions

Winterfolk - The Great Indoor Music Event - is now in its 12th year! Toronto's Winterfolk Festival is selecting artists to fill showcase stages February 14 - 16, 2014 using live auditions throughout Southern Ontario. There will be four separate auditions, two at Black Swan Tavern in Toronto, and two at Moonshine Café in Oakville. Two artists from each audition are guaranteed to be selected for Winterfolk XII.

Live Auditions for Winterfolk XI:

• Artists can audition live at selected venues in two Ontario cities.


• Two artists will be hired at each of the venues listed.


• There is no cost to audition for Winterfolk.


• Artists are also eligible to apply to Winterfolk via online submisison, which are handled separately from auditions. Click here to submit.


• Auditions are only open to artists based in Ontario.


• Artists are encouraged to bring their fans & friends to cheer them on, and of course vote for them!

Date	City	Time	Venue	Address
Sunday Nov 3, 2013	Oakville	2:00 PM	Moonshine Cafe	137 Kerr St., Oakville
Sunday Nov 10, 2013	Toronto	2:00 PM	Black Swan Tavern	154 Danforth Ave., Toronto
Sunday Nov 24, 2013	Oakville	2:00 PM	Moonshine Cafe	137 Kerr St., Oakville
Sunday Dec 1, 2013	Toronto	2:00 PM	Black Swan Tavern	154 Danforth Ave., Toronto

What artists receive when hired for Winterfolk via audition:

• Typically, they try to offer each artist 2 – 3 paid performance opportunities during the Winterfolk weekend. Remuneration will be based on budget considerations, which varies every year.


• Sets may be scheduled as a combination of two 45 minute sets, and additional shared spot as part of a workshop or seminar.


• Your products and CD’s will be offered for sale at the Winterfolk store.


• Inclusion in festival publicity and promotion such as in all 40,000 Winterfolk Program Guides, a website listing, as well as consideration for magazine, newspaper, radio, and TV ads. Press and industry will be alerted to each artist’s set time.


• Artist passes for access to the stage, backstage, and hospitality privileges valid for the duration of the festival. You will also receive passes to attend private artist parties and an information session.

More about Winterfolk:

Winterfolk was formed in order to entertain, educate, enlighten, engage and encourage the community about various musical styles, namely roots, blues, folk and more. Founded by Festival Director Brian Gladstone, it is run as a division of The Association of Artists for a Better World, which is a registered nonprofit organization in the Province of Ontario, Canada.



It is committed to offering performance opportunities and public exposure to new or emerging artists. The festival also works with various music organizations from within the community. These groups are offered stage time at the festival to help increase their public visibility and membership, offer exposure for their events, and to assist them in meeting the goals of their mission statement.


Check out a few videos from past Winterfolk festivals.