David brings a spontaneous, and heartfelt approach to the art of hosting——on air, on video, on stage, and even at sea! David has a unique ability to sustain and elevate a show with his humour and insight.
Currently the on-air host of Spirit of the Song on Northumberland 89.7, David Newland began his hosting career with a radio show on CKDU Halifax, and was quickly called upon to host festivals and events. (See AUDIO page for links to radio and podcast episodes).
Listen: David Newland introduces Emmylou Harris
David Newland has hosted many music festivals, including Mariposa, Summerfolk, Live from the Rock, Shelter Valley, Sound of Music, Lunenburg Folk Harbour and Eaglewood Folk Festival as well as the showcases of the Canadian Folk Music Awards, Folk Music Ontario, and the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance.
He made a unique specialty of hosting and performing aboard more than twenty expedition cruises with Adventure Canada to Greenland, the Canadian Arctic, the North Atlantic, the East Coast, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal. David has also hosted the Voyageur Folk Tour by freighter canoe along Lake Superior.
David has introduced the likes of Buffy Ste. Marie, Gordon Lightfoot, Emmylou Harris, Billy Bragg, Murray McLauchlan, John McDermott, Johnny Clegg, Bruce Cockburn, Barney Bentall, as well as literary luminaries like Margaret Atwood, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield and hundreds of others.
For 15 years David Newland hosted The Way We Feel, an annual celebration of the music of Gordon Lightfoot, earning the praise of Lightfoot himself for his unique role in that show. He has also been the host and artistic director of annual tributes to Johnny Cash and Pete Seeger.
David does dozens of presentations each year as a public speaker for numerous organizations including ROM Travel, The Zoomer Show, The Canadian Canoe Museum, Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre, Big Rock Brewery Speaker’s Series, The Women’s Canadian Club of Toronto, The Grimsby Museum, Lester B. Pearson College, and various schools, libraries, photography associations and service clubs.
David Newland is a frequent MC, speaker, moderator and panelist for music and media events, including the North-East Regional Folk Alliance, Folk Music Ontario, Folk Alliance International, Canadian Folk Music Awards, TEDxIBYork, and many more.