David Newland 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. Since 2003, David has 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 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.
Formerly the host of Spirit of the Song and The Morning SHow 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 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.
David has a long list of appearances as a public speaker for organizations including The Rt. Hon. John Turner Water and Environmental Leadership Award Gala, The Canadian Canoe Museum, Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre, Big Rock Brewery Speaker’s Series, The Women’s Canadian Club of Toronto, University Women of Canada, The Grimsby Museum, Lester B. Pearson College, Mount Royal University, 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 The Congress for the Humanities, Imaginate, Folk Music Ontario, Folk Alliance International, Canadian Folk Music Awards, North-East Regional Folk Alliance, Canadian Association of Journalists Conference,TEDxIBYork, and many more.