The 5th edition of Wintersong Music Festival will take place in Stouffville, Ontario from January 19-20 with a dynamic array of 100+ acts across 15 venues. Applauded as the “single most impactful relief effort for small businesses in the shoulder seasons” year-over-year, Wintersong generates over 1 million dollars in associated tourism revenue for the town. Hosted by a small-but-mighty team, Warm Hearts Collective and Epidemic Music Group join forces alongside volunteers. Meticulously crafted with gender parity and diversity in mind, and guided by their mission to be accessible and authentic, the festival is free to attend.
The first tea + soundtrack + visuals is curated by ALTERED BY MOM.
Toronto’s B-list celebrities ALTERED BY MOM combine a knack for infectious melodies and classic songwriting with a quirky sense of humour and a tongue-in-cheek post grunge aesthetic. Their 2023 EP AHEM is a metaphorical throat clearing, a demand for attention, and a command of the floor. In January 2024, they’ll bring their explosive and entertaining live show to Wintersong Festival (Friday January 19, 19 ON THE PARK, 10:30pm).
Gina:
Red Rose black tea, a comforting blend of simplicity and ubiquity, is more than just a beverage. After stirring in just a little milk, the mug I’m holding inside my Toronto apartment becomes a bridge between generations, a thread connecting me to the rural east-coast fishing town where I grew up, and to my mom who doubtless has had at least three cups of the stuff by this point in the day. This type of family connection is mirrored in our music and fanbase, who often feel more like a familybase. (Note: you’re allowed to make up words when drinking Red Rose).
Devon:
While I’m more of a coffee person, I enjoy the tea almost as much as I enjoy this painting “Hummingbird”, by my sister Lindsay. The titular hummingbird of the mixed media work lives on the included pickguard, the only remaining piece of the acoustic guitar that I learned on and played to complete shreds. Previously, the guitar was my mom’s, and she chose it mostly because of the pickguard. The painting itself serves a dual function: a memorial for all the guitars I have played to shreds, and a warning to those that I haven’t yet.
Gina:
Like Miesha and the Spanks, we’ve got something to prove and nothing to lose… but what we are trying to prove is that Sean, the drummer for this band, is Devon’s long-lost twin brother. Prove us wrong, Sean. Prove us wrong.
Miesha and the Spanks – So Mad
One more cup of tea, and one more lump of sugar: Today’s second tea + soundtrack + visuals is curated by Sigfried Echo Hemming.
Sigfried Echo Hemming is a climate justice activist, artist, poet and musician based in Innisfil, Ontario. He plays the classical violin, sings and writes folk songs on the acoustic guitar, experiments with the harmonica, mandolin, and banjo, and is experienced in multiple forms of visual arts including but not limited to film photography, oil painting and conceptual pieces. He draws inspiration from classic artists like Bob Dylan, The Velvet Underground, David Bowie, and Beck. Hemming brings a contrast to his performances, dressing in eccentric 1960s and 70s styles, but singing what is described as avant-garde traditional folk music. Sigfried writes music constantly, with over 60 songs after only a few years of playing guitar. Sigfried takes an artistic approach to performance, and strives to incorporate multimedia, artistic visuals and esoteric performance to accompany his music wherever possible. Sigfried collaborates with other musicians in a variety of genres, in addition to having a band that primarily operates within experimental rock and roll. In whatever genre, his music has a melancholic philosophical energy, and is often political.
My Wintersong set is going to be mostly all-original folk/country music, with two covers, and the rest is attributed to an incorporation of performance art such as mime and poetry reading. I’ll be in my usual custom-made eccentric glamrock fashion, using such props as a made-from-scratch mystical creature puppet, signs, a chair, and perhaps more to come. Most of my songs will be completely live, with a few relying on a looper pedal. On January 20th at Saints Island Pies, I will only be using my acoustic guitar and voice for audio, and hoping I remember all of my tongue twisting lyrics. It is my ambition to create a multimedia show that is interesting and beautiful. January 20th is my 21st birthday! The support would be extra appreciated so I can have a fun, successful birthday show.
Music: Cowpoke, Elton Britt, 1955.
Visual Art: “Hint”, Sigfried Echo Hemming, 2022
Tea: Earl Grey and Vanilla
Significance of selections: This painting is oil on canvas, and painting 2 of my currently 3 painting ongoing series entitled the Lavender Series. The point of the series is to articulate homosexuality visually in both subtle and overt ways. This depiction is one of the subtle depictions. This painting in addition to this particular version of Cowpoke resonates with me right now–As I kick back with a fresh pack of cigarettes and black tea, in my lizard skin cowboy boots, the indigo colours and haunting yodeling are a perfect pair for my vibration. My planning and researching of different farms and ranches in Montana and Idaho to run away to for a couple months, my Tuesday philosophy class, my ongoing book of poetry. “I’m lonesome but happy, I’m rich but I’m broke, and the good lord knows the reason, I’m just a cowpoke.” My dull yet dramatic life of drifting with little money with the soul purpose of creating art and music, the spaces filled in with failed romances and dysregulated sleep schedules on University time. My professors know who I am but probably not as well as they should. “Some evening in springtime a filly I’ll find, and I’ll spend all the summer, with her on my mind.” My habits of yearning reflected in the lyrics as well. And the tea, well, the black earl grey and vanilla tea just compliments the bittersweetness. Add honey if you like, it makes it sweeter–but at the end of the day the bitterness is still there.
Tea + Me 