Feb 9, 2017 David Newland is a writer, musician and host with a passion for the Canadian experience. In November of 2015, David was named a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, a distinction that reflects a lifelong engagement with landscape and story. After a sold-out series of shows in the spring of 2016, David is developing The Northwest Passage in Story and Song, to tour Canada-wide in 2017. He performs accompanied by his band, Uncharted Waters, featuring Steafan Hannigan, Saskia Tomkins, Sam Allison and Oisin Hannigan.

Born in Ottawa, raised on the shores of Georgian Bay near Parry Sound, David crisscrossed Canada and travelled the world before settling in Cobourg, Ontario.

David’s travels continue with voyages to remote wilderness destinations including Sable Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Greenland and the Northwest Passage as a host, performer and Zodiac driver with Adventure Canada. In the past four years alone David has visited every province, as well as Nunavut and Labrador.

In 2012 David hosted the 90 km Voyageur Folk Tour along the coast of Lake Superior by canoe. He has made two week-long visits to Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation, Northern Ontario, with ArtsCan Circle presenting music to students. His most recent musical tour took him to homes and small venues across Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan with Home Routes.

As a singer, story-teller and poet, David Newland is whimsical and poignant. His songwriting constantly returns to nature, and is infused with a deep appreciation for Canada’s natural beauty. His stage patter is unique: random, funny, and profound — sometimes in a single spontaneous sentence. He frequently performs selections of ‘Zen Canadiana’ poetry as spoken word pieces.

Widely appreciated as an emcee, David Newland began his hosting career with a radio show on CKDU Halifax, and was quickly called upon to host festivals and events. He has been the MC for numerous festivals, including Summerfolk, Mariposa, and Lunenburg Folk Harbour, as well as the long-running Gordon Lightfoot revue show The Way We Feel, Johnny Cash tribute Till Things Are Brighter, and Pete Seeger tribute For The Love of Pete.

David Newland’s latest album, Give It A Whirl, has been played on CBC and on roots radio shows from coast to coast. Along with the members of Uncharted Waters, David is creating and performing songs and stories inspired by his multiple trips to the Northwest Passage as the core of his touring show.