For more than a decade, WinterFolkFest has been a yearly winter staple at the Yellow Cab Tavern. The fest was originally to fundraise for Yellow Cab in the early days of the venue. This will be the first year that WinterFolkFest will be hosted at the Oregon Express.
WinterFolkFest creates a listening room environment, regardless of a venue’s capacity, giving the performers on stage a true spotlight.
“When I first started doing it, there were a couple open mics, and Canal Street was kind of winding down. There wasn’t a real place for a singer-songwriter to hop up there and get your attention,” said Harold Hensley, the event’s organizer. “I wanted to showcase full bands that were doing all original stuff. I wanted to show the roots, the core of how songwriting, to me, should be showcased.”
At past WinterFolkFests, there would be a band stage and a smaller, singer-songwriter stage, with music rolling continuously throughout the night, seamlessly bouncing from one stage to the other. This year, that dynamic has shifted with the change in venues, so the lineup is somewhat truncated.
But there will still be two songwriters (Hensley, Midwestern Mrs.) and two bands (the Shady Pine, Wakelight) acting as a smorgasbord of past WinterFolk events.
Americana songwriter Midwestern Mrs., aka Georgia Evans, was recently crowned a Bluebird Golden Pick Contest winner for her song “Stay Afloat.” As a result of the contest, she had the chance to perform at Nashville’s legendary venue, the Bluebird Cafe. She released her latest single, “No Moment Being,” in December.
Formed in 2022, the Shady Pine, a five-piece string band from Dayton, is equal parts Bill Monroe and Leftover Salmon — a bluegrass and jam band sandwich. Fronted by guitarist Max Nunery, the group was a finalist at the 2024 Dayton Battle of the Bands in the country/bluegrass category. The Shady Pine released its first single, “The Dark Side of the Mountain,” last January.
Wakelight is a Dayton duo made up of married couple Josh and Katie Swift. They live in the suburbs, drive a minivan and make exceptionally heartfelt indie folk music. After a break from the music scene, Wakelight is back in action with a six-piece band for WinterFolk.
In 2022, Harold Hensley released “Sad Songs from Ohio,” a pandemic-prompted follow-up to his 2018 debut, “Midnight Savings Time.” There was a freedom to “Sad Songs” in how it was produced at home, with a virtual partnership with engineer David Payne. Hensley played most of the instruments on the album, and has committed to that DIY method for his upcoming full-length.
A curated playlist of music from past and upcoming WinterFolk acts — titled “Ghosts of WinterFolk” — can be found on Spotify.
“There’s always some WinterFolk magic that happens,” Hensley said. “People jump on stage with other folks, and there’s usually special guests. You just never know what you’re going to get. And that’s what I love about it. That’s why I continue to do it.”
Brandon Berry writes about the Dayton and Southwest Ohio music and art scene. Have a story idea for him? Email branberry100@gmail.com.
How to go
What: WinterFolkFest, featuring the Shady Pine, Harold Hensley, Midwestern Mrs. and Wakelight
When: 8 p.m., Jan. 11
Where: Oregon Express, 336 E. 5th St., Dayton
Cost: $10
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