Ken Whiteley

I had a beautiful time in Nova Scotia this summer, playing at the fabulous Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival performing with Ciceal Levy and Ben Whiteley. I also got time to hang with Old Man (Chris) Ludecke and his wife, incredible potter Teresa Bergen. Singer/songwriter Reggie Harris gave me a copy of his compelling memoir, “Searching for Solid Ground” which is worth seeking out and is available here.

On September 20 I joined people around the country and the world for “Draw The Line”, a gathering for people, peace and the planet. How can we collectively change the status quo and recognize that we are in a climate EMERGENCY!???
Let’s recognize our small but oversized integral part of this great whole and prioritize the well being of the planet (including all people) over short term profits that disproportionately benefit a very few. Here’s a very brief clip of me singing Bernice Johnson Reagon’s “Give Your Hands To Struggle” at the rally in front of Queen’s Park with a band led by Tania Gill. I was told close to 10,000 people participated in Toronto that day.

Speaking of making the world better, unfortunately our Prime Minister is considering cuts to the arts. Here’s where you send a letter expressing your wish for more support for the arts. https://nwmd.social/s/copylink/4A-GaU2LeuDJwLCOme0=/b

On Saturday, October 4 at 1 p.m. I will be giving a concert at the Toronto Botanical Gardens (Lawerence and Leslie St. in Don Mills) for their Fall Ravine Festival. It should be a fun afternoon with lots of ways to enjoy the gardens and Wilket Creek Ravine, artist displays and a circus school. My concert should be nature and family friendly and like all Ken Whiteley shows have lots of chances for people to sing along. Admission is free! For more information go to https://torontobotanicalgarden.ca/event/tbg-fall-ravine-festival/

On Thursday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. I will be performing a concert at Christie Gardens, a seniors living place near Chrisite and Dupont St. at 600 Melita Cres.

Please note that my scheduled concert for Nov.8 in Waterloo has been postponed to a later date.

Meanwhile I’m putting the finishing touches on a new album titled “Keep Going”. The music is a bluesy mix of old and new songs with lots of wonderful singing including by Ciceal Levy, the late Betty Richardson, Eve Goldberg and Pat Patrick. My brother, Chris Whiteley plays some great harmonica and cornet.. I play lots of stuff including 5 or 6 different guitars, piano, Hammond organ, a complete mandolin quartet and both string and electric bass. It should be available early in the new year. There may be advance releases of a single or two prior to the whole album release so stay tuned.

Looking further ahead, in December I will be doing a number of Christmas shows with The Sultans Of String Christmas Caravan. Also put May 2, 2026 in your calendars for a special “Ken Whiteley 75th Birthday Celebration” at Hugh’s Room on Broadview Ave. in Toronto. Below is the mp3 of Give Your Hands To Struggle. You can download it for free by clicking on the three dots to the right of the speaker symbol and choosing “download”. Hope to see you soon!

At the end of May I performed at the beautiful stone Detweiler meeting house built in 1855. It’s the last one of its kind in Ontario, the room sounds amazing to sing in and folks came out ready to sing along. I’ve posted a little video of “So Glad I’m Here” and “Golden” from the show.

From August 7 through 10 I will be performing at the 40th Anniversary Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival. I’m thrilled that playing with me will be Ciceal Levy (vocals, percussion) and Ben Whiteley (string bass). There’s lots of great acts including Kim & Reggie Harris, Connie Kaldor, the Good Lovelies, the Barra MacNeils and dozens more. The incredibly picturesque historical town is the back drop for stages in the park, the wharf, old churches, the old Opera House and the main stage in a big tent up on the hill. For the full schedule, tickets, etc. go to https://www.folkharbour.com/.

Finally I want to let folks know that I’m working on a new, bluesy album titled “Keep Going”. I can’t wait for you to be able to hear it.

Keep singing!

Spring is coming, whatever the madman in control of the current U.S. government does and we should celebrate that.

First off, I broke a bone in my ankle on Feb. 15, right before a lot of musical activity. As yet another snow storm hit Toronto, I went off to perform (sitting down) at Winterfolk festival at the Tranzac in Toronto. On Monday, after playing some Hammond organ on a new recording by the great singer and songwriter from Kentucky, Joan Shelley, I went to the emergency department. 8 X-rays and a CT scan later it was confirmed that I had a fracture and I would have to completely stay off my right foot (crutches, boot, etc.). I got Brent Webb to take me to the Jackie Washington Day concert in Hamilton but I had to cancel my trip to the Folk Alliance International conference in Montreal. With the help of a great band, Gary Craig (drums), Ciceal Levy (vocals, percussion), Richard Underhill (sax) and most importantly, Gord Mowat (string bass) I was able to have a great show at the Old Mill on the last day of February. In March I will be sticking close to home.

In April I am nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Traditional Singer for my album, “So Glad I’m Here”.

Then over the Easter Weekend, April 19, 20, I will be giving concerts and workshops at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram Camp in Val Morin, Quebec. This is always a wonderful time in the beautiful Laurentian mountains, just over an hour north of Montreal. Group meditation, chanting, yoga asana classes, excellent buffet style vegetarian meals along with a chance to enjoy and go deeper into “The Yoga of Gospel Music” and concerts that celebrate Jesus’ Easter message of faith, love and “rising again”. You can find out more information at The Sivananda Yoga Ashram Camp here.

Looking ahead I’m doing a concert May 29, 7:00 P.M., at  the Detweiler Meetinghouse, which is located at the south end of Kitchener (just north of Ayr). It is an historic building from 1855, first built as a Mennonite meetinghouse.  It is the oldest stone meetinghouse in the province and Ivan Emke, who coordinates a summer concert series there says it is a great, singing audience. It is admission by donation and you can find out more here.

After that I’ll be celebrating the July 4th weekend at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram Retreat on idyllic Paradise Island, Bahamas. You can find out more and register at https://sivanandabahamas.org/course/the-yoga-of-gospel-music-july-2025/.

Finally I’m really looking forward to returning to the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival August 7 – 10. Always a great festival in a beautiful Nova Scotia setting.

“I will always sing, until my breath is gone,

Allowing every note to help me carry on.” from “Unseen Hands 12 songs 12 strings”

My new album, Unseen Hands 12 songs 12 strings is now available on all streaming services and for download. Musically anchored in my Laskin 12 string guitar, the project explores our place on this planet, in this universe in these times. From the soil beneath our feet to the distant stars I explore my own feelings of both wonder and profound concern. The first single is “Hole In The Clouds, the opening track and you can watch the video here.

As well as playing multiple instruments myself I had stellar support from Ben Whiteley and Gord Mowat on bass, Bucky Berger on drums, Sundar Vishwanathan on bansouri flute and soprano sax, Tom Sczesniak on accordion and great harmony singing from Ciceal Levy, Adrienne Mackenzie and Georgia Harmer.

I’ll be featuring songs from the new album at a special house concert in the Sudbury area on Saturday, Nov. 9. You can get tickets to that event here! This will be a special evening in an intimate space and if you come you won’t be disappointed.

There will be a special release concert on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2:00 p.m. at Hugh’s Room Live, 296 Broadview Avenue and I will be joined by guests Ciceal Levy, Garnetta Cromwell and Georgia Harmer, plus a rhythm section anchored by Bucky Berger on drums and percussion and Ben Whiteley on bass. This is part of my ongoing Sunday Gospel Matinee’s although on this occasion while the music I sing will be “spiritual” it won’t be traditional “gospel”. However Ciceal and Garnetta, both incredible singers, will provide some gospel fervour to the show and if you haven’t heard Georgia Harmer she is both a great songwriter and an incredible singer. Here is the link for tickets: https://www.showpass.com/ken-whiteley-gospel-matinee-3/

Ciceal Levy

I’m also proud to announce that my album “So Glad I’m Here” just got a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination as Best Traditional Singer. The awards will be presented next April.

It’s been a great summer and I’m looking forward to a great fall. Highlights included a return to the Mariposa Folk Festival and the Kitchener Blues Festival plus album production of a project called Afro Métis Nation Anthem and nearing completion of a new album of my own.

My concert at Mariposa went very well with an Allstar band including Bucky Berger (drums), Ciceal Levy (vocals, percussion), Rob McLaren (vocals, guitar, banjo, mandolin) and Ben Whiteley (string bass). There was a great workshop called “That’s When I Need A Song” with Rick Fines, Colin Linden, Ellen Froese and Ben and I. I also got to participate in the tribute to Bruce Cockburn as he was inducted into the Mariposa Hall of Fame.

I’m very excited about my new album, Unseen Hands – 12 songs 12 strings. As the title suggests, all 12 songs feature me playing 12 string guitar and there is lots more too! The recordings all speak to place in one way or another – from the little patch of ground in downtown Toronto where I live, a conversation with the moon, April in Paris, looking at the stars, the soil, the planet and how we all connect. As well as twelve string I play slide, tenor guitar, tenor mandolin, Hammond organ, vibraphone, pianos, washboard and sing harmony along with Ciceal Levy, Adrienne Mackenzie and Georgia Harmer singing. Ben Whiteley and Gord Mowat play bass, Bucky Berger plays drums, Tom Sczesniak is on accordion and Sundar Vishwanathan on bansouri flute and soprano sax. Watch for it’s release later this fall.

Come out Saturday, March 2 for this great concert. Last fall I performed with Jaffa Road and Aviva Chernick at the new Hugh’s Room Live on Broadview and it was an awesome time. This time I will be one of their guests in this beautiful, timely concert at Metropolitan Community Church. Go to https://www.mcctoronto.com/mcc-toronto-concerts/ and you can purchase tickets.

On Sunday, April 14, 2 p.m., at Hugh’s Room Live, Broadview Ave., Toronto, I will be presenting a special gospel show with the fabulous Nikki D. and the Sisters of Thunder. Nikki D. is one of the most exciting proponents of the style of music known as “Sacred Steel”. You have to hear the music she can generate from her lap steel guitar.