Newzapalooza

Hey all you Newza kiddies, it is with heavy hearts that the Newzapalooza organizing committee announces our attempts to emerge from a two-year COVID hangover for a return to our usual November show proved a bit premature. The challenges of reconvening and creating new media bands left us with not enough confirmed entries to make a go of it. Thus, the show we scheduled for Nov. 4, 2022 at The Opera House is officially cancelled. Hats off to Athena and The Opera House for being sooooo understanding.

That said, after 15 great years, we are not done, and hopeful that will be able to bring the battle of the media bands back to the stage.

With that in mind, we welcome input, encourage media bands to get together and turn it to eleven, and ask you to stay tuned for future news.

Give a holler at rankinjim@icloud.com.

The Media Event of the Year ™ celebrates 15 years

Show set for Friday, Nov. 1, all for a good cause, the

Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada.

TORONTO  — It’s hard to believe that it’s been 15 years since Newzapalooza burst out of the newsrooms of Toronto, like ink-stained hacks sprung from cages on a last chance power deadline (sorry, Bruce). For the uninitiated, the annual event — cooked up by the late, great newsman Jonathan Jenkins — gives media types a chance to show off their musical chops, or lack thereof, on the big stage.

On Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at The Opera House, 735 Queen St. E., four bands made up of hacks from the various media outlets will take to the stage to raise money for the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada in our 15^th anniversary show.

Over the years, Newzapalooza patrons and awesome sponsors have raised more than $180,000 for the foundation, which provides scholarships and supports for vulnerable young people who have been taken into the care of children’s aid societies.

We’re delighted to have Siri Agrell, journalistic trouble-maker and executive director of OneEleven, as this year’s host. Our most excellent panel of celeb judges includes CBC’s Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe, Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission Renu Mandhane, Slate’s chief music critic Carl Wilson and, drumroll please, John Tory, mayor of Toronto!

Special thanks to this year’s growing list of sponsors, which includes The Opera House, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, Toronto Star, Toronto Raptors, Torq, Left Field Brewery, Bandit Brewery and One Academy. There will be promotional draws for cool stuff the night of.

Doors and the bar open at 7 p.m., and the show will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 ($15 for students) and are available here, at the door and from members of the media bands taking part. The Opera House is a kid-friendly venue, but minors must be accompanied by an adult.

 For more information, visit www.newzapalooza.ca, like us on Facebook and follow @Newzapalooza on Twitter.

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That’s right, kiddies. Newzapalooza, Canada’s longstanding Media Event of the Year ™, is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 1, 2019 at Toronto’s The Opera House. Save the date, and stay tuned to this space and on Twitter @Newzapalooza for details of this year’s line-up and celebrity emcee and judges. 

Newzapalooza, 14 years of never a buck a beer

Hacks about to rock for a good cause at The Media Event of the Year ™

TORONTO — Newzapalooza burst out of the newsrooms of Toronto in 2004 like a bat out of hell on a very tight deadline. Founded by the late, great newsman Jonathan Jenkins, the idea was simple — harness the innate competitiveness of local reporters, editors and other media workers and marry it to their undying belief that they can, in fact, do it better themselves. The result: instant rock bands, itching to square off against their rivals.

On Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at The Opera House, 735 Queen St. E., five bands made up of hacks from the various media outlets will take to the stage to raise money for theChildren’s Aid Foundation of Canada.

The event has raised more than $180,000 for the foundation, which provides scholarships and supports for vulnerable young people who have been taken into the care of children’s aid societies.

We’re delighted to say Lana Gay of Indie 88 is this year’s host.  This year’s panel of celebrity judges includes CBC’s Amanda Parris, freshly re-elected Toronto city councillor Paula Fletcher, singer/songwriter Donovan Woods and q host Tom Power. As well, Andrew Cash — former MP for Toronto’s Davenport riding, co-founder of the Urban Worker Project and singer/songwriter extraordinaire — is this year’s special musical guest.

Special thanks to this year’s growing list of sponsors, which includes The Opera House, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, Nikon Canada, Toronto Star, CBC’s The Current and the Toronto Raptors. There will be promotional draws for cool stuff the night of.

Doors and the bar open at 7 p.m., and the show will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are available at the door or from members of the media bands taking part. The Opera House is a kid-friendly venue, but minors must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information, visit www.newzapalooza.ca, like us on Facebookand follow @Newzapaloozaon Twitter.

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TORONTO, Nov. 5 2017 — Conrad Black Sabbath, a band birthed out of The National Post newsroom, obliterated fake news, alternative facts and the competition at Newzapalooza Friday night at The Opera House. In attendance at The Media Event of The Year ™ were Iron Man, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and hundreds of hacks and hangers-on who helped raise money for the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada.

The dust is still settling as we type but our bean counters tell us we, thanks to fans and sponsors, raised around $13,000, bringing the total amount raised over the event’s 13 years to $180,000. The foundation works with over 50 child welfare agencies, providing support and scholarships for vulnerable young people.

A round of thanks to our co-hosts Robyn Doolittle and Michelle Shephard, and judges Dave Bidini, Raina Douris, Lana Gay and Anne-Marie Mediwake.

Closing out the night, honourary Newzapalooza co-chair Maizey Westaway — daughter of the late Jonathan Jenkins, who co-founded the event — presented Sarah Boesveld of Conrad Black Sabbath, once more, with the big trophy named after her dad, while brother Dexter watched on. It was the band’s third win in a row, for a cinematic set capped off with a rendition of Iron Man, complete with, um Iron Man, and plenty of theatre. CTV’s Highway to Bell, including anchor Lisa LaFlamme, and The Huffingtones, with stupendous performances by both, made it a very close call for the judges. Thank you to all seven media bands that competed this year. You were great.

Special thanks to this year’s sponsors, especially long-standing support from Long & McQuade Musical Instruments and The Opera House and its terrific staff, including manager Athena Ellinas-Towers. Ace Awards donated the coveted trophy. Kudos to Nikon Canada, Ace Awards, Torq Ride, Rogers and the Toronto Star for the draw prizes.

Thank you, also, to Annie Arnone, Ainsley Cruickshank, Victoria Gibson, Alanna Rizza, David Rider and Patty Winsa for volunteering their time Friday to help with the show. Brian Hughes once again designed our tickets, and for that we are grateful. Thanks also to Jess Brayne of the foundation and her volunteers.

Lastly, all of us on the volunteer planning committee — Sarah Boesveld, Robyn Doolittle, Rob & Natasha Granatstein, Lauren Pelley, Jim Rankin, Graeme Roy, Michelle Shephard and Tanya Talaga — thank everyone who turned out for a terrific cause. See you next November!

www.newzapalooza.ca ~ @Newzapalooza ~ Facebook