Newzapalooza

TORONTO — A few years back, Black Sabbath, on a track from its album, 13, asked: “Who do you trust when corruption and lust, creed of all the unjust, leaves you empty and unwhole?” The answer is simple: You trust Newzapalooza, in its 13^th year, that’s who. There’s nothing fake about it.

On Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, at The Opera House, 735 Queen St. E., seven bands made up of hacks from the CBC, Chatelaine, Thomson Reuters, CTV, National Post, BNN, The Canadian Press and Huffington Post, will take to the stage to raise money for the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada.

The event has raised more than $167,000 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 journalism powerhouses Robyn Doolittle of the Globe and Mail and Michelle Shephard of the Toronto Star are co-hosting this year. This year’s panel of celebrity judges includes musician, writer, author and Toronto’s newest newspaper publisher Dave Bidini, Raina Douris of CBC Radio 2 Morning, music journalist Lana Gay of Indie 88, and, last but not least, Anne-Marie Mediwake, co-host of CTV’s Your Morning.

Special thanks to this year’s growing list of sponsors, which includes The Opera House, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, Home Depot, Nikon Canada, Ace Awards, Torq Ride, Toronto Star and Rogers Media. Toronto’s West End Phoenix will be donating sales to the cause as well. There will be promotional draws for cool stuff the night of, including concert tickets, gift cards, a camera and more.

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 Facebook and follow @Newzapalooza on Twitter.

 — 30 —

National Post’s Conrad Black Sabbath wins again, Globe and Mail’s Fun With Discipline cry foul, and, Death Hoax & Huffingtones debuts stunners

TORONTO, Nov. 6 2016 — Giant paper mache heads of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump mesmerized the audience as the National Post’s Conrad Black Sabbath stole the show and Jonathan Jenkins memorial trophy for a second straight year at The Media Event of The Year ™.

Every single dollar raised, — from the entrance tickets to the raffle and Conrad Black Sabbath T-shirts sales — goes to the Children’s Aid Foundation and Friday night we pulled in an epic $17,000, thanks to you and our righteous sponsors. We’re delighted to say that in the years since this began we have raised over $167,000 for what is one of the country’s most worthy charities. The foundation works with over 50 child welfare agencies, providing support and scholarships for vulnerable young people.

A YUGE shout out of thanks goes to our host Candy Palmater and judges Lana Gay, Paula Fletcher, Andrea Houston and Roz Weston.

At the end of the night, honourary Newzapalooza co-chairs Maizey and Dexter Westaway — daughter and son 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 their dad. The Globe and Mail’s Fun With Discipline 13-member ensemble, led by Robyn Doolittle, came up second again while newcomers Death Hoax, in their first ever appearance at Newzapalooza, screamed into third place with their classic covers.

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. AOL came in big this year with a $1,000 donation. And a round of applause to Heineken, Nikon Canada, Ace Awards, Rogers, Toronto Star, Post Media, Bandit Brewery, Halo Brewery, Lansdowne Brewery, Henderson Brewery and The Local Pub. for draw prizes.

Thank you, also, to Hina Alam, Ellen Brait, Megan Dolski, Joe Hall and Jesse Winter for volunteering their time Friday to help with the show. Brian Hughes once again designed the tickets, and for that we are grateful.

Lastly, all of us on the planning committee — Sarah Boesveld, Robyn Doolittle, Rob & Natasha Granatstein, Jim Rankin, Graeme Roy, Michelle Shephard and Tanya Talaga — thank the 600-plus who turned out for a terrific cause and a rocking good night. See you next November!

www.newzapalooza.ca ~ @Newzapalooza ~ Facebook

— 30 —

These babies will be in the hands of band members and in newsrooms across Toronto after the Thanksgiving weekend. Pick up your ticket soon for The Media Event of the Year (TM). They’ll also be available at the door at The Opera House on the night of the Nov. 4 show. More exciting details coming soon!

50K for Children’s Aid Foundation, thanks to Google Play Music!

National Post’s Conrad Black Sabbath kicks butt, Toronto Sun’s Screaming Headlines do JJ proud, and a strong endorsement for The Globe and Mail’s Fun With Discipline

 For immediate release: Nov. 9, 2015

TORONTO — With a toss of the bat, National Post’s Conrad Black Sabbath hit a walk-off home run Friday night, taking the Newzapalooza title and the Jonathan Jenkins memorial trophy for the first time in what was the band’s second appearance at The Media Event of The Year ™.

Google Play Music made Newzapalooza XI historic by not only matching the record-breaking $20,000 raised by Friday night’s show for the Children’s Aid Foundation, but by tossing in an extra $10,000, making this year’s haul $50,000. That’s triple the amount of last year and brings to $150,000 the total amount Newzapalooza and its fans and loyal supporters have raised for the foundation.

Thank you to host Piya Chattopadhyay and judges Andrew Cash, Errol Nazareth, Zaib Shaikh and Kirstine Stewart for their time and wit.

At the end of the night, honorary Newzapalooza co-chairs Maizey and Dexter Westaway — daughter and son of the late Jonathan Jenkins, who co-founded the event — presented Sarah Boesveld of Conrad Black Sabbath with the big trophy named after their dad. The Toronto Sun’s Screaming Headlines mightily impressed the judges, capturing second place, while The Globe and Mail’s Fun With Discipline was naughty, firm and deserving of a third place showing.

Special thanks to this year’s supporters: Google Play Music, Home Depot, The Opera House, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, Ace Awards Inc., Toronto Sun, Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, Rogers, Prohibition Gastrohouse Pub, Banu, The Local and Button Machine.

Big shout outs to the Star, Sun and Globe for wagering $1k each on their house bands in the annual Publisher’s Challenge. We’d also like to thank Athena Ellinas-Towers and the staff at The Opera House and acknowledge volunteers Vjosa Isai, Dan Taekema, May Warren, Stephanie Werner, Joe Hall and Patty Winsa for working the doors, pushing draw tickets. Thanks as well to Michael Robinson for manning the video cameras. Kudos to Brian Hughes for once again designing this year’s ticket.

As for Google Play Music, thank you, thank you, thank you. In particular, we want to acknowledge Aaron Brindle, Jan Gemrich and Alexandra Hunnings for their unbridled support for the show and the cause.

Lastly, all of us on the Newzapalooza planning committee — Sarah Boesveld, Moe Doiron, Robyn Doolittle, Rob & Natasha Granatstein, Jim Rankin, Graeme Roy, Michelle Shephard and Tanya Talaga — thank the 600-plus who turned out for a terrific cause and a rocking good night. See you next November!

 — 30 —

 www.newzapalooza.ca I @Newzapalooza I Facebook