Hillside Festival, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, July 26, 2009

Michael Johnston is a Toronto-based solo artist, songwriter, producer, pianist, accordionist, teacher, and member of Canadian Juno-award-winning band 'Skydiggers' as well as new Scottish-Canadian supergroup 'The Burns Unit'.

January 26, 2010

I've been invited by two of Toronto's premier bands - The Beauties and Flash Lightnin' - to sit in on their Tuesday night gigs in February at the Dakota Tavern in Toronto covering the music of The Rolling Stones.  The 'band' is called HOT ROCK; last week, I sat in for the first time, and played piano with special guest Ron Sexsmith (who sang one of my favourites, Ruby Tuesday). 

January 7, 2010

Happy New Decade everybody!

I'm feeling particularly spritely about the forthcoming year - there's a lot of living to look forward to. 

The Burns Unit record will be released!

I'm writing, editing and working towards a solo record!

I'll be back in studio, continuing to produce a few Toronto artists!

Teaching out of our home studio is going well; with Lori Cullen aboard as a guitar teacher, there's real excitement in the air!

I'm also proud to be supporting my good friend Andrew Cash, in his bid to run for federal office for the NDP party in the next election!

I've included a poster for an upcoming show to kick off his campaign (I'll be playing with the Skydiggers for the evening)

December 12, 2009

Three cheers for the folks this year's Toronto Arts Council jury - I just found out I've been awarded a grant to write and arrange my own songs.  While the past few years have been full of fantastic, collaborative projects, I'm looking forward to ushering in the new decade by focusing on my solo music.  
 
December 1, 2009

The celebration of Taylor Mitchell was sad, moving, thrilling and beautiful.  Everyone stepped up and delivered fantastic performances of her songs, and songs she loved.  The highlights are many:  sharing the stage, for the first time, with my wife Annie (during her introduction of the evening); Gordon Lightfoot showing up for the first set, and plunking himself in the front row; Suzie Vinnick and Anne Lindsay leading a romping, rock-out version of "Fun While It Lasted"; the three performances by Taylor's young students, Alena, Siobhan and Maxine; Justin Rutledge's debut of a powerful and fitting new song; playing "The People You Love" with Lynn Miles; the day-long rehearsal with the incredible house band (Chris Stringer, John Dinsmore, Jason Mercer, Gord Tough and Noel Webb).

The love in the room was palpable, and I'm grateful for everyone coming together.

Since Taylor's passing, Annie and I have also been focused on finding a new guitar teacher, as Taylor had a roster of 10 enthusiastic young students.  We are so pleased to announce that Lori Cullen - a Juno-nominated singer-songwriter/guitarist - has started teaching out of our studio.  Lori is a gifted, inspiring and emotionally intuitive musician, who is already getting rave reviews from her students. 

What else? Gearing up for the annual Skydiggers Christmas shows in a few weeks - I make it through these shows often feeling apocalyptically ill, so I'm upping the oil of oregano intake until then.

Still buzzed from the last mini Western Canada tour with the Skydiggers. We got to sing "Lost Together" with Blue Rodeo for our shows opening for them in both Vancouver and Victoria.  With so many of us on stage, and Andy singing with Greg Keelor, I found myself sharing a mic - we were in kissing distance, really - with Jim Cuddy.

The Burns Unit - the Scottish-Canadian supergroup I'm a member of - is putting the finishing touches on a 5-track sampler we'll be sending out to UK media in early 2010. Our bassist, Sushil K. Dade has designed the package with one of my favourite album designers, Andrew Symington (Belle and Sebastian).

Work continues on Saidah Baba Talibah's recording; we expect to finish it by the spring.

I'm awaiting word back from a few funding proposals and should they come through, I will start recording my sophomore solo record right away.  Even if they don't, I'll make the recording on my answering machine if I have to.  It's time, my friends. 

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November 30

THE PRAYERS WE LIGHT:  A celebration of Taylor Mitchell's life and music

Musicians, students, friends and family close to Taylor Mitchell will come together for one evening to honour Taylor's life through words and music.

The celebration will be on Monday, November 30, at Hugh's Room (2261 Dundas St. W.) in Toronto, and will start at 8:30. To reserve a seat, please call Hugh's Room at 416-531-6604. We expect this show to sell-out, so, if you'd like to attend, please call the club as soon as you can.  For more information, click on the 'touring' link. 

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October 28, 2009

My family is profoundly saddened and devastated by the loss of Taylor Mitchell, who died in an accident while on tour in Nova Scotia yesterday. 

We will be organizing a celebration of Taylor's life in Toronto over the next few weeks. 

Stay tuned for details. 

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October update

It's a proud day for me; Taylor Mitchell, a young woman whom I've been working with since she was 15, is nominated for the 2009 'Young Performer of the Year' at this year's Canadian Folk Music Awards (she just turned 19!).  The nomination is for her debut release, "For Your Consideration", which I produced and co-wrote several songs for.  I'm proud and excited, and I just can't hide it!  Taylor not only rocks houses wherever she goes, but looks after our daughter, and teaches out of our home studio. 

Another friend, Suzie Vinnick, is nominated for multiple CFMA's for her album "Happy Here".  I had the pleasure of co-writing 2 songs for the album, sang some harmonies, and played piano and accordion as well. 

The Canadian Folk Music Awards are on Saturday, November 21 in beautiful Gatineau, Quebec.

September is here!

Why not do a little switchy-switchy with our calendars and make the first day back at school - whenever it falls - the first day of the new year?  The end of December has enough going for it already.

Finished recording and mixing 2 new songs I co-wrote with Scott McCord; they turned out so well, Scott is going to release an old-fashioned single of 'em later this year.  Look out for "Love and Sorrow" (a duet with Dave Wall) and "The Mystery Song". 

Looking forward to accompanying Katherine Wheatley for her CD release party in Toronto at the end of September.  Her new record is so good.  Lynn Miles and Scott Merritt (two folks I'd probably go lawnbowling with if they asked me to) produced, and the result is pretty special.  I'll be breaking out lots of seldom-used instruments; some kids percussion, the toy piano, maybe a melodica here and there.

And, ah yes: our baby boy arrived!

What's new in August?

My wife and I are expecting our 2nd baby. Really!. The update could begin and end right there, no?

Otherwise, spent four days at Canterbury Sound Studio producing 12 songs for Saidah Baba Talibah (including 2 we co-wrote). "Orchestral indie soul" is what we're describing it as. Visit all her updates here.

Skydiggers rocked Fort McMurray and the Edmonton Folk Festival. We're taking time off until the fall, which will see us visiting western Canada and Ontario. 

What's new in July? 

Starting pre-production work for Saidah Baba Talibah's debut solo full-length release.

Skydiggers will play the closing set at the mighty Hillside Festival in Guelph, Ontario, and will open for the Tragically Hip - a veritable hoser-fest! - on August 1st in North Bay.

Making plans for The Burns Unit - our debut long-player has been recorded, mixed and mastered.

Two days in the studio producing Scott McCord, recording a few new co-writes, and a duet with Dave Wall. 

All inquiries:  mj@michaeljohnston.ca.