For Michael's official home on myspace, please click here

(photo by Dave Pijuan-Nomura 2008)

"...exuberant Canadian Michael Johnston bounces around from instrument to instrument keeping the energy high."- The Scotsman (Scotland, UK)

"...purely Canadian in all the best ways. Michael Johnston has finally succeeded in uniting our great land — at least musically."  - CHART

"Delicately beautiful..." - the Toronto Sun

"The illegimate son of Burt Bacharach and Randy Newman...sweet, uplifting, fresh and original." - En Route

Canadian singer-songwriter/pianist Michael Johnston combines infectious and inclusive on and off-stage enthusiasm with personal storytelling and timeless melodies,  Currently based in Toronto, Ontario, Johnston has toured and recorded with legendary Canadian group Skydiggers since 2006.  Johnston contributed three co-writes to "City of Sirens" (2008); his keyboard playing is also featured prominently on their new release, "The Truth About Us:  A 20-Year Retrospective"(2009).

Michael has co-written songs with Chris Difford (Squeeze), Stephen Fearing (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings), Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson (Skydiggers), Dave Clark (Rheostatics), Cindy Church (Quartette), Saidah Baba Talibah (Jully Black), Peter Cash (The Cash Brothers), Dave Tough (The Silverhearts), Lewis Melville and Suzie Vinnick, as well as with renown Scottish artists Karine Polwart, Emma Pollock (The Delgados), King Creosote, Future Pilot AKA (The Soup Dragons), Emily Smith, Paul McLachlan, MC Soom T and Kim Edgar.

Johnston's 2005 full-length solo debut - Curious Heart - was produced with drummer Don Kerr (Ron Sexsmith). Built around the piano, the album's 14 songs are a mix of exquisite melodies, rootsy ballads, and spirited vocal harmonies. Johnstons soulful, intricate and quintessentially Canadian songs create engaging moods and enduring images.  Curious Heart was built by some of Canada's finest, including   Lewis Melville, Maury Lafoy (Jann Arden), Reid Jamieson, Don Rooke (Mary Margaret O'Hara), Oh Susanna, and Andy Maize

Michael has accompanied a who's-who of the Canadian scene including The Wailin' Jennys, Lynn Miles, Oh Susanna, Dave Clark (Rheostatics), Kevin Hearn (Barenaked Ladies), Keri Latimer (Nathan), Serena Ryder, and Bob Wiseman.

Johnston grew up an only child in Peterborough, Ontario. After studying Music and English at the University of Guelph, he moved to Toronto in 1999, where he became certified as an English as a second language teacher. He took three months off performing, taught ESL in Bratislava, Slovakia and traveled throughout Europe. He returned to Canada with a suitcase full of new songs, and moved to Winnipeg on Valentines Day of 2003.

Michael has performed at venues across North America and the UK including Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Scotland (2009), Summerfolk (2008), the Shelter Valley Folk Festival (2007), the North American Folk Alliance Conference (2006), Hillside, Mariposa, Stewart Park and Peterborough Folk Festivals (2005) and NXNE (2005).

After moving from Winnipeg to Montreal and then settling in Toronto in 2006, Johnston has been active recording with many Canadian musicians including ECMA-award-winners The Divorcees, Justin Rutledge, John Southworth, Suzie Vinnick,Tannis Slimmon, Ian North, Sam Larkin, Cat Jahnke and Joel Gibb (The Hidden Cameras).

Michael has also produced two young Toronto artists, Taylor Mitchell and Scott McCord, both of whom released their debut recordings in 2009.

Michael is 1/8 of the Scottish-Canadian supergroup "The Burns Unit" - "the most anticipated band in Scotland"(stv) - who made their official debut at the 2009 Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow. The show drew a sold-out crowd of 1200 at the legendary ABC1 club. The Herald (Scotland) declared the Burns Unit "a remarkable ensemble". The Burns Unit is currently recording its full-length debut, set for release later in 2010.

Most recently, Michael and the Skydiggers opened for the Jim Cuddy Band at Massey Hall in Toronto on Valentine's Day, 2009. In April, Michael made his fourth trip to Scotland, this time appearing at "Homegame" - a festival held in a small fishing village called Anstruther.  There, Michael performed solo, with the Burns Unit and joined KT Tunstall for one of her sets. 

For more quotes and press about Michael, click here