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

(photo by Dave Taylor, August 2010)

Canadian singer-songwriter/pianist Michael Johnston is one of Canada's best-loved musicians: an enthusiastic collaborator, and gifted performer.

Based in Toronto, Ontario, Johnston has toured and recorded with legendary Canadian roots-rock group Skydiggers since 2006. 

Michael is also 1/8 of Scottish-Canadian supergroup The Burns Unit, whose debut record "Sideshow" was released in July 2010 in the UK, and has received 4-star reviews from MOJO, The Guardian and The Independent

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), Peter Cash (The Cash Brothers), Dave Tough (The Silverhearts), as well as with Mercury Prize-nominees King Creosote & Emma Pollock, and Scottish artists Karine Polwart, Future Pilot AKA (The Soup Dragons), Emily Smith, MC Soom T and Kim Edgar (all members of the Burns Unit).

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. Johnston's soulful, intricate and quintessentially Canadian songs create engaging moods and enduring images.  Curious Heart includes performances from Lewis Melville, Maury Lafoy (Jann Arden), Reid Jamieson, Don Rooke (Mary Margaret O'Hara), and guest vocalists Oh Susanna, and Andy Maize.

Michael is one of Canada's most-in-demand collaborators, both on-stage and in the studio. Michael brings genuine warmth and enthusiasm and to every artist he works with.

Michael has accompanied a who's-who of the Canadian scene, including Jim Cuddy, Amelia Curran, Lynn Miles, Kevin Hearn (Barenaked Ladies), Serena Ryder, Ruth Moody, Justin Rutledge, Oh Susanna, Royal Wood and The Monkey Bunch.  Michael also sits in regularly with Toronto's premier roots band The Beauties.

A creative and tasteful keyboardist/accordionist, Michael has recorded on albums by Anne Lindsay, John Southworth, Suzie Vinnick, Kirsten Jones, The Divorcees, Jory Nash, Joel Gibb (The Hidden Cameras), Tannis Slimmon, Cat Jahnke and Sam Larkin.

Also in-demand as a producer, Michael co-produced "(S)Cream "- the full-length debut by Saidah Baba Talibah (2011). Michael produced and co-wrote songs on the Maple Blues-nominated recording "Blues For Sunshine" by Scott McCord and The Bonafide Truth (2009). Michael also co-wrote and produced the only recordings by the late Taylor Mitchell, including "For Your Consideration", whose work has received international recognition since her untimely passing at the age of 19 in 2009.

Michael and the Skydiggers opened for the Jim Cuddy Band at Massey Hall in Toronto on Valentine's Day, 2009. In April 2009, Michael made his fourth trip to Scotland for "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. 

Michael has performed at venues across North America and the UK including Green Man (2011), The Cambridge Folk Festival, UK (2010), 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).

Michael grew up an only child in Peterborough, Ontario. After studying Music and English at the University of Guelph, he lived in Bratislava, Slovakia, Winnipeg and Montreal before settling in Toronto in 2006.

In the fall of 2010, Michael toured as a duo with Skydiggers' lead vocalist Andy Maize. The duo spent two days of recording new material in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia with heralded musician Joel Plaskett producing.

In May 2011, Michael returns to the UK with the Burns Unit to perform two songs on the legendary "Later...with Jools Holland" show on BBC.

"...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

For more quotes and press about Michael, click here