Mike McKenna Jr is a Canadian singer-songwriter, originally hailing from the remote, musical island of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. His minimalist acoustic soundscapes and raw, soulful vocal give his folklore-infused, down-home inspired songs a contemporary touch.
His newest album and first full length record ‘Pacific Northwest Bound’ garnered him positive reviews, radio charting, and festival spots including a release show at Vancouver Island Music Fest, a Main Stage appearance at Montreal’s Folk Fest sur le canal, and a Sunday performance at the 25th Anniversary of RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. The record’s dark, introspective and haunting title track was recently added to Spotify’s curated playlist ‘Currents: Contemporary Folk’, featuring a strong lineup of lyrical heavy hitters like John Prine, Cat Stevens, Sting, and Rose Cousins. Spotify Community’s own Melody Causton said it best when describing Mike’s unique and highly-listenable songwriting style:
Spring 2020 will see the anticipated release of his second full-length album ‘At the Edge of the World’, produced by 23-year-old Berklee graduate Quinn Bachand (Rosier, Kittel & Co, Brishen) and featuring a familiar lineup of musicians along with several new names. Colin Savoie-Levac (Rosier, the Duhks) is back on electric and bass guitar, as well as Béatrix Mêthé (Rosier) on backup vocals, with the addition of 19-year-old Benjamin Vallee (Bule) on pedal steel, and Oli Bernatchez (Rosier) on drums. With a young band, a rising-star producer, and an all round bigger studio sound, Mike’s newest project is set to release on April 17.