Danny Michel

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With nominations for three Junos, the Polaris Prize, The CBC Heart Of Gold Award and a pile of albums under his belt, Danny Michel is unquestionably one of Canada’s finest songwriters. His thoughtful lyrics & earnest performances have earned him a devoted fan base. A musical chameleon, able to slip into many genres with ease. An adventurous & fearless artist. A master at striking the right balance between unpredictability and meeting expectations, leaving you wanting more as soon as it’s over. 

In 2011 he relocated to Belize. There he founded the Danny Michel Ocean Academy Fund to help raise scholarships for small non-profit community high school. To date he's raised over $70,000.00 for the school and volunteers there when he can. Later he tracked down one of his favorite bands; The Garifuna Collective, a unique Afro-Amerindian cultural group and convinced them they should make an album together. That album (“Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me”) was quoted as “One of the finest musical works of our time” by Larry Leblanc. The album landed him a 3rd Juno nomination (this time in the world music category) and a sold out summer tour of North America with The Garifuna Collective as his band. 

Past critics have praised Danny’s lyrics for having “something to say" without coming off preachy. Topics range from the environment (“Feather, Fur & Fin") to big questions ("If God's on your side, then who's on mine?"). Others ask “Who’s Gonna Miss You When You’re Gone?” a song which explores karma asking “Did you live it right? / Did you live it wrong?”. 

Danny is touring in support of his 2016 Six Shooter Records release Matadora. The recording is a nice mix of the creative rhythms of his last release combined with more conventional singer/songwriter concerns like breaking news, loneliness and laundry. It is a red flag which waves as an open-ended question posed by the title track: Are we all bull on the beaten days, or are we the matadora in many ways?

“Poetic gold.” - The Hamilton Spectator

“When you need to restore your faith in humanity, just go to a Danny Michel show. Who else gets you to sing along to a song about what your meaningful purpose is on this earth? - Sticky Magazine, Toronto

In this remarkable collection of songs to give voice to the beautiful and the mundane, to the real and the ideal. Matadora is vital and should be required listening for anyone in need of a bit of hope - Exclaim Magazine 9/10

Criminally overlooked” - The Winnipeg Sun

By this point, singer/songwriter Danny Michel must be a bit weary of being ranked as one of this country's undiscovered musical treasures. But it's true" - The Toronto Star

Michel is too old now to care about being cool, and more power to him. Not an ounce of his talent or curiosity or songwriting has faded in the least.- The Kitchener-Waterloo Record 

Mr. Michel’s phrasing is raw and raspy; the rhythm of his lyric is greatly dramatized by this. He sings with a burnished glow inflecting the odd, emphasised word; his lines—featuring inner rhymes—are long and loping, always underscoring the epic nature of the story he is telling. - The World Music Report.com

"Danny Michel has reached a point where his musical vocabulary is so broad, his songwriting/arranging chops so sharp, his guitar playing so distinctive and his taste for the right sonic touch so impeccable that he can do whatever he wants and make it compelling" - Eye Magazine 5/5 Stars

“The maracas are a beautiful thing, out of nowhere they come and the backup voices are really moving and intimate. This is a good, good cover - David Bowie (speaking of Danny’s cover of Young Americans)

"I really fell in love with his records." - Alejandro Escovedo - Harp Magazine

"Just fabulous. He's kind of like Paul Simon in the Rhymin' Simon days." - Stuart Mclean, CBC Radio 'Vinyl Cafe'

"Wicked singer. Wicked songs. Wicked kisser." - Alan Doyle

Please note that the admission price for this concert includes a $2 Venue Improvement Fee that we are required by the St. James Square to collect from every patron. Starting in September 2016, the proceeds from this temporary fee will be used for construction projects such as ventilation, flooring and washrooms that will make the hall a nicer place for you to visit in the future. If you wish, you can make a secure donation by clicking on the big blue button at the bottom of the page at www.sjcommunitysquare.org. For information on donating by phone or post, please contact the St. James Square office at 604-739-9373.