BIO
Singer-songwriter Mike McKenna Jr. has emerged on the Canadian music scene with a raspy, soulful, intimate voice, his distinct indie folk/Americana tones, and songs laden with captivating storytelling. Originally from Cape Breton Island, he continues to bring us the nostalgia of his home through carefully chosen narrative, poetry, protest, and true stories about life and death in Nova Scotia’s coastal, working-class communities.
Known for his powerful lyricism and intricate musicianship, Mike’s newest record At The Edge of the World (2020) continues to be met with incredible support both in Canada and internationally. It has received a long list of nominations; Contemporary Album of the Year by the 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards, 2021 Contemporary Roots Recording of the Year + Rising Star Recording of the Year + Fan's Choice Video of the Year by the East Coast Music Awards, 2020 Album of the Year by Blues and Roots Radio, and has been featured on several high profile Spotify Editorial playlists including Renegade Folk and Contemporary Folk, Mahogany Sessions' Acoustic Coffeehouse and Chilled Folk Vol. 3, The Bluegrass Situation, Americana UK, Canadian Beats, Roots Music Canada, The East and many more.
Produced by Berklee graduate, Victoria’s Quinn Bachand (Rosier, Kittel & Co, Brishen) the album delivers a wider, fuller sound than his previous records, lead by Mike’s incredibly raw, confident vocals and surrounded by a beautiful mix of electric and pedal-steel guitar, electric bass, vocal harmonies, strings, piano and drums. To cap it all off it then passed through the talented hands of Canada's top analog specialists; mixing engineer Jon Anderson (Andy Shauf, Rosier, Foxwarren) and Grammy-nominated mastering engineer, Juno/Polaris winner Philip Shaw Bova (Father John Misty, Feist, Bahamas).
“This is clearly a significant record for McKenna and the community in which it is rooted. For the rest of us it is a peephole into a world we know little of and a thoughtful comfort from beginning to end.”
- Americana UK
“From past events, McKenna has distilled a mythology; tiny components that became something more than the sum of its parts.”
- The East
“Highly touted as someone to watch in the intersecting worlds of indie folk and Americana.”
Penguin Eggs
Mike has had the opportunity to play renowned festivals and venues touring North America such as RBC Ottawa Bluesfest, Montreal Folk Fest sur le Canal, Vancouver Island Music Fest, Philadelphia Folksong Society, Rockwood Music Hall, National Arts Centre, Club Passim, Lunenburg Folk Harbour Fest among others and has shared the stage with the likes of Hawksley Workman, William Prince, Michael Daves, Ashley MacIsaac, Old Man Luedecke, Good Lovelies and more.
SOCIAL MEDIA
PRESS & RADIO
Global News: East Coast Music Award Nominations 2021
Cape Breton Post: 2021 ECMA Nominees Announced
Común sin Sentido (Spain): 'The Town' on Las 20+20 Mejores Canciones del 2020 (Best Songs of 2020)
IPR Indie Folk Radio Podcast: High Ground on Episode 13 'Music and Magic'
Canadian Folk Music Awards: 2021 Nominees
The East: Atlantic Canadians Received 15 Nominations for 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards
Roots Music Canada: Here Are Your 2021 Canadian Folk Music Award Nominees
The East: Atlantic Canadians receive 15 nominations for 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards
RootsTime (Belgium): At the Edge of the World Album Review
Sounds Atlantic: Episode 88 - Cape Breton Singer-songwriter Mike McKenna Jr. (Part I)
Sounds Atlantic: Episode 88 - Cape Breton Singer-songwriter Mike McKenna Jr. (Part II)
Mahogany: The Town (Single) on Acoustic Coffeehouse
Apple Music: Chillfiltr Roots Collection - Folk, Rock, Soul & Country
Montreal Rocks: Montreal-based Americana artist Mike McKenna Jr.
Chillfiltr: Soul Country Folk from Montreal (High Ground)
Roots Music Canada: At the Edge of the World (Album Review)
Ditty TV: 12 of the Most Exciting Artists in Americana Roots
Mahogany: The Town (Single) on Chilled Folk Vol. 3 Playlist
The Bluegrass Situation: Mike McKenna Jr.'s Canadian Dream Mixtape
The East Mag: At the Edge of the World (Album Review)
Canadian Beats: At the Edge of the World (Album Review)
All Authentic: Traveler's Spotify Playlist
celstore: The Town (Single) Sunday's Best Spotify playlist
Spotify Editorial Playlist: 'The Town' Single on Renegade Folk
Vinyl Chapters: The Town (Single)
Caesar Live N Loud: The Town (Single Review)
comeherefloyd: The Town (Single Review)
Indie88: The Town (Single) PREMIERE
The East: At the Edge of the World (Live Video) PREMIERE
SlowCity: At the Edge of the World (Video)
Aesthetic Magazine: At the Edge of the World (Video) PREMIERE
For the Love of Bands: At the Edge of the World (Spotify Playlist)
Bristol Funk: At the Edge of the World (Spotify Playlist)
Independent Music Reviews: At the Edge of the World (Single)
B-Sides and Badlands: At the Edge of the World (Single)
Direct Actu: At the Edge of the World (Single)
Reignland: At the Edge of the World (Single)
Canadian Beats: At the Edge of the World (Single) PREMIERE
Aesthetic Magazine Toronto: Video Premiere 'At the Edge of the World'
Off Your Radar: Issue #193 - Pacific Northwest Bound Reviews
Main Line Today: Philadelphia Folksong Society with Mike McKenna Jr
Top Country: 5 Country Artists from the East Coast
CKCU: Live on Canadian Spaces with Chris White
Roots Music Canada: Five Quebec artists at Montreal Folk Fest
Sault Online: Master Performers Max Marshall & Mike McKenna Jr
Les Quartiers du Canal: Festival Folk sur le Canal 2019
Exclaim!: Montreal Folk Fest sur le Canal 2019 Lineup
Cape Breton Music Industry Co-operative (CBMIC): Interview with Mike McKenna Jr. at ECMA's 2019
Cape Breton Post: McKenna Jr at Guitar Night, Centre 200
Exclaim!: East Coast Music Awards 2019, Charlottetown, PEI
Canadian Beats: Noah Derksen & Mike McKenna Jr in Montreal, QC
Exclaim!: Ottawa's RBC Bluesfest Unveils 2019 Lineup
Stingray Music: Top Folk-Roots Airplay (US) Year End 2018
Gnarles: 5 Songs for your Roadtrip Film
Sooke Mirror: Dynamic Vocal Styles Performing in Oak Bay
The East Mag: Living Roots Festival 2018 Lineup
Leesta Vall Records Direct-to-Vinyl Office Session
Johnny's Garden: Pacific Northwest Bound Album Review
Hearth Music: Best Celtic Music of 2017
Root Music Report: Top 50 Canada Album Chart 2017
Spotify Editorial Playlist: 'Pacific Northwest Bound' added to Currents - Contemporary Folk
Vancouver Island Music Fest: Performer Review
Spotify Community: Featured Artist on 'The Tip-Off'
Halifax Bloggers: Pacific Northwest Bound Album Review
Roots Music Report: Top Contemporary Folk Albums 2017
Roots Music Report: Top Folk Albums 2017
Blues & Roots Radio: Under the Radar Album Preview
CKCU 93.3 FM: Top Albums - June, 2017
International Americana Show: 'America' on Episode 1721
CJLO 1690 AM: Interview with Genaro Pena - Pacific Northwest Bound Album Release
CBC: East Coast Music Awards 2017 - Off the Beaten Track
Canadian Beats: East Coast Music Awards 2017 - Bluebird North Stage
Folk Roots Radio: Interview with Jan Hall - FMO 2016
Earshot! Campus Radio Report: CHSR 97.9 FM - Charting on Fredericton Top 30
Spincount: Mike McKenna Jr at Lunenburg Folk Harbour & Festival Summer Tour 2016
CTV Atlantic: Interview with Heidi Petracek
CBC: East Coast Music Awards 2016
CKUT 90.3 FM: Interview on 'Wednesday Morning After'
Quick Before It Melts: Travelin' Man Album Review
International Americana Show: 'Die in the West' on Episode 1625 - Long Songs Edition
Quick Before It Melts: Favourite Songs of 2015
Grayowl Point: Travelin Man Album Review
Modern Folk Music of America: Travelin Man Album Review
Sea and Be Scene: SOCAN Songhouse Participants
VIDEOS