Danny Michel comes from a fertile music community in the Kitchener/Waterloo area of Ontario. That community has been a hotbed of great music for a long time, launching the careers of Rob Szabo, Shannon Lyon, and the late, great Paul MacLeod, who we profiled on episode 17 of this show. That episode featured a conversation with Mark Logan, a key figure in the Kitchener/Waterloo music community as the head of Busted Flat Records and the owner and operator of Encore Records. Just recently, Mark helped Danny put out a 25th anniversary remixed vinyl version of songs from his first two solo albums.
Danny Michel has written some great, timeless songs and released 14 fantastic albums, including a live album recorded right here in Winnipeg, a tribute to David Bowie, and a volume of re-recorded and updated songs from his catalogue, called New Coat of Paint.
He’s been hired as a guitar player by singer/songwriters Gwen Swick and Sarah Harmer, among others and has produced albums for folks like Leeroy Stagger, Damhnait Doyle, and Lindy Vopnfjord.
In 2018, Danny raised the alarm about the criminally low rates that streaming services like Spotify pay the artists that they rely on. He made national and international news by taking his concerns directly to Spotify in an attempt to change the way that artists are compensated for their work.
He’s about to embark on a Canadian tour playing alongside his friend Steve Poltz, which brings them to Winnipeg on November 19th at the West End Cultural Centre and to various places out west. (Winnipeg tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/110060938FEC29D1)
Music Credits:
“Newton’s Apple” is from Fibsville 25th Anniversary Re-release, available from Danny directly and on Bandcamp
“Feather, Fur & Fin” is from Feather, Fur & Fin, available from Danny directly and on Bandcamp
“Lifeboat (for Paul)” is from Khlebnikov, available from Danny directly and on Bandcamp
“Switchman” is from Sunset Sea, available from Danny directly and on Bandcamp
“Nobody Rules You” is from White & Gold, available from Danny directly and on Bandcamp