2021 ECMA Rising Star Recording of the Year Award winner Mike McKenna Jr. returns to The Carleton on Thursday, August 12th. Show time is 7 PM and tickets are $20.00 + HST. Mike’s album release show in November last year sold out in a heartbeat, so get your tickets NOW! Glace Bay’s Wayne Bedecki will open the show.
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.
In just over a year since it’s release Mike’s sophomore album has received a long list of awards and nominations; WINNER of the Rising Star Recording of the Year by the 2021 East Coast Music Awards (along with nominations for for Contemporary Roots Recording of the Year and Fan’s Choice Video of the Year), nominee for Contemporary Album of the Year by the 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards, and nominee for 2020 Album of the Year by Blues and Roots Radio. It was also listed on the Bluegrass Situation’s ‘Class of 2020 Playlist, Absolute Best of this Year’s Roots Music Releases.’
Several songs from the record have received high-profile features and recognition, including Spotify Editorial playlists Renegade Folk and Contemporary Folk, Mahogany Sessions’ Acoustic Coffeehouse and Chilled Folk Vol. 3, The Bluegrass Situation’s ‘Mixtape’, Americana UK, Exclaim!, Canadian Beats, Roots Music Canada, The East and many more. Two songs from ATEOTW were semi-finalists in the world’s largest songwriting contest ISC (International Songwriting Competition); At the Edge of the World in 2019 and High Ground in 2020!
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 throughthe 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).
Wayne Bedecki is a singer/songwriter from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island with strong ties to Halifax. CBmic 2018 Top 3 Emerging artist. His songwriting ability along side a smooth Indie Folk sound creates a melodic experience for listeners.