Mike Barrett

Mike Barrett is many things... Singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist (Andrew Hunter & the Gatherers), touring musician, open-mic goer, music lover, people person, and good timer, to name a few.Originally from Guelph, ON, this young troubadour has been giving the east coast, mainly Halifax lots of attention. Leaving his friends and family behind, he's been travelling around, carrying a guitar, persuing his dreams, performing his own brand of folky, bluesy, reggae, rock tunes.Mike has performed all across Canada on stages big & small, and at 22 years of age, independently wrote, produced, performed and funded his first solo album titled; 'What More Could I ask?' released in April 2008. It is an exciting debut and a milestone of achievement of his goals. The album is reflective of a time of journeying and adventuring into a life of new experiences and fresh ideals. His storytelling is passionate, genuine, and light-hearted. Inspired by relationships, traveling, taking risks, and following your heart. The opening song, and album title track; “What More Could I Ask?" is about living on Vancouver Island, finding contentment in the rainforest. ‘24 hours’ has a distinct maritime folk sound and a charming story about falling for a fling, with the hope that some day, lovers will meet again. He brings things up a notch in “On my Way”, with Mat Budreski of Andrew Hunter & the Gatherers on drums, and layered overdubs of electric guitar, slide guitar, and bass, producing a rockin’ alt-country sound. The reggae-tinged 'Halifax town', is an ode to a beloved town that is no stranger to rainy, foggy days as mentioned in the lyrics; "Halifax town -- rainy weather we're gettin', when the sunshine comes --I'll be in Cape Breton". The vintage blues sounding ‘Joys of Life’ is about the simple pleasures of walking down city streets or a stroll by a riverside. ‘Little Star’ is a song filled with courage and optimism and is about looking to the stars as a reminder of a world of endless possibilities. Mike’s songs tell stories that are relevant to our time, like in 'Fishy Tale' and 'Natural Living', demonstrating a concern for the environment and its current dilemma. Finally, Mike closes off with the intimate, heart-wrenching blues number; ‘Mother’ about the relationship of Mother and Son. Mike Barrett has been filling up his summer 08' touring schedule around the maritime provinces with performances in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, and PEI, and is planning a tour of western Canada for the fall.Keep your eyes peeled for an acoustically electrifying performance by Mike Barrett this summer!