Michael Hanrahan

Michael Hanrahan is one of Newfoundland’s most inventive vocalists and instrumentalists.  A former member of the Juno-award winning Irish Descendants for seven years, Michael’s innovative take on folk manages to both honour the past, while being very much of the present.  A prolific multi-instrumentalist, Michael is known for his considerable contributions to a number of Newfoundland and Labrador artists (both performance and on record), but with the release of his third solo album, “Mild Mannered Child” he is moving firmly into his own spotlight.

 “Mild Mannered Child” is a beguiling, haunting work of an artist hitting his peak form. His original songs, and carefully curated covers speak to Michael’s transformative powers as a musician.  It is an album that sonically seems to harmoniously occupy many spaces at once: past and present; traditional and imaginative; intricate and unassuming.  The “back to basics” approach to recording highlights the warm strength of Michael’s voice and his impeccable instrumental abilities, with arrangements whose apparent simplicity belies their powerful complexity.  This is an album that speaks intimately to the listener, with an impact felt long after the last note is sounded; like the lingering trace of sea air on the breeze.

 Michael has released two previous solo albums, “Tie Me Down” (2005), and “Freeing Loneseome Tune” (2009).  “Tie Me Down” featured the title track duet with mentor and friend Dermott O’Reilly (Ryan’s Fancy), while he track “All Our Hearts” (from “Freeing Lonesome Tune”) was selected by mvyradio.com for its Local MuiscCafe - with worldwide mp3 downloads of the enormously popular show in the hundreds of thousands.

 Michael has also appeared as a member of the Irish Descendants on four albums, “Across the Water”, “The Gift”, “Southern Shore” and “Blooming Bright Star”.  Mike has recorded and performed with Banshee, The Ennis Sisters, Shanneyganock,  Jim Fiddler, The Monday Nights, Janet Cull and many others.

Michael has performed at many of North America’s greatest folk festivals, will be heading back onto the festival circuit in 2018 to promote “Mild Mannered Child”.   Hanrahan has also appeared on Canada AM, The Juno Awards (with Great Big Sea), The East Coast Music Awards CBC Show and performed in Trafalgar Square with The Ennis Sisters in as part of the official World War 1 Commemorations for Beaumont Hamel.