Mike Celia
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Mike Celia

Band Folk Acoustic

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EP now available at www.mikecelia.com and CD Baby

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It was the fall of 2004 when Mike Celia found himself on stage performing for the very first time. He had written a few songs which had attracted the ear of his brother David who had already begun to receive acclaim as a force in the international independent music scene. Mike, who had never considered pursuing music as a lifestyle, took a chance and opened for his bro at the prestigious Hugh�s Room in Toronto. It was that performance that lit a new path before him and it wasn�t long after that, he quit his desk job and began a new journey in music.

Over the years that would follow, Mike continued to captivate audiences from all walks of life with his blend of acoustic guitar, sand-paper vocals and personal lyrics that speak of love, life and the struggles in between. Although a late bloomer, Mike had always been writing and expressing himself through song since his early teens. Growing up as the youngest of four siblings, there was no shortage of music and influence in the house. And although the mix was quite eclectic, Mike managed to find his musical fingerprint and began to grow and write with it.

The completion of his first EP titled, �Things I�ve Sold� marked a major stepping stone in becoming recognized as a serious independent recording artist. Recorded mostly in his basement with a laptop computer and the help of his friend Nick Londono, Mike completed his first journey into production. The tracks were later mixed by local producer and Juno nominee, John Switzer, who was a great addition in molding the sound that has only just begun to capture people�s ears. The CD was released in the spring of 2007.

Around the time he was recording, independent filmmakers and fans of Mike�s music, The Campagna Brothers, asked Mike if he would be interested in composing some music for their newest film, �Six Reasons Why� (www.sixreasonswhy.com). After much time and hard work, the film got the attention it demanded and was quickly purchased by THINK Films. It is now available on DVD across North America.

On August 17 of 2007, Mike embarked on his first national grassroots tour with bands The Last True Gentlemen and Fourlines. Together, the three acts performed thirteen shows in twenty-one days across five provinces including a live to air performance on CHLY 101.7 in Nanaimo, BC. The experience was surreal and left them all with a new lasting impression.

With word spreading fast about his music back in his own community, Mike found himself as a live featured guest performer numerous times on Roger�s Daytime Television, MeTV and was the feature of an artist spotlight on First Local News.

Most recently, Mike was asked to fill the role of Concert Series Director for the Mississauga Independent Film Festival which ran from July 10th to the 13th of 2008 in downtown Mississauga. The concert series featured live showcases at each after party during the festival as well as an outdoor, band shell performance in front of Mississauga�s City Hall.

This year, Mike was nominated and won the award for Best Blues at the 2008 Toronto Independent Music Awards and has also been nominated by the Mississauga Arts Council for an Emerging Performing Arts award. The ceremony will be held at Stage West Hotel on August 20th.

Over the years Mike has also continued to do his best in giving back to the community by getting involved and/or organizing charity concerts for organizations like The Make A Wish Foundation and Sick Kids Hospital. He is a firm believer that music brings people together amidst all their diversity, inspires them to become better people and make the changes necessary to make the world a better place. Currently, he is working on a new community project in the Parkdale area of Toronto, volunteer teaching music to children ages 7-13 who could not otherwise afford music lessons. The project entitled Outside The Box is a not-for-profit collaborative effort driven by local musicians to help reach out to the troubled community and inspire youth to choose a better path.