Mike McCarthy

Mike McCarthy is a unique Australian singer / songwriter and music producer. Threading together elements of dirt box blues with open-sea folk, McCarthys music captures a sense of journey. Sometimes visceral, sometimes soothing. Always heartfelt.

His own journey has seen him perform around the world including tours across Australia, Japan, the UK and USA.

McCarthys music has also featured on much loved surf films such as "Stoked & Broke", "Seaworthy", "Lines from a Poem" and "Alaska Sessions." The songs mirroring the power of the ocean and the beauty of the surfer's craft.

Over the last ten years Mike has recorded five albums and a live EP, and supported many influential musicians such as Mia Dyson, Tex Perkins, Sarah Blasko and Jeff Lang. Acclaimed blues guitarist, Eric Bibb, was quoted as saying Mike and I are one in the same tribe. He is an acclaimed musician yet also has something deeper to say. Life, love, ups and downs. Stories about always seeing a way through.

Due for release in October 2012 is McCarthy's latest work THE LION'S SHARE. Recorded between December 2010 and March 2012 THE LION'S SHARE shows McCarthy stripping things back lyrically but at the same time expanding his sense of adventure sonically.

"After years of touring and recording I felt the need to push things in a new direction. Time was taken to craft the songs as well as to explore the sounds that would bring them to life."

"I was fortunate to work with a range of talented musicians/engineers who really understood what I wanted to achieve. Miles Thomas at Paradise, Syd Green at Mononest and Jeff McCormack at The Music Cellar all contributed in ways which have helped create an album I'm extremely proud of."

Mike tours with his multi-instrumentalist wife Sophie. The two have a unique connection musically and this translates to an engaging live show!

A Little Bit of History

2001 - Release of Mike's first album 'Wisdom is Delight'
2002 - Packs a bag full of CD's, some clothes and 2 guitars and goes looking for gigs across 3 states of Australia.
2004 - Release of second album 'Fire Flood Freedom'. Songs from the album feature on Nathan Oldfield's film LINES FROM A POEM.
2006 - Mike successfully tours Japan and UK for the first time and releases a new EP 'Shelter and the Sea'.
2007 - Release of third album 'Calm Wind' and subsequent tour of USA and Japan for The Greenroom Festival.
2008 - Release of fourth album 'The harrowing account of John William Tate'. Mike tours Australia in support of this epic open-sea folk album. Contributes music to Nathan Oldfield's second film SEAWORTHY.
2009 - Touring England, US, New Zealand and Australia with Sons of Korah. Also meets Cyrus Sutton on his travels through California. Mike starts Hatch Music with Sharon McKay. Hatch releases a digital learning package based off Mikes upcoming album Colours.
2010 - Releases his fifth album Colours, an instrumental dive into a world of emotional response to Colours. Music from the album features on Cyrus Sutton's STOKED AND BROKE and several independent short films online. The Australia Council, Department of Education and Arts NSW present Mike with a grant to mentor students in songwriting and recording an album. The album, Sounds of momentum, is completed with Kincumber High school students.
2011 - Mike tours High Schools across NSW presenting Hatch music workshops. Produces and engineers releases for Redhanwen, Dan Hannaford, Katie Harder and his own solo project THE LIONS SHARE.
2012 - Mike is currently preparing the soil for the brand new album, THE LIONS SHARE to be released in MAY 2012.