Mike Stevens

SYNESTHESIA And a LEAP of FAITH

Harmonica Virtuoso

Mike Stevens is an award-winning harmonica player, composer and author living in Point Edward Ontario Canada. His talent is as unorthodox as his career trajectory. As a ground-breaking performer, composer, educator, keynote speaker and author, Mike continues to expand the paradigms of harmonica, balancing tradition with cutting-edge innovation.

Booking Inquiry

When Mike performs, the Harmonica becomes a musical paintbrush with no limits.

Whether its a Solo looping piece , a composition for The Atlantic Ballet of Canada or a West African music collaboration

“He literally Breathes In the World and Breathes out Music.”

A Quote

”What I love about my career is that it's real. For example, a changing room has been a suite at The Plaza Hotel in New York City to a Porta John at a rodeo ---- and all things in between. From performances in front of Royals to playing for amazing youth across the North. Im truly grateful"

For more than 50 years, Mike has performed around the world, crisscrossing the globe many times----- from China to Antarctica, from The North Pole to the Middle East, and many places in between. From major festivals to concert halls and theatres, to music rooms---- even a stadium in Japan. His pioneering bluegrass work includes countless festivals and 100's of shows at the world--famous Grand Ole Opry with Bluegrass Legends Jim and Jesse, along with many performances with Raymond McLain at the historic Carter Fold.

On July 18th, 2024, Mike performed the most northerly concert in the history of the world-----on the ice at The North Pole, 90degrees North.

Mike has received awards in bluegrass , blues , country and folk music-----not to mention the Solo soundscape compositions, including a performance at World Press Photo in Amsterdam with Magnum photographer Larry Towell

Awards

Meritorious Service Medal (Government of Canada)
Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal (Government of Canada)
YMCA Canada Peace Medal (Canadian Medal)
Honorary Kentucky Colonel (The State of Kentucky)
Slaight Music Humanitarian Award (Canadian Country Music Association)
Innovator of the year Award - first ever (Canadian Folk Music Awards)
Estelle Klein Award (Folk Music Ontario)
Award of Excellence (Ontario Contact)
Peter Gzowski Award (PGI Canada National Literacy)
Recording of the Year (Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards)
Top selling record for "Blowing up a Storm" (Pinecastle Records)
1990-1994 Entertainer of the Year (Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards) - retired from the category

Mike is the Founder of Artscan Circle, a non-profit organization that partners with with Northern Communities across Canada and using the arts as a tool for self expression and joy.

Mike is the co founder with Terese Kaptur of Healing through Music and Dance providing workshops in remote Alaskan Villages

Mike has done workshops across the North and personally given away aprox 50000 harmonica and with Artscancircle countless musical

instruments have been collected and shipped to many deserving communities.

This is not a complete list but here are some of the communities that Mike has had the honour of giving workshops in. Many of these multiple times

Canada

Sheshatshui Labrador (many times). Natuashish Labrador (multiple times)

Pikangikum Ontario (many times). Davis Inlet Labrador (multiple times)

Mishkeegogamang Ontario (multiple times). Wabaseemoong Ontario (multiple times )

Kugluktuk Nunavut (multiple times) Sioux Lookout Ontario (multiple times)

Lac Seul First Nation Ontario. Carcross Yukon

Atlin BC Teslin Yukon

Marsh Lake Yukon Watson Lake Yukon

Carmacks Yukon Whitehorse Yukon

Gjoa Haven Nunavut (multiple times). Baker Lake Nunavut

Igloolik Nunavut. Pond Inlet. Nunavut

Rankin Inlet Nunavut. Cambridge Bay Nunavut

Iqaluit Nunavut Cape Dorset. Nunavut

Ulukhaktok Northwest Territories. Yellowknife Northwest Territories

Dettah Northwest Territories Behchoko Northwest Territories

Goose Bay Labrador Torngats Labrador

workshops in Goose Bay Labrador with youth from Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik, and Rigolet

Alaska

Fairbanks (20 times) Nenana (10)

Arctic Village (4) Venetie

Ruby Fort Yukon

Bethel (17). Chefornak

Newtok (2) Mertarvik

Akiak. (5) Akiachak

Alakanuk. Hooper Bay (4)

Chevak Utqiagvik/Barrow

Huslia. (3) Tanana (6)

Healy Denali Park

Cantwell Andersen. (2)

Galena. (3) Nulato

Koyukuk Nome. (4)

Kotzebue (3) Noorvik

Napaskiak Anchorage (3)

Eagle River and Rampart (remote video program)

Speaker

Mike has been the Keynote Speaker and guest lecturer at many events such as:

The Canadian Music Therapy Conference

Ontario Conference of Folk Festivals

Dalhousie Medical School

TEDx Talks and many more

Workshops & Residencies

From Ground Breaking Harmonica technique to Group Harmonica lessons (as large as 400 people) where everyone gets a custom harmonica and learns to play several songs And has a lot of fun

Mike’s extensive experience with youth, allows him to creates a safe environment for artistic self expression through residencies, workshops and team-building exercises.

Composer

Mike writes and records in many genres:

PiggyBack and Push Record – 2 CD’s of original music co-written and released with Roots music phenom Matt Andersen

Many Bluegrass music originals

Soundscape and Film soundtrack work on A Walk in My Dream

Composed and performed music for The Atlantic Ballet Of Canada

Diving rock music and live looping on the CD Normally Anomally

Experimental multimedia soundscape music for Larry Towell – performed at World Press Photo Exhibition in Amsterdam

Mike has been the subject of 2 Feature Film Documentaries

The award winning Harmonica Crossing (2000) about Mike’s career at the World Famous Grand Ole Opry
The recently released A Walk in My Dream (2011) produced by Jonathan Torrens about his work with ArtsCan Circle