Mikhail Laxton Announces Debut Aotearoa Show
After capturing the hearts of Kiwi listeners with his soulful new single ' I Like The Way ', Australian-born, Canadian-based artist Mikhail Laxton is heading to Aotearoa for his debut headline show happening on Friday 3 October at The Tuning Fork in Auckland. Tickets for this show go on sale Monday 16 June at midday from Moshtix.
Laxton has been steadily rising in Canada's Americana and roots scene since relocating from Mossman, Queensland to Ottawa. A proud Aboriginal (Kuku Yalanji) artist, he has built a reputation for his rich, honeyed vocals, heartfelt songwriting, and deeply resonant live performances. His 2023 self-titled debut album drew critical acclaim and positioned him as a powerful new voice in what he calls 'outlaw soul' – blending classic Americana with the raw emotion and groove of soul music.
Now, with a new album on the way, Laxton is leaning further into the soul and roots influences that have long shaped his sound. His single 'I Like The Way', a tender love song written for his wife, has found unexpected popularity with a New Zealand audience after a short teaser video went viral on TikTok.
' I actually visited New Zealand when I was 12 and I fell in love with the place,' explains Laxton. ' I was actually a little obsessed back in the day. So to have Aotearoa showing the kind of love it has been showing is really kind of like a little bit of a full-circle thing. Absolutely stoked that it is panning out this way and I can't wait to get down there with the people and have a great time.'
Known for his emotional authenticity and connection with audiences, Laxton's live show has already seen him open for heavyweights like The Teskey Brothers and Kathleen Edwards. His first New Zealand appearance promises to be something truly special.
Don't miss Mikhail Laxton's debut Aotearoa show at The Tuning Fork this October.
Tickets available Monday 16 June at midday from Moshtix.
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Byrne asked if they'd want to serve as his band for the Who Is The Sky? sessions, and they quickly agreed. 'David sent me some demos and asked us to put together some orchestral ideas,' says Ghost Train Orchestra leader Brian Carpenter. 'Curtis Hasselbring and I quickly wrote a couple rough draft arrangements of his songs for Ghost Train, including ' My Apartment Is My Friend,' which was the first song we rehearsed at our tiny rehearsal space in Chinatown. To hear him singing with us for the first time on that song was just incredible.' Via an introduction at a party by a friend, Kid Harpoon came into the picture next. 'Sometimes things do happen at parties,' Byrne notes. 'I knew this could all get complicated and I also wanted to be sure the recordings sounded as good as possible. An outside set of ears can be super helpful. A few artists I knew had worked with Kid Harpoon, and I thought those records sounded really good.' Byrne sent Harpoon some demos, and after a discussion at the former's Santa Monica hotel, he jumped aboard too. There are 'more story songs than usual' on Who Is the Sky?, according to Byrne. These 'mini-narratives based on personal experience' include ' She Explains Things to Me ' (sample lyric: 'how come it's all so obvious to her?'), ' A Door Called No ' (which magically opens after Byrne receives a kiss), ' My Apartment Is My Friend ' ('you've seen me at my very worst / but we always get along,' he sings) and ' I Met the Buddha at a Downtown Party ' (at which the onetime spiritual guru is more interested in the unhealthy deserts than deification). Marked by the inviting vocal interplay between Byrne and Paramore's Williams, the jaunty ' What Is the Reason for It? 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