Join Michael J Tinker as he looks to take exciting new songs about Jesus to kids all around the world.
A great lover of stories, Michael sits right at home within the folk world.
Delivered with “guitar-plucking [that] evokes the celestial qualities of a harp” (Sheffield Telegraph) and even solo voice, his songs will make you think, laugh and maybe even shed a tear.
Michael has always been involved in the performance of music, from Jazz to blues, folk to choral singing. More recently Michael has settled in the traditional folk world, growing from his passion for songs that tell good stories.
Michael has supported the likes of Bellowhead, Martin Simpson, Lucy Ward, Ewan McLennan and the Albion Band, has performed with BBC Folk Award nominee Katriona Gilmore and Damien O’Kane and worked with folk-legend Bill Leader on his 2012 album. This has undoubtedly shaped his present direction and choice of songs, veering increasingly towards the wealth of traditional songs from the British Isles and beyond. 2013-14 saw Michael perform around the country including dates in London, Cambridge, Birmingham, Norwich, Bradford and Sheffield. In 2013 he released a single with Damien O’Kane entitled ‘Shenandoah’ and a full album was released with his trio, Bright Season, in 2014.
2014 also saw the release of his major project ‘Songs for the Voiceless’ (4**** The Guardian, R2, The Telegraph, Maverick Magazine), which featured Bella Hardy, Josienne Clarke, Gilmore&Roberts, the Young’uns, Ian Stephenson and Tom Oakes. Produced by Andy Bell. The album was toured in November 2014 and welcomed Jackie Oates to the band.
As well as playing folk music Michael can be seen touring his children’s show with his compadre, Inspector Smart. Together they tell stories from the Bible, meet zany characters and sing all sorts of songs.
Michael is a committed Christian and his faith plays a central role in his music making, even if the songs are not always explicitly about God. “We’re created to be creators” says Michael. “Every time we create – whether it’s a piece of music, a work of art, a landscaped garden or even a pie – we reflect the one who made us and what we were made for – that’s why it feels so good!”
