Michael Louis Johnson brings pay-what-you-can house concerts to Stratford
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
By: Amanda Nelson
Toronto entertainer Michael Louis Johnson is inviting Stratford residents and visitors into his stunning 1880s Victorian-era Stratford rental for a series of intimate house concerts this summer.
The pay-what-you-can performances blend live music, storytelling and theatrical performance in a relaxed, bring-your-own-food-and-drink setting where attendees can expect to be entertained throughout the evening with live trumpet and piano, as well as enjoy a theatrical element.
The concerts on Thursdays run from July 9 to Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. and are hosted in Johnson's temporary Stratford home while he is here performing in Death of a Salesman.
“If you don't know me, I'm the guy who was playing trumpet and serving drinks to the Loman boys in Death of a Salesman,” said Johnson. “I'm not really from Brooklyn. I've been a Toronto-based entertainer for some four decades.”
Johnson is currently appearing in Death of a Salesman throughout the summer and is also a well-known Toronto-based entertainer with more than four decades of experience, including with the bands Big Rude Jake, The New Kings and Lemon Bucket Orkestra, which are well known on stages across Ontario.
Alongside working as a bartender at Toronto’s the Communist’s Daughter, Johnson has hosted a Saturday jazz matinée there for 23 years. For the upcoming performances, Johnson draws on his background in acting, music and bartending to create an experience centred on hospitality and community.
Attendees can expect an intimate evening of music, storytelling and theatrical performance in a warm, informal atmosphere. Johnson's trademark hospitality will make everyone feel welcome and entertained, including his tradition of toasting with frozen vodka.
"Although it's called a house concert, it's really more theatrical – I have a background in stand-up comedy, so I also draw on that,” he said. “In Toronto, at our family home, we would do a concert every Valentine's Day … they'd come to my house, and eat a meal, and then do two sets of music for them,” he said.
While staying in Stratford for the theatre season, Johnson wanted to connect with the community in an accessible way and decided to host his popular house concerts here.
"I've always tried to recognize the balance between community and commodity … so much of art leans too far into strictly being commodity, whereas I like to really think of how can this be part of building community?” he said.
Renting accommodations in Stratford while maintaining his Toronto home is expensive, so the concerts help offset costs while giving back through the arts. Johnson believes high-quality arts experiences should be accessible to all. He hopes the format welcomes everyone, regardless of income.
"To me, being an artist, it's not like, ‘Hey, here's this product that I'm presenting to you that you're going to consume,’” said Johnson. “It's, for me, part of our service industry … I'm providing this essential service to you that's going to help you connect with your soul through the sharing of human expression."
You can learn more and purchase tickets at michaellouisjohnson.ca/tickets. More dates will be posted soon.