City crooner sets out on the comeback trail
Peterborough-based Michael Bell has a big show coming up at the Stirling Festival Theatre
STIRLING - Award-winning singer-songwriter Michael Bell is coming to the Stirling Festival Theatre.
His stop in Stirling is part of a comeback, he says.
Bell’s working towards recording and arranging a new collection of covers and original songs now.
He officially “got off the road” nearly 30 years ago, and at the height of his career.
He met the woman of his dreams and knew he couldn’t do both - pursue a music career and start a family.
“So, I decided to leave the road,” he said.
But now, his kids are all grown up. His wife is nearing retirement. And, he’s excited to be getting back to music and doing what he loves - performing.
On Saturday, he’ll be performing The Songs of Michael Buble (and Sinatra), and those jazz classics that previously garnered him top chart spots.
The Peterborough native began his musical career in high school, fronting a new wave/ punk outfit that toured independently, packing clubs from Peterborough to Stratford.
After high school, Bell busked his way across Canada and often in Toronto, on the corner of Yonge and Dundas, where he paired up with folk duo, Bruce Street.
That’s where guitarist/songwriter Andy Ryan discovered and recruited the artist to front the act Trixie Goes to Hollywood.
Not long after, they moved on with help from producer Mark Caporal, forming the pop-rock band Eye Eye.
This was around the time Bell decided it was time for a family.
He never quite quit music though. He opened a night club at one point and got into festival management.
He continued to perform occasionally and pursued music online and in the recording studio - but never full-time, like he has recently begun to again.
“About a year ago, I started looking seriously at a five-year plan for this,” he said.
The Songs of Michael Buble show starts at 8 p.m.
Tickets are from $24-$28. For more information call 613-3952100 or 1-877-312-1162, or visit discovermichael.com.