"A charismatic maestro...vivid storytelling" The Age
One of the true mavericks of Australian music, Mikelangelo is the alter-ego of celebrated singer, performer and 2025 Canberra Artist of the Year, Michael Simic.
Mikelangelo has been playing shows in the national capital since he first trod the boards singing for his brother's band K*ll City in 1986, at the age of 16. Beloved by local audiences from his many projects, from solo performances, to his various collaborations, including his long term group, the Black Sea Gentlemen, who have played sold out headline shows from the Sydney Opera House to London’s West End.
"Part Elvis, part New Romantic, part storyteller" **** Time Out (UK)
Simic’s local band, Mikelangelo & the Long Lost Friends is based in his adopted hometown of Braidwood where he and his wife are raising their young family. Nestled by the wild and winding Shoalhaven river and under the benevolent shadow of Mount Gillamatong, Braidwood is a town teeming with artists, poets, musicians and myriad creative folks.
From this creative confluence, Mikelangelo & the Long Lost Friends have emerged, featuring Jake Annetts on bass, Steve Maher on keyboard and guitar, Bruce Rose on guitar, Ben Willson on drums and Michael Simic on vocals and guitar. Together they have worked up a set of powerful and emotive new material alongside a collection of Mikelangelo classics from his beloved back catalogue. The Long Lost Friends play an eclectic mix of atmospheric roots rock, baroque pop and turbo charged Euro folk, all delivered with Mikelangelo's trademark charm, energy, theatrics and off-the-cuff banter. With the Long Lost Friends, he's played to packed crowds locally and on tour to Melbourne, Sydney and beyond, including enthusiastically received main stage performances at Cobargo Folk Festival and Folk By The Sea festival.
"Mikelangelo weaves a seductive spell around the audience...loved every minute”
Mikelangelo & the Long Lost Friends play with White Knuckle Fever, Sydney's only two-piece techno-psycho-blues-a-billy hyper energy assault merchants who have left cities drenched in sweat across Australia.
Fronted by ex Circus Bizarre ringleader Celia Curtis with ex Machine Gun Fellatio member 3K Short, they are hotter than Hades, a hit with the ladies and guaranteed to get crowds going crazy!
9:30pm - MIKELANGELO & THE LONG LOST FRIENDS
10:50 - WHITE KNUCKLE FEVER
Event Venue
Smith's Alternative, Alinga Street, Canberra ACT, Australia, 76 Alinga St, Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia
