Shows & events
| May 26 | Black Pony Cafe Open Mic host |
8-10pm 7pm signup |
1481 Gerrard Street East Little India/Leslieville, Toronto |
| June 21 | The Olde Stone Cottage Pub Beer Fest Live Music! Free/PWYC |
3-6pm | 3750 Kingston Road Scarborough |
| June 23 | Black Pony Cafe Open Mic host (Every two weeks) Free/PWYC |
8-10pm 7pm signup |
1481 Gerrard Street East Little India/Leslieville, Toronto |
| July 7 | Black Pony Cafe Open Mic host (Every two weeks) Free/PWYC |
8-10pm 7pm signup |
1481 Gerrard Street East Little India/Leslieville, Toronto |
| July 21 | Black Pony Cafe Open Mic host (Every two weeks) Free/PWYC |
8-10pm 7pm signup |
1481 Gerrard Street East Little India/Leslieville, Toronto |
| November 10 | Black Pony Cafe Open Mic host (Every two weeks) Free/PWYC |
8-10pm 7pm signup |
1481 Gerrard Street East Little India/Leslieville, Toronto |
| November 18 | Supermarket Kensington Unplugged Writers' Round |
7pm-8pm | 268 Augusta Ave Kensington, Toronto |
| November 20 | The Greenwood Cafe with Braedon Quarles and Camaro Moon 🎟️ Tickets on sale now! |
6pm | 1374 Queen St E Leslieville, Toronto |
| November 24 | Black Pony Cafe Open Mic host (Every two weeks) Free/PWYC |
8-10pm 7pm signup |
1481 Gerrard Street East Little India/Leslieville, Toronto |
| November 26 | The Dive Shop Celebrate the 90s with Rich Freed & Adam Gets Loud 🎟️ Tickets on sale now! |
Doors: 6:30pm
Music: 7-10pm |
1036 Gerrard Street East Riverside, Toronto |
| November 28 | Great Lakes Brewery Live music, great beer from GLB! |
Music: 5-8pm | 30 Queen Elizabeth Blvd Toronto |
| December 8 | Black Pony Cafe Open Mic host (Every two weeks) Free/PWYC |
8-10pm 7pm signup |
1481 Gerrard Street East Little India/Leslieville, Toronto |
| December 13 | Private Event |
Evening | Private Event Toronto |
| December 21 | Evergreen Brick Works Music at the Brick Works Free/PWYC |
3:30pm-4:30pm | 550 Bayview Ave Toronto |
| December 22 | Black Pony Cafe Open Mic host (Every two weeks) Free/PWYC |
8-10pm 7pm signup |
1481 Gerrard Street East Little India/Leslieville, Toronto |
| January 25 | Black Swan Tavern Barlowpalooza Free/PWYC |
TBC 8-10pm |
Danforth , Toronto |
Electronic Press Kit (epk)
Short Bio
Mike Z (@firesideghosts) writes and performs unique acoustic sets fusing '80s new wave nostalgia and '90s indie energy.
He calls it Acoustic Post-Wave.
A seasoned performer with deep Toronto roots, Mike brings an emotional and introspective energy to every stage, reimagining classics and sharing original songs that explore roads not taken, moments missed, and connections overlooked.
Full Bio
Mike Zimmermann (@firesideghosts) is an independent acoustic artist with a sound best described as a fusion of '80s new wave nostalgia, '90s indie energy, and modern shoegaze atmospherics. A founding member of an indie alternative band in the grunge era, he took a long hiatus from writing and performing before recently rediscovering his voice in the raw, vulnerable world of solo acoustic music.
He calls it Acoustic Post-Wave.
With a history of performing at some of Toronto's most iconic venues—including The Rivoli, The Horseshoe, The Opera House, The El Mocambo, and Lee's Palace—Mike has returned to the stage with a renewed artistic vision. He also continues to foster the local music scene through numerous collaborations, and by running open mics and songwriter panels that connect and support indie artists.
His songwriting is deeply narrative, exploring themes of reflection, affection, and rue—the roads not taken, the moments overlooked, and the emotions that linger in between. His performances are both intimate and expansive, stripping down '80s and alternative classics and originals to their barest essence.
Original Music
Acoustic Performances
“What I Need” (Kensington Unplugged @ Supermarket)
“What I Need" (with a sneeze and smile @ The Greenwood Cafe)
“Stay Here Another Day”
Studio Recordings: Original songs
“Miss You”
“Maybe”
Cover performances
"You can't get cheesier than that!"
“Sunglasses At Night”
“You make John Prine sound like Slowdive”
"Sam Stone"
Sample Setlist: Nostalgia Covers
- Just Like Heaven · The Cure
- Where Is My Mind · Pixies
- Bizarre Love Triangle · New Order
- Lacy · Olivia Rodrigo
- Gimme Sympathy · Metric
- Basket Case · Green Day
- Sex and Candy · Marcy Playground
- The Man Who Sold The World · David Bowie/Nirvana
- Hasn't Hit Me Yet · Blue Rodeo
- I Bet You Think About Me · Taylor Swift
- Into The Great Wide Open · Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
- All Along The Watchtower · Bob Dylan
- Stick Season · Noah Kahan
- Dancing in the Dark · Bruce Springsteen
- February Air · Lights
- Turn The Page · Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
Gear
I am completely self-sufficient (instruments, mics, stands, PA for medium and small venues) and have a compact off-grid setup that can run on batteries for at least 5 hours if needed.