Mike Thompson, the “Didjerydude” has been a part of the Winnipeg music scene for 5 decades. Spanning a wide range of musical experiences, he has much to offer covering a variety of genres. His main gig is singing in choral ensembles as a classically trained tenor. You can say that he has an appetite for early music, having performed many great works with Winnipeg Choral ensemble Camerata Nova (now Dead of Winter). Also a versatile instrumentalist, he specializes in trumpet and didgeridoo. Mike carries the distinction of being Canada’s only symphonic didgeridoo player, having performed with Regina and Winnipeg’s symphony orchestras. He has also performed many times with vocal ensembles and the like. The didgeridoo is essentially a hollowed-out tree trunk considered by some to be a sacred instrument. Mike's instrument is very different, consisting of three sections of carbon fiber that can be adjusted to perform a variety of notes. It is played as a wind instrument, very unlike a traditional didgeridoo.

Known as a great musical communicator, Mike loves getting into that zone that happens when the connection is at its deepest. It's this alchemy that Midbrain Surfers create, a sound stream that carries you away. The communication that happens between musicians…there’s nothing better.

*Cultural acknowledgment: “In playing the didgeridoo, I do so with the deepest respect and gratitude to the Indigenous peoples of Australia. I acknowledge the many struggles they have faced and continue to face in the shadow of colonialism. I admire their resilience and respect their innate understanding of the universe that connects us all.”- Mike Thompson