Michael Beach

Biography

Born in California and based in Melbourne, Michael Beach’s songs and compositions transcend international boundaries and genre lines, mixing contemporary minimalism, the raw energy of rock ‘n’ roll, and sophisticated electronic textures to create a unique world of sound.  Beach works as an educator, as well as a producer, session musician, and engineer, most recently producing and playing keyboards on Tropical Fuck Storm’s 2025 record, ‘Fairyland Codex,’ (Fire Records) and engineering piano tracks for Exek’s 2026 record, ‘Prove The Mountains Move’ (DFA). 

Over his 15-year career, Beach has collaborated with a wide array of artists: Mick Turner, Lloyd Swanton, Gareth Liddiard and Fiona Kitschin of The Drones/Tropical Fuck Storm, Simon Joyner, Kelley Stoltz, Spiral Stairs, Leah Senior, Chris Abrahams, Thalia Zedek, Charlie Megira, Ned Collette, and The Source Family.  He has toured extensively since 2008, appearing at major festivals such as Meredith (AU), Gonerfest (US), Binic Folks Blues (FR), and Port Noise (NZ), and opening for artists like The Breeders, Ed Keupper (The Saints), The Drones, and Courtney Barnett.

Since his debut on Thurston Moore and Byron Coley’s label, Ecstatic Yod, he has released numerous recordings with Goner Records (US) and Poison City Records (AU), as well as several others.  Beach’s 2025 studio release, ‘Big Black Plume’ (Poison City/Goner), featured collaborations with Turner and Swanton, Gareth Liddiard, Fiona Kitschin, and Leah Senior among others.  It garnered praise in Wire, NME, and was featured on international radio stations like KEXP, WFMU as well as all independent stations throughout Australia, including RRR, where it was awarded Album of the Week.

His latest release, ‘Live At Phoenix Central Park’ (Poison City/25 Diamonds), recorded in Sydney with a quartet featuring Lloyd Swanton (The Necks), Mick Turner (Dirty Three), and Joe Talia (Oren Ambarchi, Ned Collette), was released in August 2026.