
From North-East Boy, to Midlands Songster
Michael Petitjean is a UK singer-songwriter creating acoustic, indie and AI-assisted music. Based in the Midlands, he writes story-driven songs and performs regularly at open mic venues.
Artist Story
Born in Seaham Harbour in the North East of England, I fell in love with music early—at four years old I’d dress as Davy Crockett, clutch a pop bottle like a guitar, and sing in the street. Music has always been my dream. At 16 I left school to begin an apprenticeship with the CEGB, and although I longed to go pro, I chose to build a career in engineering. In my early twenties I taught guitar at a local music shop, but shift work eventually pulled me away. That change led to a defining chapter—designing and implementing advanced control and asset‑management systems across the power industry.
After leaving the industry in 1996 to run my own consultancy, I returned to music in 2012—improving my skills, writing originals, and recording covers. I began attending open mics around 2018, and after COVID my wife Ruth joined me; together we now support local open mics several times a week. We don’t play paid gigs—this is about the joy of music and community. Recently, I’ve embraced AI tools for production, inspiration, and music video creation, a full‑circle moment that echoes my earlier work with advanced systems and neural networks.
In the last two months alone I’ve released four new songs and created lip‑sync videos for them. I’m not sure where this path will lead, but I’m happier than ever to be creating and sharing music.
Milestones
- Apprenticeship with the CEGB at 16
- Guitar teacher in my early 20s
- Career designing advanced control systems in the Power Generation Industry
- Returned to songwriting & recording in 2012
- Open‑mic regular since 2018
- Released 4 original songs in the last 2 months
Signature Sound
- Story‑driven songwriting with heart and warmth
- Acoustic roots with modern production touches
- Blending tradition with new tech and AI‑inspired creativity
Original Acoustic & Indie Music
New Songs and Music Videos
Heading Home – Michael Petitjean | A Reflective Song About The Road Back
Original song created by myself.
Re-modelled using Suno AI and video produced using OpenArt AI.Show More
Current Open Mic Venues

Compamigos – Willington
THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 4pm (to be confirmed)

The Coopers – Burton-on-Trent
LAST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH 7.30pm

The Bulls Head – Rosliston
EVERY THURSDAY AT 8pm

The Bell – Whittington
2nd and 4th MONDAY OF THE MONTH EXCEPT BANK HOLIDAYS

The Hawk & Buckle – Etwall
EVERY MONDAY AT 8pm

The Turnpike – Lichfield
LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH 4pm

The Elms – Burton-on-Trent
THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH 7.30pm

The William IV – Alrewas
FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH 8pm
Contact Me
Have a question or want to collaborate? Drop me a message and I’ll get back to you soon.
