A dark and gritty neo-western take on the classic American folk song "Cotton Eyed Joe" (famously parodied by the Swedish techno group "Rednex" in the 1990s). This version returns the song to its folk roots, with an all new story of seduction, murder, and revenge echoing the original narrative from the 1880 lyrics.

Cotton Eyed Joe (the Murder Ballad)

Brown bird ragged old town

A bluesy folk song about how much I suck as a human being.

Hard Man to Love

An anti-suicide song I wrote to remind myself that there always reasons to keep hanging on.

I'll Be With You

Simple & Clean

Underneath the Blood Moon

House of Cards (Clive's Grief Observed)

The Prize Fighter Inferno - Wayne Andrews, The Old Bee Keeper.m4r

Kara Clark-Relapse

Miners Song

THE NEXT LIFE, WORK ON Track Two

Mike West has a reputation as an honest and engaging Alt-Country musician. Beginning his musical journey as the frontman and guitarist for a thrash metal band, Mike traded in his electric guitar for an acoustic and began paying homage to his love of delta blues, folk and country while remaining true to his metal and rock roots.

“Rusted is the best solo record [Mike West] has ever done”
Mike West*

A walking dichotomy of genres and influences, Mike is as comfortable performing at a metal festival, as he is at a tattoo convention, arts café or folk club. This widespread appeal is down to his honest lyrics, driving rhythms and diverse subject range, from his home town of Rock Ferry to the practice of Tibetan Sky Funerals.

With his new E.P ‘Rusted’, named from him coming to terms with the fact that he not that metal anymore, Mike explores the themes of working for the machine, Walt Whitman’s poetry, love, struggle and the dereliction of his home town and with an ever expanding repertoire of songs, his live performances are a roller coaster of existentialism, literature and dealing with the pressing questions in his life, wrapped up into relatable songs you can tap your feet too.

“Definitely not a waste of 18 minutes. This isn’t a dog-shit of an E.P”
Michael West*

Most recently, Mike has had the pleasure of opening for American artist Shawn James on his first UK tour, warming up crowds in Newcastle, Leeds, Nottingham and Birmingham, earning fans with a down to earth manner and reliable songs and gaining traction within each city. 

Mike West is an honest, open musician constantly improving through his song writing and live performances, developing a unique blend of optimistic and realistic world views with a driving rhythm of acoustic music that pays tribute to his array of influences while sounding unlike any other acoustic act around.

THE NEXT LIFE, WORK ON Track Two

Mike West

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