The Mike Thomas Band

**Artist Roundtable featuring Mike Thomas, Jess Cayne, and Andrew James live at Eddie's Attic!** *Andrew James* They say that timing is everything, and roots rock singer-songwriter Andrew James ought to know. A Texas native who got his start as a guitar-slinging sideman, James broke out as a solo artist in 2016, when his Shoreline EP arrived to unexpected streaming success. Appearing at the dawn of a boom in curated playlists, it stood precariously on the edge of an emotional canyon, with soft-spoken confessionals capturing a sense of melancholy beauty to rack up more than 12 million plays on Spotify and counting. But now, the time has come to move forward. With What Am I Running From? – James’ long-awaited full-length album debut – the thought provoking Nashville tunesmith turns to face his inner turmoil, and move toward a new musical chapter. Over the course of 10 tracks co-produced by Rocko Wheeler and engineered by Andrija Tokic at East Nashville’s Bomb Shelter studio, James blends roots-rocking drive with folk curiosity and indie-pop whimsy, as the grayscale themes of self reflection find a technicolor sonic contrast. *Mike Thomas* A dedicated songwriter and entrepreneur based in Nashville, TN, Thomas has taken an unconventional path in the music business, but continues to build a passionate and loyal fanbase on his own terms. Thomas grew up in Knoxville, TN and moved to Nashville in 2004 intent on pursuing a career as a songwriter, but quickly grew disillusioned and set music aside for an extended period. Thomas recalls, "I didn't listen to the Country music of the day. I had no frame of reference for the types of songs publishers and artists were looking for. I was naive and learned some tough lessons in those days." After walking away from music for ten plus years, to start a family and a small business, Thomas got back into the swing of things in 2018, when he met producer, Tres Sasser. The two developed a quick friendship and Sasser ultimately convinced Thomas to begin writing and recording again. They have since recorded a pair of albums together - the self-released "Three Reasons" (2020), and "Diamonds" (2023), released by Electric 3 Records. Both albums were recorded in Franklin, TN with members of Thomas' regular backing band and a few special guests. A thoughtful songwriter with a booming voice, Thomas’ work has received widespread critical acclaim from publications like Wide Open Country, Americana Highways, The Boot, The Bluegrass Situation, Glide Magazine and many more. His songs have also been featured in primetime television programs on CBS and NBC. Thomas' influences are as varied as they are well-chosen and his songwriting and sound have been compared to legends such as Rodney Crowell, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Joe Ely, Guy Clark and Townes van Zandt. *Jess Cayne* Jessica Cayne is a topliner, singer, vocal producer, and multi-instrumentalist hailing from Atlanta and currently living in Nashville, TN. Jessica pulls from influences in Americana, pop, rock, and soul to craft her particular brand of sound that is uniquely southern and uniquely her own. She has had great success in the sync world and her music can be heard in both film and television (CBS, HULU, FREEFORM, NBC, ABC). Jessica has cuts with Darius Rucker, Brittney Spencer, Jenna Paulette, Shaylen, Alli Walker, Brooke Lee and co-wrote a song that landed on the 2019 season of Songland with Tyler James Bellinger and Jon Mero from The Voice. Jess will continue writing for pop and sync while bringing her fresh style of songwriting into the country format.