Mike West

Not Country Enough.
Not Blues Enough.
Not Folk Enough.
Too Heavy...
A call to arms for those open minded folks who don't care about genre. They care about music.

Born and raised on the Wirral, Merseyside in the North West of England, West is the manifestation of the desolation and anger lurking underneath these forgotten towns. Mike found Heavy Metal at an early age and his love of it carried him through his formative years, playing in Metal bands until he discovered the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Blind Willie Johnson, Son House, Johnny Cash and Howlin’ Wolf and changed everything. Mike picked up his acoustic guitar and began writing, in his own unique style, songs that weaved between Country and Folk, Metal and Blues.

"There are million and one troubadours who ...think this stuff is easy. There aren’t many as interesting as this"

Maximum Volume Music

A walking dichotomy of genres and styles, West has found himself accepted by music fans from all walks of life with the tongue in cheek slogan of Not Country Enough. Not Blues Enough. Not Folk Enough. Too Heavy, capturing the essence of his music and live shows. His grounded storytelling and existential lyricism combined with the driving rhythms of his guitar have helped Mike build a reputation as an honest and raw musician who can captivate crowds wherever he plays.

"This UK troubadour is raw at near every note, creating haunting landscapes. And when West summons that guttural growl, it wants to tear at your soul." Global Texan Chronicles

Paying his dues show by show and mile by mile, Mike has toured with Shawn James, Amigo the Devil and Cam Cole as well as performed with artists such as Mike and the Moonpies/Silverada, Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters), Nick Shoulders, Bridge City Sinners and Left Lane Cruiser, alongside by playing festivals such as LoveRocks Festival, Rock and Blues Custom Show, Leek Blues and Americana Festival, Latitude Festival and Dark Holler, as well as touring Europe and the UK frequently independently, Mike's tireless work ethic and captivating live shows have earned him the reputation as the UK's prominent Dark Country artist.