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.

Mike West has a reputation as an honest and engaging performer. 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.

"There are million and one troubadours who ...think this stuff is easy. There aren’t many as interesting as this. “Rusted” is the type of record that makes true sense when it’s you and the darkness of the small hours with everything you regret for company." Maximum Volume Music

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.

"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

With his E.P ‘Rusted’, named from him coming to terms with the fact that he not that metal anymore, Mike explored 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.

With a proud reputation as a hard working musician, Mike has toured across UK and Europe earning fans with his down to earth manner and reliable songs, gaining traction with each city and country as well as supporting diverse artists such as Shawn James, Left Lane Cruiser, Cecil Allen Moore, Ciaran Lavery, Tony Wright (Terrorvision), Michele Stodart (Magic Numbers) and The Pierce Brothers. Mike appeals to head bangers and folk twangers whether he is playing Latitude Festival, Dark Holler festival or Pentre Fest.

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. Currently touring across the UK and Europe while recording his first full length record, Mike West is here to establish himself as one of the U.K's top Alt-Country artists.