Album Notes

Singer, songwriter, musician, Mike Kerwin grew up in the Detroit area and currently resides in New Orleans, LA. In the fall of 2001 Mike released his debut CD, ROWBOAT. It contains ten original songs, recorded at award winning songwriter Mike West's 9th Ward Pickin' Parlor, and is backed by several local musicians. The CD conveys a feeling of a songwriter immersed in a diverse music community with many of the finest local pickers and singers appearing on the recording. It has a rich acoustic roots sound, layered with melodic mandolins and fiddles, bluesy lap steel, skillful rhythm guitar, harmony vocals and in-the-pocket bass and percussion. The songs explore a variety of themes ranging from humorous observations to heartache. Mike's songwriting and sound has been compared to John Prine, Greg Brown and Lyle Lovett. A love for American roots music is ever present at Mike's performances as he mixes original songs with Bob Wills and Robert Johnson covers, swing and ragtime standards, and old time fiddle tunes picked on guitar and mandolin.

Mike arrived in New Orleans late January 1997. After a brief pause to soak up the local scene, Mike began performing on a regular basis at local pubs and coffeehouses, co-founded a well attended hootenanny at a French Quarter Irish pub and helped cultivate New Orleans' only totally acoustic community jam. In addition to solo performances you?ll find Mike playing upright bass as the third member of the Jeff & Vida Band (original bluegrass & americana) and Le Cheile (contemporary Irish folk). Mike's songs have captured the attention of internationally renowned electronica composer Pete Lazonby. Pete's current cutting edge project uses four original Mike Kerwin compositions.

Mike performs and tours extensively throughout the US solo and with the Jeff & Vida Band.