Mike Felten, Chicago, IL
In 2014 Mike continues his never ending tour playing over 80 dates a year from sold out shows in New York City to raucous country clubs in Dallas playing for neo-punks , evangelical Christians and everyone who would listen for a moment or two. Mike is happy to play in your living room, concert hall, saloon, coffee shop or the back of your flat bed truck.
He is the "Real Deal" -according to the Illinois Entertainer.
Folkways legend, Bob Everhart tells us that "Woody Guthrie would've been proud" of what Mike is doing. Hope you'll agree and check him out real soon
Mike has been playing since the 1960's. A veteran of rock, country and blues bands. Mike sat in MUDDY WATERS' bedroom, had BUDDY GUY show him around the blues clubs where WILLIE DIXON, JUNIOR WELLS and MIGHTY JOE YOUNG among others were hanging out.
The 1970's found Mike playing folk gigs at places like the Fifth Peg and Orphans in Chicago, alongside guys like STEVE GOODMAN and JOHN PRINE.
He founded the Record Emporium in 1979, had stores in three states and sold music continually until 2012.
The 1980's saw Mike in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan living on a farm and playing with country rock cover bands until guys like PETE SEEGER and UTAH PHILLIPS discovered Mike's folkier/political side. He played places like the Hiawatha Folk Festival, Rhinelander Festival and Pike Lake.
Returning to Chicago in the 1990's , Mike found work played for a variety of bands, from heavy metal bass to roots rock and, coming full circle, settled into a weekly blues gig with BELLYFUL OF SOUL where guys like PINETOP PERKINS, BOOBA BARNES, PINETOP PERKINS, PETE MYERS, or DANCIN' PERKINS were likely to sit in.
Finally in 2002, Mike, tired of 'playing rhythm guitar behind Jesus' booked some time at ACME STUDIO and recorded the critically acclaimed 'LANDFILL with DEVIN DAVIS engineering.
In 2007, After a couple of surgeries and some rehab on a bad knee, Mike went in the studio again for “TOSSIN' IT AWAY”. With BILL GLAHN producing, Mike laid down the basic tracks at LOU WHITNEY's (SKELETONS, MORELLS) studio in Springfield, MO. He took the rough tracks up to Third Ear Studio in Minneapolis where TOM HERBERS (JAYHAWKS, LOW, REPLACEMENTS) engineered sessions with JOHN ELLER and DAVE BOQUIST of SON VOLT adding multi-instruments. The entire album was mixed back at THE STUDIO in Springfield,MO and mastered with RANDY KLING (WAYLON JENNINGS, ELVIS, PORTER WAGONER) down in Nashville.
In 2013 he released "AKA Johnny Lunchbucket", reuniting him with old friends and former roomies RANDY MURRAY and NORM MURRAY with VICTOR SANDERS at the board.
2014 saw the release of "NO 2ND RIDES" a live album of stories and songs that captures the in person experience.
Mike currently has no songs about cats or about how depressed he is, but you never can tell, he might come up with one.
"Mike was great last time he was here--great, visual songs about industrial Chicago and real life, wrapped up with lots of story." - Kaleidoscope Coffeehouse
Solo show - acoustic guitar, slide guitar, harmonica and storytelling.
2 DI Boxes, 1 microphone.
PA (a self contained unit is available for smaller venues)
Able to do a totally unplugged show as well.
