After losing his Father to an auto immune disease at the age of 25, Shynes decided to honor his Dad’s legacy by chasing the dreams he had put off for so long. At that time he was working at a residential treatment center for teens, and playing the occasional show on the weekend. “It was important work, and shaped who I am today in a lot of ways. But after 3 years I just got tired of getting beat up, spit on, and called everything you can imagine. I loved those kids though, and wouldn’t trade my time there for anything.”

So he moved back home to keep costs down while trying to become a full time musician. “It worked out well because I didn’t want to think of my Mom being alone in the house after my Dad’s passing. But by the same token it felt like a lateral move being back in my childhood home. I had many an existential crisis during that time.” So Shynes began playing every show that he possibly could, and as time went on, he was able to pay all his bills (and student loans) with an acoustic guitar. “Paying rent every month by writing and performing songs was pretty surreal, and the harder I worked, the better the gigs got.”

Shynes would often get noticed as a strong local candidate to open up for National acts as they came through town, and even ended up on a tour with Platinum Recording Artist Howie Day. “That really taught me a lot because I was playing for theaters full of people who were not there to see me. But I was telling the stories and playing my songs, and everyone was listening. That was a landmark experience.”

Now Shynes has worked to become one of the most sought after acoustic performers and songwriters in the Midwest. He has an ability to blend shades of multiple genres over an acoustic landscape, and his songs are ripe with lyrical depth rarely paired with mainstream appeal. “The thing that seems to separate Shynes is unquestionably his voice and phrasing. With a range and falsetto that is nothing short of captivating, his acoustic finger picking style acts as the perfect bed of warmth on which his soulful lyrics can rest.”

“Stylistically, he is difficult to pigeonhole because his sound amalgamates many different flavors, blending R&B, pop and blues into awesomely immediate melodies, evocative lyrics and contagious rhythms. Michael Shynes really has it going on.”

-The Huffington Post

“His fully formed musical and vocal talent establishes Shynes as a performing and songwriting force to reckon with now and likely in years to come.”

-Gashouse Radio

“Michael Shynes flies with inspired musical creativity and reaches the sort of heights we aren’t accustomed to hearing performers match so early in their careers. Shynes’ dedication has paid off and he’s well on his way to embodying his every musical ambition.”

-No Depression

Michael Shynes Official Website

Maygen Lacey & The Birdwatchers are an American Folk-Rock, Alt-Country group making music through contrast. In many respects, Maygen Lacey and Noah Neumann couldn’t be more different. From upbringing and musical taste to the Mpls vs. St. Paul debate, there are few things these two come together on. The shortlist includes sarcasm, the great outdoors, quality beer, and caring about being decent people. Maygen & Noah draw on their distinctly different musical influences including Brandi Carlile, Florence + the Machine, Susan Tedeschi, and Balmorhea to create a listening experience with a Delta twist, that explores youth, family, addiction, and loss while navigating this ride with the people that have been put into our lives beyond our control. The ever-swirling contradictions and affirmations between these two singer-songwriters combine to create a compelling debut EP entitled “The People We Don’t Choose,” best absorbed outside, where your thoughts have room to breathe.

Maygen Lacey & the Birdwatchers Official Website

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