Music
BIO (excerpt)
If country music has become a stifling mold, Mike Hellman is here to break it wide open. Slinging songs with substance, conviction and grit, he’s an acclaimed songsmith on a mission to tell his truth and he insists on being heard. While firmly rooted in the rich country, folk and blues traditions of his home state of Texas, he refuses to pander to cliché and his sound is anything but predictable. For over a decade, he has built his loyal following through rousing live performances that swing from heart-rending ballad to blistering barn burner. His rich baritone conveys earnestness, vulnerability and humor while dealing head-on with all facets of the human condition (and with a not-so-subtle nod to the oppressed). Mike proudly bucks the boundaries of the mainstream country music establishment and boldly reclaims the genre for the downtrodden.
Mike has performed at large venues, honky-tonks and intimate listening rooms across the US, building a dedicated following along the way. Mike has turned heads at Americanafest, at Folk Alliance, and has been featured in No Depression. He’s shared the stage with prominent americana artists Jason Eady, Melody Walker, Gabe Lee and countless others. He tours widely and is confidently in his element whether crooning for an intimate listening room, or burning down the house with his killer band, the Banned Books.
His 2024 full length release "Trials and Triumphs" has enjoyed enthusiastic reception on the americana radio circuit, and features a who’s who of talent: guitarist James Deprato (Chuck Prophet), pedal steel player Ian Taylor Sutton (Vincent Neil Emerson), multi-instrumentalist Chuck Bradley (Hellbound Glory) and mastering by Michael Rosen (Santana, Green Day, etc). A highly anticipated sophomore album is expected for release in early 2027.
Stages Mike has played:
Dan Electro’s, Great American Music Hall, Moe’s Alley, Felton Music Hall, Fitzgerald’s (Houston), Continental Club (Houston), Redbird Listening Room, City Winery (Nashville), Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe, Lonesome Rose, Ivy Room, Hopmonk, the Dirty Drummer, New World Deli, many more and counting.
Artists Mike has shared the stage with:
Jason Eady, Melody Walker, Gabe Lee, Red Shahan, Ellis Bullard, Jenny Don’t and the Spurs, Lowdown Drifters, Waylon Payne, Jackson Emmer, Abigayle Oakley, Acacia Forgot, Adam and Chris Carroll, Jeff Crosby, Jesse Daniel and many more.
Press photos
Photo by artist
Photo: Kyson Dana
Photo: Nikki Hancock
Photo: Kyson Dana
Photo: John Stoll