MIKE MIZ
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short form: Mike Mizwinski, better known simply as Mike Miz is a singer/songwriter/guitarist from Northeast Pennsylvania known for soulful and energetic live performances. Mike regularly performs over 200 dates a year and has had the privilege to open for Jason Isbell, Jakob Dylan, Blues Traveler, Derek Trucks, America, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Lukas Nelson, Shawn Colvin, Leon Russell, Chris Isaak, Peter Wolf, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, and many more. His 2021 single ‘Virginia’ was called “a monster of a jam rocker” by Rolling Stone. The new album ‘Only Human’ came out on LA based Blackbird Record Label on April 14 2023. Mike currently resides in Nashville TN.
long form: Michael Mizwinski, better known as Mike Miz, was raised in the Wyoming Valley of Northeast Pennsylvania to a family filled with musicians and artists. Both of his grandfathers were accomplished artists, his grandfather, Art Mizwinski was a professional art instructor. His parents, Mike and Annie, both majored in music at a local university where they met. Mike's dad, a guitarist, taught his young son guitar and often took him to concerts. Seeing the Allman Brothers and the Grateful Dead perform live would inspire and shape his musical taste for years to come. Mike’s Aunt and Uncle, Mary and Paul Moran play in one of the most acclaimed regional bands - Old Friends, and after Mike and his cousin Lea performed during a set break to over 1,400 onlookers at one of their annual reunions, there wasn't a question what he would want to do for the rest of his life.
Joining his first band, the Appalachian Barnhouse Band, at the age of 15, Mike began composing his first original music, "Canyon Echoes Glow" and "Pinegrove Stomp '' are still crowd pleasers at live performances. The ABB gained popularity in the area, playing local bars and regional festivals. Other notable local bands in Mike's early years were The Corduroy Bridge Session, The Palindromes, Uncle Jig’s Band (with his father), Tripping on Nothing and Garcia Grass.
While playing a set at the popular music venue, The River Street Jazz Cafe, in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Mike was spotted by the Prog Rock Disciples Hanford Rowe and Bon Lozaga of the cult European fusion band- Pierre Morlen’s Gong. They contacted Mike the following day to join an offshoot of Gong called Gongzilla. His first gig with Gongzilla was a NAMM jam at the legendary Troubadour in LA featuring a cast of special guests from bands like The Mothers of Invention, Umphrey’s McGee, and moe.
In the summer of 2010, Mike started his own project, aptly titled MiZ. Infusing elements of Americana, Rock ‘n’ Roll, jam bands, and 60’s & 70s songwriters, MiZ recorded their first album East Hope Avenue in 2011, produced by Bret Alexander of The Badlees. The band began to tour the East Coast on a regular basis. The album had great regional success, winning a Tri-State Indie Award along with two songs featured in the popular series The Sons of Anarchy.
Between the years 2011 and 2019 Mike would perform either solo or with MiZ, well over 200 shows a year and was afforded of the privilege of opening for acts like Jason Isbell, Jakob Dylan, Lukas Nelson, Blues Traveler, Derek Trucks, America, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Shawn Colvin, Chris Isaak, Peter Wolf, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Jackie Greene, Railroad Earth and many more.
Original music and composing being Mike's main interest, it is his love of songwriting that led him to move to Nashville in January of 2019, where he currently resides. His first release as a Nashville resident "Virginia" was called “a monster of a jam rocker” by Rolling Stone. His Nashville debut album ‘Only Human’, released on Blackbird Record Label in April 2023 received favorable reviews from Relix, Paste, The Bluegrass Connection and more. Mike is currently at work on an acoustic EP + another full band album set for release in 2024.