In a world increasingly isolated by digital walls, Mike Kinnebrew’s music is an antidote to the feeling of lostness so common in modern America. If you come to his performances searching for catchy melodies that make you want to tap your foot on the floor, you will not be disappointed—but chances are you will also leave with a feeling of hope.

CS Lewis once remarked that “we read to know we are not alone,” and countless people have traveled many miles across several decades to listen to Mike Kinnebrew’s music for the same reason. He began writing songs as a teenager because he was “mesmerized by the way a song could reach out and grab you by the heart—or the throat,” and his love for language burns through each of his songs, whether he’s writing about everyday affairs like taking his kids to school and vacationing at the beach, or more vulnerable subjects like his struggles with anxiety and alcohol. His single, “What’s Left of Me,” broaches the latter with a simple, well-crafted melody and songs like “Where the Big Waves Are” and “Wrestle the Sea” tackle the former.

He has a knack for finding the remarkable in the ordinary, following in the South’s long lineage of great folk artist, and draws from cross-genre influences like Tom Petty, Gabe Dixon, and Darell Scott. Whether he’s solo or flanked by a full band, Mike has mastered the art of making an audience feel a full range of emotions with a guitar in his hand.