Born and raised on the Wirral, Merseyside in the North West of England, West is the manifestation of the desolation and anger lurking underneath these forgotten towns. Mike found Heavy Metal at an early age and his love of it carried him through his formative years, playing in Metal bands until he discovered the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Blind Willie Johnson, Son House, Johnny Cash and Howlin’ Wolf and changed everything. Mike picked up his acoustic guitar and began writing, in his own unique style, songs that weaved between Country and Folk, Metal and Blues. 

"There are million and one troubadours who ...think this stuff is easy. There aren’t many as interesting as this"

Maximum Volume Music

A walking dichotomy of genres and styles, West has found himself accepted by music fans from all walks of life with the tongue in cheek slogan of Not Country Enough. Not Blues Enough. Not Folk Enough. Too Heavy, capturing the essence of his music and live shows. His grounded storytelling and existential lyricism combined with the driving rhythms of his guitar have helped Mike build a reputation as an honest and raw musician who can captivate crowds wherever he plays.

"This UK troubadour is raw at near every note, creating haunting landscapes. And when West summons that guttural growl, it wants to tear at your soul." Global Texan Chronicles

Paying his dues show by show and mile by mile, Mike has toured with Shawn James, Amigo the Devil and Cam Cole as well as performed with artists such as Mike and the Moonpies/Silverada, Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters), Nick Shoulders, Bridge City Sinners and Left Lane Cruiser, alongside by playing festivals such as LoveRocks Festival, Rock and Blues Custom Show, Leek Blues and Americana Festival, Latitude Festival and Dark Holler, as well as touring Europe and the UK frequently independently, Mike's tireless work ethic and captivating live shows have earned him the reputation as the UK's prominent Dark Country artist

Starting his musical journey with the release of his E.P Rusted, a raw, one take, three mics recording that captured his songs in their purest forms, The Next Life (2020) elevated West’s work to fully realised songs in a way they hadn’t been heard before. With ethereal violin and haunting pedal steel soaring over vocals that show the full range of West’s voice from a restrained whisper to guttural roar and all underpinned by his guitar, this record is the next step in his already eventful career.

Always forward, Mike West has brought together Rob Wakefield and Brian Dixon (formerly of Doom Metal pioneers Catherdral) to form Mike West and the Missing Links, a band to fully realise the Bastard Country sound he calls his own to play bigger and better shows and head into the studio to record the next chapter of his evolution.

Not content with just building his own musical career, Mike and fellow Country troubadour Josh Beddis established Rogue Country to provide opportunitues to trailblazing international talent alongside homegrown UK acts. Working with artists such as Sierra Ferrell, Jesse Daniel, Summer Dean, Tommy Prine and Sterling Drake, Mike has booked shows and tours for these artists first visit to the UK with each show reaching new fans and spreading the word of Country music in the UK.

 
Channeling his creativity further, Mike is the host of the podcast The Rogue Country Podcast where he sits down with guests from all walks of life to see what makes them tick, discuss their craft and inspirations and all else in between. Mike also writes and draws his own comics under Cog Life Comics as well as short stories in various anthologies. Influenced by his love of Horror tinged with Sci-fi, Universal Monsters and anything crypto-zoological or unexplained. A writer of comics, short stories and flash fiction, he wears his influences on his sleeves and strives to add his own unique perspective to his work.