Mike Echlin

As a seasoned performer and musician, my shows are versatile for many different occasions. From intimate guitar instrumentals to anthem sing-a-longs. I have played for weddings, parties, house concerts, nightclubs, festivals, and more. I can read the audience, talk to them when needed and provide a very comfortable setting.

Some people start out life in a very unconventional manner. Mike falls into that camp. Adopted at 3 months old, Mike was handed over to a young couple who couldn’t have children. Given the false start, he landed with a loving family and his upbringing was very common for the southside of Chicago. His adoptive parents were a paramedic and secretary.

He fell in love with music and piano and very young age and his mother pressed him to take piano lessons for many years. He became proficient on piano and dove into Jazz improv classes at St. Xavier College while he was still in high school.

Given the influences of Rock and Blues in south Chicago, he was obsessed with bands like Styx and REO Speedwagon since members of those bands grew up in the same area.

Picking up bass and guitar in his teens, he start writing songs and recorded his first demos at Hair Bear Studios in Evergreen Park, IL.

Fast-forward a decade or so, Mike dug into songwriting and penned hundreds of songs and released his first album in 2002. “It’s About Time” was released shortly after his third child was born. He played all instruments and self-produced the album in his newly built home studio.

The second studio album, “The Way Home” was released on 2008 and worked with Eric Swanson on drums and Amery Schmeisser as mixing engineer. Other than drums, on 3 songs, all other instruments and arrangements were done by Mike.

He has worked with many bands such as; dada, The Damnwells, Devin Dawson, Kevin Presbrey and The Cerny Brothers.

Mike continues to write and produce music for sync and has had placements with Sesame Street Workshop, Houghton Mifflin, and Xata Turnpike to name a few.

Most recently, he co-fronted the band Lincoln Don’t Lie and played many venues and festivals such as; Sandwich Fest, Two Brothers Brewing, Ballydoyle, Geneva Wine Fest, and more.

As a solo performer, his set consists of covers of many pop/rock bands such as; Tom Petty, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, John Mellancamp, Van Morrison, Train, Jack Johnson, and many more. He also covers a wide variety of country artists such as; Tim McGraw, Eli Young Band, Blake Shelton, Johnny Cash, Zac Brown Band, Eric Church, and more.

His live set is a dynamic performance that is rooted in acoustic guitar, but he layers in loops, drum patterns, and keys. You haven’t heard your favorite songs played like this by one person.

Just need power.