American Mike Farris made a strong impression when he visited Dark Season Blues for the first time in 2022. When asked to step in as a replacement for Mike Vernon, who had to cancel for health reasons, he jumped at the chance and returns to Dark Season Blues as a solo artist.
For a decade, Farris fronted the band Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies, which played a mix of southern rock and blues a la Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers Band. He has also fronted Double Trouble, Stevie Ray Vaughan’s old backing band, but has released five solo albums since 2002. “The Sound of Muscle Shoals” was released in March this year to great reviews. It’s a declaration of love for the famous studio in Alamaba and the eclectic music created there: Blues, R&B, soul, gospel and rock.
His parents’ divorce left a deep impression on eleven-year-old Mike, and he started using drugs at an early age. At the age of 21, he barely survived an overdose, but he has been drug-free for many years now. In 2015, his album “Shine For All The People” won a Grammy Award in the roots/gospel category. His music also has elements of soul and blues rock. In terms of genre, he can be compared to “the singing pastor from Memphis”, Al Green. Guitarist and producer Buddy Miller says this about the American: “Mike Farris has enough heart, soul and power to light up a city. He mixes the elements and transforms them into something new, beautiful and unique.” Rolling Stone Country writes: “A supersized voice filled by the electricity of Saturday night and the godly grace of Sunday mornings.”
Farris will give two solo concerts during the festival, at Kroa on Thursday and an intimate concert at Svalbard Museum on Saturday.
Dark Season Blues©2025
