Mike West is an Atlanta-born American artist born in 1977, known from a career that spans indie rock, roots-based songwriting and the project Truckstop Honeymoon. He first appears in the Manchester scene as a member of The Man From Delmonte, a band with a substantial local following in the late 1980s and notable national indie success. The group develops a reputation for sexually ambiguous lyrics, wordplay and energetic live performances.

Career

West later moves to New Orleans, where he develops his own style under the name “Levee-billy” and releases a number of albums. His work in this period is described in terms of bluegrass, cajun, roots, country and skiffle, and it is associated with lyrical playfulness and a distinctive regional feel. He is also one half of Truckstop Honeymoon, a prolific partnership.

Style and reputation

His music is described as adaptable and genre-fluid, shifting between different roots traditions while keeping a focus on lyrical twists. He is also characterised as a producer and songwriter with a strong individual identity within American folk and roots music.