When the multiple award-winning 2-meter-tall giant Michael van Merwyk steps onto the stage, slides across his guitar, and sings with his warm, rich voice about life’s ups and downs, coffee, good food, and love, genre boundaries simply don’t matter. MvM is a “songster” who travels from city to city, performing his songs as the soundtrack to a night in clubs, bars, pubs, festivals, and living rooms.

A songster is a predecessor of the bluesman, with one key difference: he doesn’t just play the blues — he plays whatever he wants. That’s exactly what Michael van Merwyk has been doing since he picked up a guitar at the age of 15. Genre limits are irrelevant. Songs and stories about life, love, coffee, and delicious food mingle effortlessly with tunes by David Bowie, Judas Priest, Depeche Mode, or traditional folk songs from centuries past — all translated casually into his own musical dialect.

Songsters like Mississippi John Hurt, Big Bill Broonzy, or Lead Belly played for every audience and had the right sound for every occasion. In their tradition stands Michael van Merwyk: performing for blues fans, at singer-songwriter festivals, and in pubs, varying his repertoire as he sees fit. Nothing here is over-stylized or optimized. It’s about the music — and about bringing it directly to the people.

Imagine Dr. John or Johnny Cash singing songs by Judas Priest or The Clash, with John Lee Hooker or Blind Willie Johnson on guitar — that’s what it might sound like: a little offbeat, but full of fun. Michael van Merwyk developed his style where songsters usually are: on the road. “My school was pubs, clubs, and parties. For almost 35 years, I’ve been singing songs and telling stories. Mostly my own compositions, but also others’ songs in completely unique versions. A good song is a good song.”

MvM has received multiple awards, including Best Blues Singer and Best Blues Guitarist at the German Blues Awards, won the German Blues Challenge, and became the first European band to take second place at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, USA, where the quartet stood out with their distinctive Euro style among 124 acts from 16 countries. In 2024, MvM was again awarded the Blues Award for Best Solo Artist.

Olli Gee (Blues Company, 5 Live, Bluesoul, etc.) pulls the bass out of the case once more, laying down a grooving foundation alongside Oliver Spanuth on drums. Both have already earned the trust of greats such as Steve Baker, Stefan Gwildis, Big Daddy Wilson, and Dave Goodman.