A songster is a kind of predecessor to the bluesman, with one important 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 the guitar at the age of 15. Genre boundaries don’t matter. Songs and stories about life’s ups and downs, coffee, good food, and love mingle effortlessly with tunes by David Bowie, Judas Priest, Depeche Mode, and traditional folk songs from past centuries — all translated casually into his own musical dialect.

The “Musicianeers” — Micha Maass on drums and Tobi Fleischer on bass — join MvM to form Jukebox Zoo, a grooving trio that moves beyond any genre boundaries and brings their shared joy of music to any setting, whether it’s a small blues club, a large festival stage, or a wild party.

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 aficionados, at singer-songwriter festivals, and in pubs, varying his repertoire as he pleases. Nothing here is over-stylized or optimized. It’s about the music — and bringing it directly to the people. Imagine Dr. John or Johnny Cash singing songs by Judas Priest and The Clash, with John Lee Hooker or Blind Willie Johnson on guitar — 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 40 years I’ve been singing songs and telling stories. Mostly my own compositions, but also those of other musicians in completely unique versions. A good song is a good song.”

 

Tobi Fleischer – Double Bass & Electric Bass

Born in Munich, bassist Tobi Fleischer is probably best known for his work with the multi-award-winning German funk-jazz ensemble Mo’Blow.

He is at home in many different musical styles, from world music with El Nombre Flamenco, Klezmeyers, and Vlasiwar Nadishana, to singer-songwriters such as Manfred Maurenbrecher, Andreas Albrecht, and Ilja Schierbaum, to rhythm & blues with The BootyJive.

After graduating from the Bass School Munich (BSM) and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) founded by Paul McCartney, Tobias moved to Berlin and became a fixture of the city’s vibrant music scene.

 

Micha Maass – Drums

Awarded Best Drummer at the German Blues Awards in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2023, Micha Maass is today one of Germany’s most respected blues and boogie drummers, as well as a valued impresario of the European blues and boogie scene. He is a musician, producer, curator, networker, innovator, and passionate drum teacher.