Classic Country with Mike Birch

Forged with an iron will and a heart of gold, Virginia’s own Mike Birch is carrying the banner of classic country and proving himself as one of the genre’s latest up and coming stars. As a dreamer and a music lover, this talented singer possesses a charm like no other, utilizing his innate country sensibilities to pen memorable, catchy songs which stay with the listener long after the record stops spinning. Now fresh off the debut of his first album, Believe, Birch is ready to take on the world with his group of country music veterans. From his life as a deputy sheriff to teaching criminal justice in Virginia, Birch always remained true to his teenage dreams, never forgetting his desire to entertain and thrill people with his singing. Beginning with popular cover tracks and a few songs from Roy Orbison or Chris Isaak, he continued to hone his voice to the razor sharp edge we hear on Believe. Influenced by artists such as Charlie Rich, Vince Gill and Blake Shelton, this former karaoke bar star has broken out of the local community with the release of his debut LP, which is already garnering attention from music critics throughout the scene. “Believe is a strong release for Birch and his ensemble. The songs are well written and creatively performed, and the vocals have a very personal quality to them that helps them stand out among the crowded modern country scene,” said Matthew Warnock in a recent review of the album. Jam packed with 14 songs which hail directly from the roots of classic country but occasionally straddle the line between pop and rock, Believe features a host of local musicians from the Georgia area. The came together at Flatbottom Underground Studios in Canton, GA, and features John Ervin as the producer. Between Birch’s powerful leading vocal tone and the combined talent of 14 other artists who appear throughout the record, the group generates a unique homegrown feel which is rarely seen in contemporary country. Also appearing on the album is renowned fiddle and mandolin player Tim Passmore, who has played with stars such as Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels, Lynard Skynard, Trisha Yearwood and many more. Savannah, GA performing artist Kyle Shiver lent a hand with writing the title track for Believe, as well as the ballad “Rest of Her Life.” The work is just beginning for Birch though, as he’s already started assembling his full-time band for performances this summer around the Northern Virginia area. Believe is currently available from major digital retailers such as iTunes or Amazon, and fans can listen to streaming audio, view photos and stay updated on all of the latest news at his official website, Facebook, or MySpace page. http://www.rhapsody.com/#artist/mike-birch/album/believe http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Birch