Michael Shynes
The fact that Michael Shynes is a Midwest born singer songwriter with a Platinum Record in Poland, in many ways, sums up the unlikelihood of his career perfectly. Being a self taught musician from a small town, he seemed to build a career out of nothing more than pure hustle and soulful songwriting. And he was also a son who had lost his father, quit his day job, and chased an unlikely dream. And even though the music itself may be difficult to define (often oscillating from Folk to Pop to R&B to Country and then back again), the intent behind it is the unifying ingredient. The unmistakeable truth that it never strives to be anything less than genuine and authentic.
After losing his Father to an auto immune disease when Shynes was 25, he decided to honor his Dad's legacy by chasing the ambitions he had been putting off. At that time he was working at a residential treatment center for teens, and playing the occasional show on the weekend. "It was important work, and shaped who I am today in a lot of ways. But the stark reality of realizing how quickly life can change, made me realize how I wanted to spend my time here."
This was also at a time when he was falling in love, adopting a daughter, and trying to build a home. “I think it benefited me in a lot of ways as there were no excuses. I had mouths to feed. What crippled me when music was a journey strictly for myself, was the idea the there had to be some deep meaning in everything. Once it was simply about providing for my family, that’s when I was able to see everything through the lens of simply building our lives together.”
Shynes would often get noticed as a strong local candidate to open up for National acts as they came through town, and even ended up on a tour with Platinum Recording Artist Howie Day. "That was transformative as I was playing for theaters full of people who had no obligation to buy into what I was selling on stage. But I realized I could hold their attention with just the stories and the songs. That was a landmark experience."
Now Shynes has worked to become one of the most sought after performers in the Midwest. Recently selling out his first theater shows, and building a fully immersive live performance concept that includes up to a nine piece band paired with a video and light show. Blending shades of multiple genres over an acoustic and full band landscape, his songs are ripe with lyrical depth rarely paired with such mainstream appeal. The thing that seems to separate Shynes is unquestionably his vocal stylings. With a range and falsetto that is nothing short of captivating, his acoustic finger picking style acts as the perfect bed of warmth on which his soulful lyrics can rest.
Chris Kroeze
Runner Up on NBC’s THE VOICE / TOP 5 Country Song “Human” (iTunes TOP 100) / Featured in USA Today / Featured in Rolling Stone / #1 ROCK Song (iTunes)
Growing up, there was a guitar in the corner of the family basement that no one was supposed to touch. When no one was looking, a young Chris Kroeze (pronounced Cruise-E) would sneak down and find it. On his 6th birthday, Chris got a guitar of his own and hasn't put it down since.
Sitting around the campfire on warm summer nights as a child, Chris fell in love with the guitar. His dad would put small stickers on the strings to show him how to play and he listened and learned under the stars in Northwest Wisconsin. Before long, the instrument became the most important thing in his life.
Biking around his hometown of Barron, Wisconsin, he would listen to a tape of Chuck Berry on his Walkman over and over, stopping every three and a half minutes to rewind. When he was in middle school, his dad told him every band needed a singer, and the only way to tell if that would be Chris was to give it a try. He was a natural.
The pull of small town life and the passion for music never left as Kroeze turned into one of the top country musicians in the Midwest. The power of small town community showed as family and friends in Barron helped him get started on his journey to Nashville in 2014, holding a fundraiser that would lead to him recording his first single “Four Letter Words,” which received strong radio play and kick started his career.
In 2015, he began a busy stretch of playing over 175 shows a year, and creating a large and loyal fan following. That popularity soared in 2018, when he appeared on NBC’s hit TV show “The Voice,” making it all the way to the finals in a runner-up finish. In the finale, Kroeze sang the original song “Human,” which was TOP 10 on the Billboard HOT 100 and TOP 5 on the iTunes TOP 100. His vocal and guitar skills, combined with a small-town charm, led to Kroeze to become the most streamed artist in the show’s history.
A popular live performer, Chris continued to perform at a frantic pace maintaining an average of over 175 shows a year through 2019, and the crowds have gotten bigger and bigger. He headlined a show at Aquafest for over 5,500 fans and has had a number of stops in which he has sold out multiple nights in a row, yet he still returns for pop-up shows at local bars he used to play at early in his career.
Kroeze has developed a large military fan base as well, in 2020 making his 10th overseas tour, and he is a recipient of the Red Cross Community Hero Award.
All these years later, Kroeze’s biggest thrill remains making music that speaks to him and sharing it with people. That love is evident in his most ambitious album yet – “We All Sing Along”.
Chris' fingerprints dotting an album that brings his passions and life story to the forefront with a series of new favorites.
“Same Ole” harkens back to the country style of Kroeze’s youth. "It was obvious to me that this song needed to lead out the project. From the first time we worked our way through it felt like an old song we had been singing for years, and just felt so good." Brought to Chris by fellow Voice contestant Dave Fenley, it offers what Kroeze considers his best vocal performance on the album and highlights Kroeze’s strength on the guitar with a series of tasteful solos.
“Summer Song” tells of growing up in Wisconsin, enjoying the sacred days of beautiful summer weather out on the lake during the day and sitting around the campfire playing guitar at night.
“Tie a Knot” speaks to the importance of human camaraderie and the strength provided by sticking together when times are tough. The song encourages people that when you’re at rock bottom and at the end of your rope, tie a knot so you don’t fall off.
“Money” shows the diverse strength and appeal Kroeze offers, pushing the borderlines of country and rock with a unique musical track, a song that is “all about bragging on your lady.”
A small town boy who loves the outdoors through and through, Kroeze still lives in Barron, Wisconsin with his wife and can’t imagine raising his two children anywhere else.
This ticket is will-call only (the name of the ticket purchaser is your entrance at the door). There are no physical or e-tickets.
Ticket sales are all-in pricing and includes all fees and sales tax. Tickets sales at the door OR day-of are Advance Price plus $5.
Event is outdoors, held rain or shine. There is partial cover for audience.
No refunds. Milk and Honey website and the taproom are the only outlets tickets are sold. There is no secondary market for sales and they will not be honored. You can transfer tickets to others by having them give the ticket purchaser name at the door.
If the music must be canceled due to weather safety issues, your ticket is good for the rescheduled date or another live music event of equal value.
All ages show. Leashed, chill dogs okay.
Outside food and beverages prohibited. Water bottles okay and there are drinking water stations! There is food and beverages sold inside the amphitheater including cider, beer, apple spirits, N/A and wine.