MIKE SEAL - EPK
“Reminds you of the halcyon days of John Martyn and Danny Thompson. (Blues Matters) Mike’s bass is solid and dependable and adds just the right amount of depth to emphasise Sean’s lyrics and guitar/ piano (RnR) ”
Mike Seal
Serves the song and the artist
Mike has worked as a musical director, composer, producer and engineer for 35 years.
He currently collaborates with a variety of artists including Sean Taylor, A Different Thread, Farefeld, Joe Bayliss and Cleveload, as well as his own projects. He has performed over a thousands gigs across the world, played on over 50 albums and written over 300 songs.
Mike is available for session work, studio and live, dep work and any interesting original music projects. He has cowritten with several artists. He has his own studio and can work remotely.
Work with Professional Artists
Mike has played upright bass for blues artist Sean Taylor for nine year, and has done five UK and three European tours with him and has played on his last five albums, co-writing a number of the songs on them. Sean has a growing worldwide following and fifteen acclaimed albums to his credit. He won male artist of the year 2024 for FATHEA magazine. He was shortlisted for best acoustic artist of the year by the UK Blues Federation in 2023, and in 2024 was nominated for best traditional artist, best acoustic album and best acoustic artist. Sean has opened for Robert Cray, John Fogerty, John Mayall, Neville Brothers, Tony Joe White, Band Of Horses, Richard Thompson, Eric Bibb and many other legends.
Mike has played bass with ‘A Different Thread’ for four years, has undertaken four Uk Tours with them and played on their last two albums. They are a collaboration between Robert Jackson from Lichfield, England, and Alicia Best from Durham, North Carolina, USA. Following the release of their debut album ' On A Whim' they have garnered a loyal following across the UK, Europe, the US and Central America. Their music has garnered the attention of the BBC and NPR radio and landed them support slots with the likes of Jody Stevens (Big Star) Native Harrow, and the Milk Carton Kids. Steve Earl, praised their live performance at Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival where the artists shared a bill.
Mike plays bass and baritone guitar for Farefeld (Caitlin Jones and Chris Elliot) for three years, who were described by 'Bright Young Folk' as experienced storytellers who bring timeless to their music'. They have won several accolades, including the Shrewsbury Folk Festival open mic competition in 2018, and the 2022 Downend Folk & Roots Cliff Woolley Award. They were a featured artist at the 2021 Folk Expo in Manchester.
Mike has played multiple instruments for Joe Bayliss live and on his latest album ‘Grace’, for two years. Joe’s music sits somewhere amidst a cross section of John Martyr, Damien Rice a Nick Drake.
Mike also plays with Cleveload, the recording pseudonym of Paul Newland, a musician based in Malvern (UK). Paul was vocalist/multi-instrumentalist in the Lowland Hundred.
Other Services
Songwriting
As well as co-writing with Sean Taylor and his own projects , Mike co-wrote interlude music for several children’s programmes including the Beeps (48 episodes) and the theme music for Radio 4 programme 'X marks the spot'. Mike has a publishing deal with 'another planet music' managed by Mark Stratford (Rough Trade, BMG Rights, Cherry Red, Windsong, EMI, Universal, President, PIAS).
Theatre Work
Mike has also played as a musician in dance, drama and theatre productions. The latest was Chain Stories 'an exciting site-specific performance telling the story of those who came to contact with the chains made in the Black Country''. involving dance companies from the Black Country, Ghana and Grenada. A documentary on the project has just been released.
Producing
Mike produced all the music for Lonesome Gods, Manna, Queen has Two Heads and his own material. He has produced demos for Sean Taylor and A Different Thread. He is currently producing at EP for Binaural
Press photos
