By Peter Struijk
This time we have the pleasure to tell you about the blues giant from Germany; Mr Michael Van Merwyk!
In early 2025 Michael came to visit us at the shop, brought presents (always nice:-)), joined us for lunch and of course played a lot of guitars! At one point Michael was sitting in a chair and I literally saw him thinking.. A little later he said: "Hmm, I have to record a new album but still looking for the right place to do it... This is it!" So he asked me if I was in for that and of course I coudn't say no. A long pleasant day went by and we agreed on a date. Michael brought his own recording guy (together with his wife for filming the recordings as well). He recorded 2 sets of songs (26 in total) in one day and I had the honor of serving him the right guitars to use. Vintage, new and even some of my private collection. The result is a marvelous acoustic blues album thats been released now by Timezone Records!
Just a few words to learn more about Michael:
When the 2-meter giant steps onto the stage, playing his old resonator guitar with a slide and singing his songs & stories about the ups and downs of life, coffee, good food, and love with his warm, rich voice, genre boundaries simply don’t matter. MvM is a “songster” who travels from town to town to play his songs as the soundtrack for a night in clubs, bars, pubs, festivals, and living rooms.
Songsters like Mississippi John Hurt, Big Bill Broonzy, or Lead Belly played for every audience and had just the right sound for any situation. Michael van Merwyk stands firmly in that tradition: he performs for blues audiences, at singer-songwriter festivals, and in pubs, varying his repertoire however he likes. Nothing here is overly polished or optimized. It’s all about the music — and bringing it to the people.
Dr. John or Johnny Cash singing songs by Judas Priest and The Clash, with John Lee Hooker or Blind Willie Johnson on guitar: that’s what it might sound like — a bit quirky, but full of fun. Michael van Merwyk developed his style where songsters usually are: on the road. “My school was pubs, clubs, and parties. I’ve been singing songs and telling stories for more than 35 years. I mostly play my own songs, but also those of other musicians in my very own versions. A good song is a good song.”
He tours regularly throughout Europe — from Norway to the Mediterranean coast, from the Atlantic shores to Moscow. Since 1984, Michael van Merwyk has been successfully traveling internationally. He has received numerous awards, including “Best Blues Singer” and “Best Blues Guitarist” at the German Blues Awards, won the German Blues Challenge, and with his band became the first European act to take second place at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis/USA, where the quartet prevailed with their distinctive Euro Style in a field of 124 acts from 16 countries. In 2024, MvM once again received the Blues Award as Best Solo Artist.
Interview
1.Tell us a bit about your background and how it all started.
My hometown Rheda-Wiedenbrück has a long history in Jazz and Blues concerts, dating back to the 50s when the local Jazzclub started doing concerts. Actually, I didn´t care about that kind of music and started playing the guitar when I was 15 years of age because I wanted to impress the girls by playing songs by The Sex Pistos, The Clash and Motörhead...it worked, so I kept playing. After about half a year later I met a guy by the name of Piet Ebenfeld who turned on the radio to listen to the "Blues At Night" radioshow on WDR 2. The show started of with "Smokestack Lightning" by Howlin Wolf and it hit me like a hammer. That voice!!! I was hooked on the Blues.
Piet was a tour guide for people like Sunnyland Slim, Louisiana Red, Dr. Ross and all of these still active Country Blues artists who toured Europe in the 80s. He gave me 10 records everytime I visited his house by people like Son House, Big Joe Williams, Lightnin Hopkins, Juke Boy Bonner, Charley Patton, Ear Hooker...you name it. I love this music and started to play along to the vinyls. Then he introduced me to all these British guys who live in the next town, which had an Army Airport and a lot of them stayed in Germany after their service. So these guys like Gerry Spooner, Roger Clarke-Johnson, Jerry Hovel, Phil Shackleton where well known local musicians who took me under their wing as a long haired youngster who was willing to play and learn. We did a lot of Pubs and Houseparties and I really learned how to play, listen and communicate. All kinds of music...Blues, Folk, Soul, Pop...we did not care about musical genres, as long as the song was good. We might sing an old folksong like "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine", then "Nothing But The Devil" by Lightnin Slim, "Sailing" by Rod Steward and songs by The Ventures, Mink Deville, Tom Waits, Muddy Waters, U2, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Johnny & The Pirates, John Martyn all in one set. That was fun, there was always Guinness in the glass, good food on the table, the ladies liked it and sometimes I even got paid...what else can you ask for, when you´re 16 years old. I still love it!
2.You've been around and your career includes a long list of highlights. Recorded a list of albums and get a hell of appreciations arounds this planet. When you visited us the first time we found out that we were both finalists at the I.B.C. in Memphis in 2013. What does all those awards and nominations mean for you?
The audience voted for me for the German awards, so they mean a lot to me, as the people I sing to show their appreciation. The awards, which are presented by a jury, are beneficial for booking. Personally the appreciation by some of the musicians in Memphis, like Tony Braunagel who played drums with Robert Cray during that time and the regular folks who attended one of our tiny gigs we played...remember the Kudzoos right around the corner from Sun Studios...and loved the band, the songs I write and my singing...that meant more to me than winning the 2nd place that year...That was good for business, as we where the first European band to win, and since that day a few bigger European festivals got interested in European bands.
3.The guitar that you play a lot is a Continental resonator. Is that your favorite instrument?
No, my favorite instrument is your private National guitar. But I really love my Continental. We made a lot of miles together and I would never trade it for another guitar.
4.Are your instruments close to your heart or are YOU the instrument and the guitars just tools?
Bottom line is: guitars are tools. But as they help you to bring your music, your spirit and your soul to the people, some of them have grown dear to my heart. Like my first resonator guitar, a Dobro from the 70s, which my friend and mentor Piet Ebenfeld left me shortly before his death. My Continental and a few other guitars too. I still own the first guitar I ever bought, a Höfner Dreadnought. Not worth much, but I wrote a lot of songs on it.
5.Which record was spinning the most on your turntable this year?
Blind Willie Johnson - Complete Recordings, Tampa Red - Bottleneck Guitar, Solomon Burke - Nashville, The Clash - London Calling, Chris Whitley - Dirt Floor, Lightnin Hopkins - Complete Prestige Recordings, Robert Ward - Fear No Evil and the newest addition is Mavis Staples - Sad And Beautiful World....as I´m no Highlander "There can only be one!" does not count for me.
6.Talking about records; During you first visit here at Mainwood Guitars, you said you wanted to make a new record yourself, but was still searching for the right place to record it and said "This is it!" So a little while later you did came back and recorded 25 (WHAT?!) yes 25 songs in one day.. All songs without overdubs or other studio tricks and became the so called "One take wonders". The result is a beautiful album called "Move On Down The Line - (The Resonator Session)". It's definitely my favorite fully acoustic album in a long time! Can you tell our readers about that recording day and how you came up with the idea?
I thought about a few of my favourite records and most of them where recorded on locations like Fred McDowells kitchen, a company building like "Dirt Floor", a Hotel Room like Robert Johnsons recordings or outside on a front porch like some Big Joe Williams Records. So I tried to find a comfortable room where I can relax and just sit down and play. As soon as I entered your room full of resonators I felt comfortable, felt the positive and friendly spirit of you and your family in the house. This "First Take Thing" is the way I worked on my last few albums, even the ones with a full band. The more takes I play of a song, the more I play with my head and not with my heart and that´s not the way I like to play. On the day of the recording my friends Susanna Wüstneck (a filmmaker / musician) and Günther Leifeld-Strikkeling (who loves Resonator guitars and plays Banjo, Mandolin, Lapsteel and guitar) set up two cameras and two Ear Trumpet Lab microphones and I just played 2 sets of music, like I do in a live situation. It was great fun playing all these wonderful instruments you had chosen. They all have a distinct individual character that complemented my own very specific character and playing style very well. Then we had pasta outside with the family and drove home after a very nice and relaxed day.
7.The album is released on Timezone Records. If I'm correct you have more records on that label. Does your relationship goes far back with them?
I started working with Timezone in 2017 because I was getting tired of spending time with my label work...I had my own label before and wanted to spend more time on playing music. Good decision. Nice little record company with good deals, nice people and I can do whatever I want.
8.Besides being a player of the traditionals that we'd love so much, you're also a very fine songwriter yourself. How is the progress of writing songs for you going?
It´s always the story first. My good friend Larry Garner said to me: "The Blues ain´t nothing but life´s ups and downs and in-betweens." So there are a lot of stories buzzing through the air to be told.
9.Who is the first person you'll let listen to new songs?
Depends on who´s around. Usually the people in the audience, cause I like to check them out live.
10.To celebrate the 5th anniversary of Mainwood Guitars you are our first guest to play at our living room concerts on the 14th of March. The intimate concerts are appreciated a lot by the more "listening audience". How is that for you as a musician?
I love it. Did that ever since I started playing. It´s all about communication with the audience and other musicians on stage. I also love playing Pubs or Private Parties where everyone flirts, dances, and gets drunk...it's different, but always a lot of fun, too.
My warmest congratulations on your anniversary! Keep up the good work!~
To get in touch with Michael and to buy his new record "Move On Down The Line" recorded at Mainwood Guitars you should visit the links below
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