The Mike Espy Band is the 2024 CABS Blues Brawl winning band and will represent Mid Michigan at the International Blues Competition in Memphis January 7 – 11, 2025.
Jeff Thompson and Mike Espy met and began playing blues together in Lansing
in 1994. Jeff and Mike have played in various combinations from bands to duos
beginning with backing up William Yakity Yak Smith and Harmonica Shah. Jeff
and Mike recently attended the 2023 Sonny Boy Williamson King Biscuit Blues
Fest in Helena Ark, and performed as duo street musicians. Jeff enjoys studying
the Harp Blues Masters of Little Walter, Junior Wells, Sonny Boy and James
Cotton. Mike enjoys studying the Blues Guitar Masters of B.B., Freddie and
Albert, Muddy, Wolf, Elmore, Mike Bloomfield, Peter Green and the Hill Country
Blues of R.L. Burnside. Jeff and Mike have been holding down a regular band
monthly gig at the Fenton Beale Street BBQ for the last 20 years. Jeff and Mike
went into local studio Real II Reel Productions and recorded “A Mind of My Own”
disc in 2016 with Mike Espy and the Dibbleville Bluestars.
Mike Espy and Yakity Yak recorded the Evening Sun disc in support of
representing CABS in Memphis in late 1990’s and recorded Born in the Country
disc in support of representing Detroit Blues Society in 2007.
Mike Espy and Yakity Yak also represented CABS as Duo in Memphis in 2011.