Guitarist Mike Lorenz & The Witherbees Release Their Debut, Self-Titled LP

This summer, the Philadelphia area folk-jazz band, Mike Lorenz & the Witherbees, are releasing their first LP of new original music and folksy covers. Following up on the release of the digital single “When the Stars Go Blue,” this release encapsulates all of the group’s unique tastes and sonic trajectories. The band celebrated their release with a series of live shows including an appearance at Bethlehem’s Musikfest 2019 on August 9, 2019.

Mike Lorenz & the Witherbees features 19-year-old, up-and-coming vocalist, violist, and songwriter Jacqui Armbruster, a former student of Lorenz’s from the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts. The group is rounded out by Justin Sekelewski on bass and Zach Martin on drums.

Songs like “Home” and “Lilac” showcase Jacqui’s skilled songwriting and the group&'s instant camaraderie and sound. Covers, like an over-the-edge take on Little Jimmy Scott’s “Sycamore Trees” (from the soundtrack to the original Twin Peaks series) or a loopy and soulful reading of the Magnetic Fields’ “Grand Canyon” give the listener sounds that are simultaneously familiar and new. Other musical fascinations explored by the group include Wilco, Sonny Sharrock, Sonic Youth, Paul Motian, Paul McCartney, and Carla Bley.

For additional information about Mike Lorenz & the Witherbees, promotional materials including downloads or CDs, press inquiries, et al. please reach out to [email protected]