Biograpghy

Over the past several years, Michael Hearne and South by Southwest have created a new and unique kind of music. “Southwestern Americana” as Michael calls it “Songs about the southwest with an acoustic feel”. Michael Hearne’s incredibly smooth voice and amazing acoustic guitar style combined with Carmen Acciaioli’s musical mastery of the steel guitar, fiddle, mandolin, dobro, and hammered dulcimer, with the extremely talented Zeke Severenson on stand up and electric bass and you have what people all over the Southwest and beyond call their favorite band.

Michael Hearne and South by Southwest always play to a packed house of faithful dancers when playing on their home turf in Taos or Santa Fe. Their Sunday night performances at the prestigious Paramount in Santa Fe, NM , have immortalized them as the best “Southwestern Swing dance” band to ever hit the stage. “When people hear our music they are transported to another place and time,” says Hearne. “We can play a house concert, corporate party, wedding, or a full fledged dance, and everyone has a smile on their face at the end of the night. We love what we do.”

Michael Hearne’s song writing credits are impressive, penning songs for Jerry Jeff Walker and Gary P. Nunn (Lesson to be Learned from Love) and his New Mexico anthem, “New Mexico Rain” recorded by his uncle and aunt, Bill and Bonnie Hearne, and country music legend, Johnny Rodriguez. His critically acclaimed cd “Sight and Sound”, 11 songs written about 11 different works of art, won seven awards at The New Mexico Music Awards, making him the biggest winner in their history. This cd includes the song, “The Songwriter” co-written with grammy winners Mentor Williams and Andy Byrd. Michael Hearne has also written songs with his good friends Shake Russell, Keith Sykes, and many others.

Michael Hearne and South By Southwest have played the main stage at The Kerville Folk Festival for the last 5 years, The Larry Joe Taylor Festival for the last 9 years, and the last 7 years at the Tommy Alverson Festival.