The AUDIO PLAYER below features a duet with Anaïs Mitchell, Texas-Ecuadorian fusion with The Just Desserts, Catalan re-imaginings with Cyril Neville, the original bluegrass-country of Texas Express, and Shay's Gnawa-inspired cello on “Desire”.

In the twenty years since Michael Shay released his debut  singer/songwriter record, he’s lived and collaborated outside the USA as much as in it, releasing several albums as bandleader of world-fusion, Americana, classical crossover and rock ensembles.  

Coming full circle after two decades, 2024 sees the song-by-song  release of "Motherland," a folk album of original songs exploring themes of land, class, family, migration, seasons and escape, featuring Shay on guitars, cello, mandola, bass, and vocals.

In addition to his earliest influences in Suzanne Vega, Robert Hunter and Townes Van Zandt, on “Motherland” you might also hear echos of Greg Brown, Neil Young, Gillian Welch, John Prine, and even Leonard Cohen who once sent a compliment of a cover of “Suzanne” in which Shay had altered a lyric, saying it was “a better line anyway!”

Michael Shay lives in Ecuador where he performs with his Americana band “La Gringueza Criolla”, and spends the rest of his time planting seeds on a farm at the end of the road.

Curious about HOSTING A HOUSE CONCERT? on the 2024 tour? 

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