Joseph Strider Coffee House Journeys tonight Michael Bucher

Inspirations from the Red Road...

Acoustic guitarist Joseph Strider has covered a lot of musical ground in his career thus far. From boy soprano in school choirs, to playing with a cover band, Strider has spent the years developing his own unique style, a style that fits in no established genre and can best be described as modern Indigenous alternative

Tonight, Michael Bucher came from a musical family where almost everyone was self taught. I grew up listening to Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and all the popular country music artists of the day. As a teenager my musical tastes expanded to include Rock, Blues, and R&B. By his early twenties Michael started writing his own songs and through the years has refined that style and approach to his music.

Growing up in a multi-racial neighborhood on the south side of Chicago within all the diversity, his large family did what they could to ensure that they didn't become an invisible Indian.  Michael's Cherokee ancestors go back to the Trail of Tears and earlier. Prior to the forced removal many Cherokees moved to S.E. Missouri and N.E. Arkansas. Mike and his sisters and brother are only the second generation not to be born in S.E. Missouri.  They have been told the stories passed down from generation to generation and encouraged to stay close to their culture.

He is reminded by his mother and great uncle, and by the words of his grandmother and great aunt who have walked on, not to forget the stories and struggles of his people and all Indigneous people.  From these stories are the basis of his music and songs along with his own life experiences. As part of those experiences, Michael has lived in many places thru his life, but now lives in the great northwoods of northwest Wisconsin. He stays close to his family, friends, to the stories. and to his beliefs.

"There are no coincidences, everything is for a reason."