Hailing from McHenry, Illinois, a small town on the outskirts of Chicago, Miles Over Mountains is a familial unit of like minded midwestern musicians.  For the past 10 years, the group has been forging their own progressive acoustic sound, rooted in bluegrass, but shaped around original songs, reinterpretations of their favorite writers, and layered instrumental prowess.  Known best for their live show energy and deep connection with their audience, the band brings that rare combination of music you can’t help but dance to, and emotive ballads that will have you suddenly questioning the meaning of life.   “Our live offerings are meant to drive the vehicle in a sense, gas the tank as it were.  But the intent is for that dynamic to shift in the same way as one’s inner thoughts and emotions; Ups and downs, failures and successes, desire and fulfillment, darkness and light.” says mandolinist and founding member Sean Shiel. 

The quartet, made up of Phil Hoffman (upright bass), Caleb Peters (guitar), Sean Shiel (mandolin) & Pete Smith (banjo), originally came together through the midwestern bluegrass scene, and a love of similar musical intentions.  “Something all the band members have connected over is an interest in  many contemporary styles of music outside of bluegrass; country, rock and roll, punk rock, and even some classical music.  I think that shared interest comes out in our playing and song crafting styles,” they explain.  The band credits their regional community with the ability to envision a future for themselves in professional music.  “We’ve always been working alongside and with our fellow musical counterparts/colleagues on shared bills, festivals and have gotten to watch them grow. Having the chance to interact with so many great bands doing the same thing as us has given us the opportunity to learn by example and set goals, while at the same time, the vision to define our own identity along the way.”