Portland, Oregon based The Moonshine is an idea on the rise. An incandescent blend of guitar, autoharp, fiddle, banjo and upright bass. This is music born of the endless wonder of the open countryside and snow-capped peaks of the Cascades. Taking the magic of the five piece stringband as their foundation and journeying through the wilds of all music that has shaped them, The Moonshine is original and dynamic. With deep roots into Folk, Indie Rock, Oldtime, Gypsy and Cajun traditions, this music is an adventure!Starting in the winter of 2012, The Moonshine began crafting a style all their own, applying traditional stringband techniques to an eclectic palette of influences and the unconventional songwriting of Michael Gerard Levasseur. As Michael the Blind, Levasseur put out four records, including the 2012 acclaimed release “Are’s and Els.” “His songs have acquired a texture that’s more British post-punk than Americana...with melodies that seem to take shape on the fly, guided by Levasseur’s trembly, angsty vocals.”--Noel Murray, Onion AV Club. The genesis of The Moonshine was a serendipitous meeting of old and new friends. With Michael on guitar, Rachael Renee’ on autoharp, Elwood Johncox on upright bass, Susanna Low-Beer on fiddle, and currently featuring Maxwell Countryman Skewes on banjo, The Moonshine was born.