Mike June is a singer and songwriter from Austin, TX. Born and raised in New Jersey,in the shadows of New York City, June writes songs about the complexities of modern life with a frank, earnest style befitting a man raised ten miles from the George Washington Bridge. June's grandfather, Vernon, was a country singer in the 40's and 50's, making a name for himself locally by performing the songs of Hank Williams at the weekly Bear Mountain square-dance. Naturally, Mike grew up in a house filled with the sounds of Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson and Bruce Springsteen while the New York oldies station introduced him to the British Invasion, Motown and doo-wop. June carried a Kiss lunchbox in grade school and spent his allowance on AC/DC and Rush tapes. He got his first electric guitar at 13 and began to write songs.
              After spending several years singing with bar band Wide Load Joad, June formed Mike June & The Dirty Doves in 2002 and released his first album, CROOKED at the age of 27. Altcountrytab.com gave the record five stars and called it “40 minutes of music without a wasted beat” and said June “played with pure heart.” The Newark Star Ledger praised the band's “uninhibited swagger” and said “the perfectly named Dirty Doves played with grace and grit,” in it's shining 4-star review.
               Over the next few years, June and guitarist Jay Forsythe began writing and exploring new sonic directions and in 2007 released “LOVESICK." Although it was a darker, moodier effort, the record was received warmly by both critics and fans. Blowup Radio called it “a great album,” and the band drew comparisons to both Dylan and Springsteen. Later that year Mike June & The Dirty Doves garnered four Asbury Music Award nominations for “Lovesick”,including a nod for “Fighting The War” as the Song of the Year. “Lovesick” ended up on many critics end of the year “best of” lists, including ones in Japan and Belgium and was praised as one of the best locally released records of the decade.
               In 2008,June disbanded the Dirty Doves and relocated to Austin, TX. While spending three years in “self-imposed exile," June continued to write prolifically and in 2010, with the encouragement of New Austin Music co-founder Larry Graves and former Dirty Doves Matty Aderhold and Ed Fritz, June formed his new band, The Wilson Street Refugees. June and the band, along with many guests (including 3-time Austin Music Hall of Fame inductee Jon Dee Graham) entered the studio and recorded EXILE ON WILSON STREET. Recorded almost entirely live over two days in April 2011, “Exile” is a triumphant journey through the ups and downs of June's move to Texas. Produced by June, Graves and Scott Everett, EXILE ON WILSON STREET will be the first release for brand new label NEW AUSTIN MUSIC and will be available February 14, 2012 at Mikejune.com and NewAustinMusic.com.