Michael John Ahern 

Songwriter / Acoustic and Electric Guitars / Stage Management / Studio Engineering

the Croutons

Fine Line

JB, Bobby, Michael R., Michael A., Lachlann - Strawman 1997

Tthe Little Wheels Band

the American Dream

Michael John Ahern (MJ) is an Emmy nominated Northern California songwriter who's music has been heard around the world on country radio. This winter MJ has been busy. Returning as stage manager for the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival, performing 3 shows with the, Little Wheels Band, 5 shows with the new roots rock band, the American Dream, weekly session work on his upcoming roots rock solo album, session work on the American Dream demo and performing solo or as a duo with American Dream guitarist Chris Cotruvo.

Also this winter Michael attended both the SF Music Technology Summit and NAMM 2010 in LA.

To date MJ has produced 10 commercial albums including Nine Lives (2008) and I Believe (2008) The High Road (2007), She's the One (2006), The Liberty Court Session (2005) and the Little Wheel Band Debut (2005)   In 2005-2006 MJ's songs, She’s the One and Heaven aired on 550 radio stations in 26 countries. MJ founded the American Dream a premier roots rock band in the fall of 2009 and co-founded the country rock band, The Little Wheels Band in 2003. MJ is a member of the Recording Academy, a high school educator and an ASCAP songwriter.

A Modern Day Renaissance Man

In 1985, MJ joined a popular San Luis Obispo college radio dance band the Croutons. During that time he also played with Secret Service, a young Toad the Wet Sprocket and reluctantly opened solo for guitar virtuoso Alan Holdsworth in front of 1500 guitar players. In 1987, MJ moved back to the S.F. Bay Area to work in the field of Environmental Education. On the weekends MJ worked at the Keystone Palo Alto, a popular live music venue. It was there that MJ heard Jerry Garcia and Steve Morse for the first time live. During this period MJ recorded his first commercial release, Along The Edge which sold 4500 copies through the newly founded Nature Company.  In 1988 MJ returned to San Luis Obispo to complete  degrees in Biology and Education and then accepted a high school teaching position in Cambria, CA. During that time MJ played with Sean Griffith (son of songwriter Glenda Griffith), The Michael Ahern Band and the Pismo Beach rock and roll cover band Fine Line. In 1994 MJ returned to the SF Bay Area to work for S.E.T.I. and NASA in education and curriculum development. During that time Michael worked as a NASA Mission Specialist flying on board the Kuiper Airborne Observatory based at Ames Research Facility. In 1994 MJ released his second solo album - Songs From Within.

In 1995 Michael was introduced by a friend to Lachlann Kane. Realizing their musical potential MJ and Lachlann built Strawman, an all original rock band featuring Bobby Foster on drums, Michael Reich on sax/flute and JB Jones on bass. Success came fast to Strawman however tensions in the band led to a breakup in 1997 shortly after the release of their debut Strawman's El Dorado CD an all-original and masterful recording. A desire to write new material followed as did a longing to have a talented band to play the material out. MJ reached out again for Lachlann Kane in 2001and they began working together on Michael's "She's the One" album. The experience of working together again inspired the desire to build a new band with an Americana genre. Hence began The Little Wheels Band which shared the stage with Sara Evans, The Dave Nelson Band, The Flying Other Brothers, James Nash, and Jefferson Starship. MJ and the Little Wheels Band performed at the 2003 and 2004 Jerry Day Celebrations in McLaren Park in San Francisco while MJ was asked to musically produce the historic Jerry Garcia Amphitheater Dedication Ceremony in October 2005. The Little Wheels Band also performed at the Grand National Rodeo and mainstage for the 2005 and 2006 Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival Mainstage. In 2006 Michael received two Bay Area Emmy nominations for a live television performance of his original song "So Done With You" with musicians James Nash, Steve Shufton, Michael Anderson, Gary Chiapetta and Dean Cook. In 1999 MJ became Director of Entertainment at the Lodge at Skylonda, an Auberge Resort Property. In addition to booking talent at the Lodge MJ began performing acoustic solo once again as he had in college. It was also at the Lodge at Skylonda when MJ made the decision to broaden his approach to songwriting and began what has become a lifelong study of American songwriters.  In September of 2007 the Little Wheels Band took a break from a five year rigorous regional touring schedule and now choosed to gather together for the occasional show.

In January 2008 MJ began work on a self produced original album titled "Drive" which includes Michael Emerson (Elvin Bishop and Carlene Carter) on keys, Sonya Jason on sax, and Gary Potterton (California Cowboys) on guitar, Randy McGowan (Little Charlie and the Nightcats and Frankie's Dream) and old pal Lachlann Kane(Little Wheels Band). This CD is scheduled to be released spring 2010.

Strawman