Meet Michael Logan | Guitarist and Vocalist for River Driver

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Logan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Music is more than just a hobby for us — it’s what makes life feel whole. On any given night, if we’re not out playing together, you’ll probably find each of us at home playing music anyway. It’s our passion, our creative outlet, and our way to let go of stress.

We’ve all been part of bands that felt boxed in by genre labels — whether it was classic rock, country, jazz, or something else — with all the “rules” and expectations that came along with them. When we started River Driver, we wanted the freedom to create whatever felt right to us. Our influences are all over the map, from bluegrass to metal, and we love blending those sounds without worrying about fitting into a single box. That freedom is what makes this band special — and luckily, people seem to enjoy the ride with us. If you listen closely, you’ll hear a bit of every influence in our sets.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
River Driver was formed by two friends who wanted to share their love of music with their friends and community. Over the past four years, we’ve doubled in size and started playing incredible festivals for enthusiastic audiences. It hasn’t been easy—being a musician today means doing it all: managing websites, bookings, social media, merchandise, online sales, recording music, and more. But the payoff is worth every bit of work when we look out into the crowd and see people dancing, smiling, clapping, and enjoying the music together.

When our founding fiddle player, Aidan Flanagan, left the band to pursue his dream career, I worried River Driver might have reached its end. But then a well-known local fiddle player surprised us by stepping in—and not only is she an amazing fiddler, but she’s also a powerhouse singer. She brought along her former bandmate, Steve Henry, on bass, and our sound and energy grew exponentially. Today, River Driver is growing fast and becoming a favorite at local festivals, pubs, and venues.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First, we’d stop by our “home” pub — The Celt in McKinney, Texas. The Celt was named Pub of the Year for North America, and you’ll see why the moment you step inside. That’s why we have a residency there and even chose it as the spot to record our live album.

Next, we’d head over to Gillespie’s Tavern, where owner and chef Romer Perez serves up amazing dishes in a comfortable, laid-back atmosphere, complete with great drinks.

After that, we’d hit up some local music festivals like the North Texas Irish Festival, Wildflower Arts & Music Festival, or Texas Music Revolution — all places where you’ll often find us playing.

It seems we have a thing for music, food, and drinks. Hm…

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout is dedicated to the numerous musical groups and musicians that have inspired me and have encouraged me over the years: Cleghorn, Blaggards, Plunk Murray, Sluggars Rule, KinFolk, Jiggernaut, Beyond The Pale, Skeleton McKee and many, many more. The Irish/Celtic/Folk music scene in Texas is incredibly encouraging and uplifting, and I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for those dozens of musicians who have mentored and supported us throughout the years.

Secondly, the festivals who book us repeatedly, and give us a place to play our music: North Texas Irish Festival, Sherman Celtic Festival, Decatur Celtic Festival, Scotfest (Broken Arrow, OK), and many more.

Website: https://www.riverdrivermusic.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/riverdrivermusic

Facebook: https://facebook.com/riverdrivermusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCINrZMbmrAOABHoV3K51jdg

Image Credits
Poor Farm Photography, Michelle Walston Photography, Raine Fuller, Ryder Logan