Final installment of 2025 Henry County Concert Series features Mike Milligan & Steam Shovel and local artists, Dave Ellison and friends
By: Kevin Vickery
The Henry County Concert Series went 4 for 4 again this year with another evening of clear skies, warm temperatures and sunshine in downtown New Castle at The Arts Park Pavilion. The crowd was primed and ready for a night of soulful blues with Mike Milligan and Steam Shovel.
Mike and company have been voted the Best Blues Band in Indiana. They’ve performed from Chicago to Memphis, Charleston to Austin, and all points in between. They have shared the stage with musical giants such as, BB King, Buddy Guy, Double Trouble, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray, Al Green, Tower of Power, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Dick Dale, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Los Lonely Boys.
The power trio consists of Robert “Tiny” Cook on drums, Shaun Milligan on bass, and the band’s name sake, Mike Milligan on guitar and vocals. Mike formed the Kokomo based band back in 1993 in after playing working with a couple cover bands but knew he wanted to branch out into recording and performing his own original songs professionally.
Interestingly enough, the band’s name is a reference to a classic 1939 children’s book entitled, “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel” written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton about a man and his loyal steam shovel named Mary. When speaking with Mike about the book he draws an interesting parallel between the book and his band saying, “The way Mike Mulligan and his trusty steam shovel Mary keep the tradition of steam engines alive at a time when the industrial revolution was moving things towards the modern technologies of gas and electricity, is the same way my band and I and keep the spirit of traditional blues music alive in a time of constantly evolving modern electronic music and DJs.” Mike received written permission from the family of the book’s late Author, to use the name as his band’s namesake when he first formed the band and has kept it alive ever since.
This show at the Arts Park Pavilion was the band’s second appearance there over the years as part of The Henry County Concert Series and my first time seeing them perform. I enjoyed his show very much. The original material he’s written, spanning from his seven full length albums are as rich and soulful as any classic blues standard you could compare them to and I found his rock-blues vocal style to be reminiscent of the late, great and legendary, Stevie Ray Vaughn.
I was also able to get a chance to chat with Mike at length the day before the show and get some of his thoughts. I asked him of all the national artists he’s had the opportunity to share the stage with, if he had a favorite experience and he said, “I think my favorite and most relieving that he was such a nice guy is Jimmie Vaughan.” Adding, “I had heard lots of stories from people who knew him that said Stevie was great but Jimmie was kind of a jerk. – I got to open for him solo with just my National guitar and myself sitting in a chair and when I was done I came downstairs where he was waiting for me.” He continued, “He said he liked what he heard. – He was super-cool and we could have hung out all night but he had to go get onstage. – They say you’re not supposed to meet your heroes but meeting Jimmie Vaughn was fantastic and he was very cool!”
Speaking of the legendary blues guitarists in the Vaughan family, Mike also once had the opportunity to front Stevie Ray Vaughan’s famous band, Double Trouble in Nashville, TN’s 3rd & Lindsley for a show commemorating the 20th anniversary of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s death. To see it, just go to YouTube and type in Mike Milligan and Double Trouble.
On writing his own material, Mike said, “The songs, the music, and the lyrics all come from the heart, my life, my experiences and my soul. – Everything about it comes from my life and the songs we’re doing are songs that have healed me personally so I’ve decided to record them and share them.”
The show at the Arts Park Pavilion also featured Henry County Concert Series veteran, Dave Ellison who after a 10 year stint as a coffee shop owner in Pendleton has now made the move back to his hometown of New Castle. He was accompanied again this year by drummer, Justin Browning on the Djembe drum for a tasteful acoustic cover set that the crowd enjoyed as they were getting ready for Mike Milligan. I believe that Dave and Justin (JB) pair nicely and have enjoyed their set both times I’ve seen them playing together.
On his song selections, Dave said, “I like to keep it pretty eclectic. I don’t stick with just one genre all together and I like to be a little versatile so, who knows where I’m going to bounce around to.” I particularly enjoyed his version of one of my favorite classic country tunes, Gary Gentry’s ,“The Ride” recorded and popularized by David Allen Coe”. He added, “I’m not an attitude guy. I just like to get along and I like peace, harmony, and coffee.”
Dave was born in Long Beach, CA where his Father was stationed at a naval base. Once his Dad got out of the Navy, they moved to New Castle when Dave was 10 years old. On that part of his life, Dave recalled, “At that time, this Arts Park used to be Jennings Lumber. I used to come here with my Dad to buy Lumber and things to help him. To come back here 40-50 years later and see and perform in this beautiful facility – that’s very inspiring. I couldn’t be happier.”
As I’ve said before, it takes a great deal of work and planning to bring a series of events like this to fruition and part of what makes that possible are the corporate sponsors. The Henry County Concert Series thanks Modern Fold, Henry County Community Foundation, Edward Jones, New Castle – Henry County Chamber of Commerce, and Art Association of Henry County for their support.
For more information about Mike Milligan and Steve Shovel, find them on social media or their official website at mikemilligan.homestead.com
To keep up with Dave Ellison visit his Facebook page.
To find out about events at The Henry County Arts Park Pavilion visit the Art Association of Henry County’s website at henrycountyarts.org
Make Some Noise 