Solo musician playing classic rock, country, folk, and Irish music
Michael Bruening is a solo musician and singer/songwriter based in Rolla, Missouri. He is a versatile performer, whose powerful music captivates and energizes audiences. He segues easily from the down-home notes of Johnny Cash and Tyler Childers to the rousing rhythms of rock and the poignant tones of Gordon Lightfoot and Irish folk music.
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His first EP, West of Eden, was just released on August 19, 2025
See below for samples of the music you could expect to hear from him.
New Music Release!
West of Eden
Now available on all major music streaming platforms, West of Eden is Michael's first EP release. It contains five new tracks that range from the humorous "Stupid Streak" to the poignant ballad "Coldest After Dawn" and the driving, country-rock title track.
Upcoming Performances​​​​​​
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Saturday, October 18, White House Hotel, Hermann, 1-4 p.m. (Oktoberfest)
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Tuesday, October 21, Hopper's Pub, Rolla, 7-9 p.m.
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Saturday, October 25, White House Hotel, Hermann, 1-4 p.m. (Oktoberfest)
Past Performances
Here are some of the venues where he has performed in the past:
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Hopper's Pub (Rolla)
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Main Deck (Steelville)
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Public House Brewing Company (Rolla)
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Peaceful Bend Winery (Steelville)
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Spencer Manor Winery (St. James)
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Steelville Country Club
Sample Selection of Music
Michael Bruening is an amateur musician and a professor of history at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. He gained a certain amount of internet fame in the spring of 2020 with his parody of "I Will Survive" for teachers around the world who quickly had to move to online teaching because of the pandemic. The song received 2.3 million views on YouTube and was included in a Chris Wallace segment on FoxNews.
Michael's set lists include music by Johnny Cash, John Denver, Tyler Childers, Hank Williams, the High Kings, the Eagles, etc. He is available for performances around south-central Missouri. Find a sample of his music above, and see his social media channels linked below for more. And please click on the contact page for more information and bookings.