For years, Mihali Savoulidis was known as the magnetic frontman of Vermont jam outfit Twiddle, leading marathon sets that blurred rock, funk, and reggae into hypnotic improvisation. But after nearly two decades of constant touring, the pandemic forced him to stop moving — and in that pause, he rediscovered what first drew him to music: simplicity, truth, and connection.
That impulse sparked Breathe and Let Go, his 2020 solo debut. Going by only is first name, Mihali, the singer delivered a warm collection of reggae-infused reflections on love and clarity. Its follow-up, 2022’s Effection, expanded the vision. Produced remotely with Nathan Aurora of Iya Terra during lockdown, it threaded dub textures, glowing guitar lines, and collaborations with The Movement, Iration, and The Elovaters. The result was a blend of roots reggae and introspective songwriting that felt both contemporary and timeless — the sound of a jam-band survivor finding peace in stillness.
When Twiddle announced an indefinite hiatus in 2024, Mihali leaned fully into the solo journey. His latest album, Before the Dream, feels like a homecoming — leaner, wiser, and deeply human. Amazingly, he’s not even done for the year. Yestermorrow, Mihali’s upcoming LP, drops November 7th, continuing an incredibly prolific span of artistic output from the musician.
READ MORE: Mihali Preaches the Power of Positivity on New Single ‘Here and Now’
Mihali’s joy for music is evident in his live shows mirror that ethos, and he’ll bring that uplifting positivity with him this weekend (Oct. 11 and 12) when he takes the stage at the Outermost Roots & Blues festival at Nauset Beach in Orleans, Massachusetts.
G. Love — festival curator and fellow performer — shared his excitement for Mihali’s set.
“He’s just an unbelievable performer, writer, singer,” G. Love explained to The Pier. “He shreds, shreds, shreds on guitar… I guess my fun fact on Mihali would be like to watch eyeballs do this when he’s [playing]. He like rolls his eyeballs behind his head when he’s playing his lead. I’m like ‘Whoa dude. But yeah, Mihali double thumbs up!”
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While Mihali’s roots run deep in reggae, his style stretches far beyond genre. There are flashes of folk soul, psychedelic rock, and island groove — all grounded in positivity and purpose. His influences range from Bob Marley and Ernest Ranglin to Sublime and Trevor Hall, but his delivery is unmistakably his own: calm, bright, and quietly charged.
In a scene where production often outpaces feeling, Mihali stands out for his authenticity. He writes like someone who’s lived the tension between ambition and peace, chasing transcendence not through excess, but awareness.
With the Outermost Roots and Blues festival just days away, excitement is reaching a fever pitch. Other artists on the lineup include Steel Pulse, Little Stranger and Bumpin Uglies. Last-minute tickets are available now!
