Mike Mizwinski was given his first guitar when he was only 2 years old. At 9, his father took him to his first Grateful Dead concert. It was then that he knew what he wanted to do with his life. As a teenager, Mizwinski joined his first band and began writing his own music. In 2008, after moving back to home to northern Pennsylvania to work on a solo career, his visceral guitar style and intriguing vocal ability impressed fusion bassist Hansford Rowe. Rowe invited Mizwinski to join his band, the international touring act Gongzilla. The experience he gained playing with Rowe and company, as well as his work alongside other major acts such as Umphrey's McGee and Particle, has informed his unique take on Americana. Since its foundation in 2012, MiZ has been intelligently blending folk, rock, bluegrass, and blues into an enigmatic American musical experience.

MiZ performs Sunday, November 11, 8 p.m. at the Lovin' Cup, 300 Park Point Drive. $3-$5. 292-9940, lovincup.com.