Huckle Buck Highway

Country and Classic Rock

Now booking in Portland and the surrounding areas!

Please call or text
Lou @ 503-991-2542 to get your Huckle Buckin'!

Book Online feature is under construction.

Coming Up !

Fri, Oct 18 - Oregon Garden Fireside Lounge, Silverton 8p-11p
Sat, Oct 19 - RedGate Winery, Independence 6p-9p
Fri, Oct 25 - Oregon Garden Fireside Lounge, Silverton 8p-11p
Sat, Oct 26 - HALF PENNY HALLOWEEN BASH, Salem 8p-11p
Fri, Nov 1 - Salem Elks, Salem 7:45p-10:45p
Sat, Nov 9 - Half Penny, Salem 8p-11p
Fri, Nov 15 - Oregon Garden Fireside Lounge, Silverton 8p-11p
Sat, Nov 16 - Oregon Garden Fireside Lounge, Silverton 8p-11p
Sat, Dec 7 - RedGate Winery, Independence 6p-9p
Fri, Dec 13 - Oregon Garden Fireside Lounge, Silverton 8p-11p
Sat, Dec 14 - Half Penny, Salem 8p-11p

See our events page for more details and future shows!

Contact Us

Huckle Buck Highway

Country and Rock Classics

Call or Text Lou

(503) 991-2542

Email

HuckleBuckHighway@gmail.com

Who We Are

Looking for a band that can deliver a mix of country classics and classic rock and just about anything in between? Look no further than Huckle Buck Highway! With years of professional performing experience under their belts, this talented group of musicians is guaranteed to keep you on the dance floor all night long. With influences ranging from Merle Haggard to Lynyrd Skynyrd to The Black Crowes to ZZ Top, they have something for everyone. And with members who have opened for major acts like LeAnn Rymes, Brooks & Dunn, Joe Walsh, Hal Ketchum, and Pat Benatar just name a few, you can be confident that they will deliver a top-notch performance. With their hot licks, full and tight harmonies, impeccable rhythm, and fantastic song selections, this band has become a local favorite for events far and wide. Huckle Buck Highway will deliver an experience, showcasing the best live music around, so don’t wait–schedule your event with Huckle Buck Highway today and experience the best live music around!

They say timing is everything; that was certainly true for the members of this band. They were all seeking the next project that would be worth investing the time and effort to build something great from the ground up. Huckle Buck Highway is:

* Lou Mickelson, founding member (lead and BG vocals, rhythm guitar, mandolin), had the privilege of opening for Dave Brubaker, a very popular Christian recording artist while home from college one year. While playing with Two of a Kind in Los Angeles, the college she attended hired her band to perform on the Queen Mary when it was docked there. She also played the Willamette Valley sharing lead and BG vocals and playing rhythm guitar with The Kenny Sears Band, pre-Covid. She is also currently performing with Next of Kin, a father/daughter-in-law acoustic duo who share lead and harmony vocals and often play the Oregon Garden in addition to several Oregon fairs, Veterans homes, private parties, and many retirement centers up and down the Willamette Valley and southern Washington.

* Brian Evola (lead and BG vocals, lead guitar) toured the east coast and mid-west with Chris Blair and the Bullseye Band, opening for Yankee Grey, Chad Brock, Shane Minor, LeAnn Rymes, Lee Ann Womack, and Chely Wright. He also toured the south with other bands such as Phaze III, Hank Bird Band, and Owl Creek Band, just to name a few.

* Scott Cwalinski (drums) has played drums professionally since 1989 covering all genres and styles. His roots take him back to Montana where after developing his craft with the help of his dad and brother he played with many country and rock bands, which lead to opening for Desert Rose and Lori Morgan. From there, many years of his career were spent playing the Las Vegas Strip and casinos throughout the southwest opening for major acts like 38 Special, Night Ranger, Pat Benatar, Jimmy Van Zant & Friends, Ricky Van Shelton, Kansas, Brooks & Dunn, Hal Ketchum, Nils Lofgren (guitarist for Bruce Springsteen) and Joe Walsh. Scott also played cruise ships touring between Australia and Alaska as well as the Caribbean for a few years before the pandemic struck. In the summer of 2023, Scott completed a Pacific NW tour with Gunhild Carling, Sweden’s queen of swing.

* With original bassist Doug Reeder joining the Alabama tribute band Roll On in mid 2023, Huckle Buck welcomed the addition of Dave Stump, long-time bassist for the group Rock and Roll Cowboys to fill the full-time bassist roll. While studying at Arizona State University (ASU), he had the privilege of collaborating with exceptional musicians hailing from diverse corners of the country. Among them was a frontman from Savoy Brown, along with other luminaries celebrated for their contributions to blues, jazz, reggae, R&B, and country. Making his way back to Oregon to start a family, he reconnected with college buddies and began playing with many different musicians in the Salem area eventually landing on the Huckle Buck Highway.

Huckle Buck Highway will supply professional sound equipment and lighting unless your facility is already set up for that. Reach out and schedule your event today–you will NOT be disappointed! Be sure and check out the Testimonials link to read what people are saying about their exceptional performances!

Testimonials

Levi Fiehler, Actor who portrays Mayor Ben Hawthorne in the science fiction comedy series, Resident Alien (The Alaskan Hotel & Bar, Juneau, AK)

"The Best. Thank you... for such a wonderful night!!!! We had an incredible time!!"

Trenchline Excavation

"Awesome. We enjoyed the band, will definitely have them back. Also, we are going to try to catch them when they are playing locally."

Billy & Mia Rodden, Newleyweds

"Lou, Brian, Scott, and Dave, Thank you! You guys really went above & beyond. We got endless compliments on your performance at our wedding. We cannot thank you enough for all the time and energy you put into making our wedding rock. We love the t-shirts and hope to see you all again soon. The Rodden's"

Rachel and Nick Sepul, Newlyweds

"Huckle Buck Highway made our wedding unforgettable! From start to finish, they were a dream to work with. Their music was fantastic, keeping everyone on the dance floor and the atmosphere lively. They tailored their setlist to our preferences and played with such skill and energy. We received countless compliments from guests about their performance. If you want a talented, professional band that knows how to create a memorable event, Huckle Buck Highway is the way to go!"

Rose Committee, Royal Oaks Country Club

“We absolutely loved working with Lou and Huckle Buck Highway. Their communication is prompt, they arrived early for set up and were willing to help with announcements and contests throughout the evening.
What sets them apart is their talent. Each musician is a stand out, harmonies are stellar and their library of music easily transitions from country to rock. We believe we have found a true gem and intend to hire them again for our next event."

Bone, Hillsboro Elks

“I heard great feedback from members, so thank you for performing. Will definately have you back as I'm plotting/planning upcoming dates."

Monty Miller, Half Penny Public House

“That new Gibson suonded killer on the Floyd! Always appreciate your band's work ethic and professionalism. Best in the biz. Thank you!"

Darci Ancalade, Yamhill Firemen Protection District

“Huckle Buck Highway is always our first choice, because we loved your performance last July!"

MaryAnn Guess, Columbia County Fair

“Your video is awesome. I heard so many compliments last year on you. People were saying you were the BEST BAND."

Marsha Benoit, Fan

"Saw this band for the first time last night. Oh my gosh, they are great! One of the best bands I have heard in a long, long time. What I thought was great was they sang my favorite song, "Born to be Wild" and did a great job. Wow, you all are sooo great. I can't wait to see you again!"

Michael Lind, Fan

"This band rocks, last weekend at Redgate Winery everyone was on the dance floor, no one stayed in their seats... Seriously good band!"

Mylee Smith, Owner of The By-Pass

Mylee: Host and Caterer of a Private Party
"Huckle Buck Highway is one of our faves!"

"You guys were awesome. I'm going to talk to Friday night people for you guys to be there next summer. I'll be booking 2024 soon, so I'll be reaching out."

Private Party, Daughter of the Birthday Girl
"(Mom) had a blast and so did all of the guests. Best party! Everyone absolutely loved the band, too. So sweet they were, to my mom."

Angela Zurfluh, Bridges, Bikes, and Brews (Scio)

"Thank you guys for coming out. You are total rockstars... Amazing!"

Matthew Hays, 50th Anniversary Sublimity Harvest Festival

"You guys were awesome last night!! Thank you so much! Great people!"

Becky Frank, 50th Anniversary Sublimity Harvest Festival

"Thank you so much! You guys were great! Great fit for us, so fun!"

Natasha Sanchez, Local Resident

During the 2023 Silverton Sidewalk Shindig: "We can hear you from the backyard! Amazing like always!"

Terry, Salem Elks Lodge #336

"Just wanted to say, HBH is awesome. You guys rocked the house. People are still talking about it. We are looking forward to next time."

Annette Crossley, Fan

During the 2023 Silverton Sidewalk Shindig:
"Thank you so much! It was a special birthday celebration! We enjoyed dancing to our favorite band!"

Jim Gaskins, Super Fan

"Huckle Buck Highway is one of my faves! I think I've seen them about 20x!!! (stalker??, naw... a fan)!
Love their George Strait, Merle, rock songs, classic songs... great dance music! Fans Love 'em! Huckle Buck Highway delivers!"

Ron Summers, St Helens Elks Incoming ER

"Thank you for such a wonderful evening! You guys were amazing! We all had a wonderful time. It has me second-guessing whether I paid you properly. You were too good for what you quoted. Again, we had a great time and hope you can come back soon!"

Upcoming Events

Band Members

Lou Mickelson | Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Mandolin

Lou connected with music at a very young age, listening to her family’s record collection through headphones while lying on the living room floor. As a sophomore in high school, she took an interest in her dad’s beat up guitar and with just a few lessons from her pastor, she began leading youth worship although she didn’t really find her voice until she sang All I Have to Do is Dream at the local pizza parlor open mic night with a live band. She and three friends also put together a church camp quartet and traveled between Nor Cal and the bay area singing in different churches for a summer. Playing in several different bands was the highlight of her college years including opening for Dave Brubaker, a very popular Christian recording artist at the time at a Church fund raising event, but music took a back seat after marriage and family. Once the kids were older, the desire to perform returned, so she jumped back in by joining the church choir and worship team at Silverton First Baptist and the rest is history. Her musical influences are primarily Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings and other outlaw country artists as well as Kansas, Journey, and Lynyrd Skynyrd in addition to other artists who held a special place in her family’s record collection over the years like Jim Reeves, Elvis, Buck Owens, and Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.

Brian Evola | Vocals, Lead Guitar, Sound

Brian’s love of music began at an early age growing up listening to his dad perform with his band. As soon as he was old enough he began guitar lessons on an old hand-me-down. The more he learned the more the desire to play grew within him. At the age of 9 he was playing guitar at the Christian school he attended and at the age of 15 he was sitting in with his dad’s band playing any instrument the group would hand over. Playing in a live setting at an early age opened him up to a wide variety of music. Merle Haggard remains at the top of his list to this day but players like Brent Mason, Johnny Highland, Red Volkart, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and Joe Bonamassa are key influences. Over the years Brian played in local bands and traveled opening for major label artists. While living in Georgia, Brian played for Revolution Church in Canton for almost 10 years before relocating to Washington where he currently plays for Northwest Gospel Church in Vancouver.

Dave Stump | Bass

Dave, with a musical journey spanning more years than memory serves, has always felt an irresistible pull toward the art of playing music. His initial steps involved emulating rock bass legends like Mars Cowling, John Paul Jones, Berry Oakley, Geddy Lee, and Paul McCartney. From there, he delved into the realms of jazz, R&B, blues, and funk during his time at Mt. Hood Community College.

Dave’s musical voyage took him from Oregon to the sun-soaked cities of Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona. While studying at Arizona State University (ASU), he had the privilege of collaborating with exceptional musicians hailing from diverse corners of the country. Among them was a frontman from Savoy Brown, along with other luminaries celebrated for their contributions to blues, jazz, reggae, R&B, and country.

After a hiatus—years spent completing his education in Oregon and starting a family—the music bug bit Dave once more. Reconnecting with old college buddies, he expanded his repertoire to encompass blues, R&B, soul, funk, country, and worship music. His journey led him to assume the bass role in the popular Salem-based band, the Rock-n-Roll Cowboys. However, seeking musical diversity, Dave eventually departed from the cowboys, opening the door to a new chapter: Huckle Buck Highway. 🎸🎶

Scott Cwalinski | Drums

Scott saw his first live band at a fireworks show in New Jersey at the age of 5 and was amazed to see how music was made. His dad and older brother both played drums, dad for fun, brother in high school bands, and they both encouraged and mentored Scott from childhood on. Scott has played drums professionally since 1989, covering all genres and styles. Joining Huckle Buck Highway takes him back to his roots in Montana, where he played in many country and rock bands throughout the state, including at the bar owned by Jack Hanna (the Columbus Ohio zoologist from David Letterman) near Absororkee, Hanna Montana’s. Scott also opened for Desert Rose and Lori Morgan while in Montana. Many years of his career were spent playing the Las Vegas Strip and casinos throughout the southwest where he opened up for major artists, such as 38 Special, Night Ranger, Pat Benatar, Jimmy Van Zant & Friends, Ricky Van Shelton, Kansas, Brooks & Dunn, Hal Ketchum, Nils Lofgren (guitarist for Bruce Springsteen) and Joe Walsh. After moving to Portland, Oregon in 2011, Scott played with many other country, rock and original bands. When gigs slowed down, he became a cruise ship musician touring between Australia and Alaska as well as the Caribbean and New York for a few years before the pandemic struck. Most recently, he has picked up swing and Latin gigs in the Portland area. He just completed an Oregon tour playing big band jazz with Gunhild Carling, Sweden’s queen of swing. Scott is looking forward to rocking the house weekly with Huckle Buck Highway in 2023!