From the Roots Up: Redwood Express Releases Debut Album
By Julie Horner
Anchored in partnership, Santa Cruz Mountains band Redwood Express began as a project between China Cats drummer Michael Owens and Buffalo Blues Trio singer-songwriter Michele Murphy to express mutual talents and to have something fun to do together as a couple. Now married, Michael said, “I thought it would be great to have a band together with Michele. That’s how it started, Michele and I sitting down and talking about forming a band and what we would like to do.”
The band has been together for at least five years, Michael said. They brought in guitarist and singer-songwriter Fred Rodriguez, who also plays with Santa Cruz bands Rosebud and the Puffball Collective and keyboard player and former owner & brewer at Slough Brewing Collective, Michael Enos. When Michael E and his wife Julie Rienhardt moved out of state, Michele and Michael invited Zayante keyboard player and Grampa’s Chili alum, Steve Hunt to join the band. About the same time bassist and Lompico local Sebastian Hegenbart jumped on board, replacing originating bassist and singer Jonathan “Skippy” Sherred. Skippy is credited with coming up with the band’s name: Redwood Express.
Redwood Express: Fred Rodriguez, guitar; Steve Hunt, keyboards; Michele Murphy, vocals; Sebastian Hegenbart, bass; Michael Owens, drums
Michele said the current configuration has been grooving together for about a year and they’ve been performing at local venues all around Santa Cruz and the mountains and collaborating diligently in the studio. Michael calls their sound “redwood rock,” a mix of soul, R&B, rootsy originals and an amalgam of classic folk and blues covers from the Allman Brothers, Little Feat, Rolling Stones, Ry Cooder, and Al Greene, among others; swampin’ and swingin’ like Tedeschi Trucks meets Dragon Smoke.
The first album by Redwood Express called Sanctuary dropped in May 2025 and features nine original songs recorded and produced by Steve and Fred at Steve’s Hoedown Studios. Michele contributed three originals to the album: Pot of Soup, Bird, and Sin House. Michael Enos wrote Cricket and Ground. Fred wrote The Letter, Too Good to Lose, Sadie, and the title track, Sanctuary. Boulder Creek artist Nicky Gaston created the band’s cover art and logo, Peter Woodward is credited with photography and graphic artwork. Available to stream on your favorite platforms, the band celebrates the release of the fresh CD with a show at Woodhouse Blending & Brewing on Friday, July 11 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. redwoodexpressband.com
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Julie Horner is Co-Founder and Editor for the San Lorenzo Valley Post. Julie lives and works in Boulder Creek and is an active participant in the county's vibrant music scene. She loves the outdoors and is the go-to expert on Santa Cruz Mountains hiking trails.
