Back 2 Mac
A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Vocals (Stevie)

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Kimmet Cantwell was born in Long Island New York into a family of musicians that worked. Her older brother plays drums in bands. Her cousin Jay played sax with Levon Helm, Gregg Allman and Little Feat. Kimmet's father excelled in the NYC Dixieland jazz scene and counted Billy Crystal among his fans. Kimmet jumped in at an early age singing regularly in Long Island clubs until she and her then-musical partner Doug Florio moved to Louisville, Kentucky in the late 1990s. Within a few years "Kimmet & Doug" were the most in-demand music duo in the region. In 1999 Kimmet and Doug joined the Geffen Records acoustic-grunge juggernaut Days Of The New where Kimmet played keyboard and sang with bandmate and future Tony-winner and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger. The band played shows with Foo Fighters, 311, Creed, and Stone Temple Pilots. Returning to Louisville, Kimmet pursued her own music, and was invited by Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson to be a guest performer when his tour came through in Kentucky. 

 

As a producer and entertainment personality, Kimmet has developed online comedy projects and episodic reality shows that have garnered several hundred million views. Kimmet also managed the R&B group Linkin Bridge who were finalists on America’s Got Talent. Simultaneously she maintained weekly engagements fronting bands with longtime musical collaborator Bob Ramsey (Leon Russell, Steve Ferguson). Together they have hosted an annual Kentucky Derby party band that has backed up Smokey Robinson, Travis Tritt, Kid Rock and Salt n' Pepa. In 2022, Kimmet was hired by Louisville Public Media in Louisville KY where she currently broadcasts on WFPK Radio, interviewing national and local artists and DJ'ing 5 days a week among a staff of extraordinary female radio talent. In addition to founding Back 2 Mac A Tribute To Fleetwood Mac, Kimmet performs regularly with her partner Eric Whorton as "Kimmet and Friends" and with the band From Paris.

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IG: @kimmetc

Vocals, keys, guitar (Christine)

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Lauren Balthrop is a Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Alongside her solo work—she’s currently at work on her third studio album—Lauren is deeply rooted in musical community. She serves as Operations Director of the arts organization Miles of Music, leads the long-running Brooklyn-based choir The Sirens of Brooklyn, now in its 16th season, and directs the Nashville branch of Blue Balloon Songwriting School, where she teaches songwriting and instrumental music to students of all ages. A former member of several New York bands and a seasoned touring and session musician, Lauren brings her rich experience and expressive artistry to every project, including her role as “Christine McVie” in the Fleetwood Mac tribute band Back 2 Mac.

 

IG: @laurenbalthropmusic
www.laurenbalthrop.com

Drums, vocals

 

 

 

Ray is a drummer, singer, writer and producer living in Brooklyn, New York. His drumming is heard on albums by Bob Weir (Blue Mountain), Yo-Yo Ma (Grammy winning Songs of Joy and Peace), Josh Ritter, Glen Hansard (Rhythm and Repose and Grammy nominated Didn't He Ramble), Nanna Bryndís (Of Monsters and Men), Rhett Miller (Old 97s), King Kong, Days Of The New (Green and Red albums), David Pajo, Mx. Justin Vivian Bond, Walter Martin (The Walkmen), Claire Bowen (TV's Nashville), David Wax Museum, and Corporal a music project Ray formed with actor/musician Michael Shannon. Ray has written essays and reviews for blogs and publications and currently manages a Substack. He has worked as an actor and music composer for theatre, performing in ensemble for NYC Shakespeare In Central Park and collaborating with playwrights Adam Rapp (Outsiders, Nocturne), Molly Rice, and directors Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown) and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

 

In 2010 Ray organized a one-night-only performance of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album for a festival he was curating, playing for the first time with his Days of the New bandmate Kimmet Cantwell, bassist Tim Halcomb, and Louisville songwriter Danny Flanigan in what would become Back 2 Mac A Tribute To Fleetwood Mac. Ray continues to organize, produce and play concerts, recordings, and his own music. He also drums for Josh Ritter's Royal City Band, the Louisville KY band Houseplant, and the tribute bands Steely Danish and I Get Wild plays Talking Heads.  

 

IG: @raskizz

https://substack.com/@raymondrizzo

www.rayrizzo.tv

Guitar, vocals 

 

 

 

James Paul Mitchell has quite the resume. 10 years ago, James hopped off a tour van in Denver with nothing but a guitar, an amp, and a suitcase. It was here that he would gain expansive and diverse musical experience, eventually leading to his raw, atmospheric artist project. Carrying on the Grateful Dead legacy he jam-banded around with supergroup Imagine featuring Ray White (who played & sang with Frank Zappa) and Melvin Seals (organist in the Jerry Garcia Band), studied North Indian classical music, he produced a record for indie folk band King Cardinal who he continues to work with today, and for the first time, began dipping his toe into his own artistry. 

 

He released his first project Love Songs of the Profane in 2013 creating woodsy, haunting harmonies reminiscent of The Head and The Heart, and implementing his skills as a multi-instrumentalist with his trio. James eventually made Nashville his homebase and upped his tour game even further, playing guitar and pedal steel for the dynamic Americana/pop duo The Saint Johns, country-rooted Americana artist Kristina Murray and Braison Cyrus, the youngest of the Cyrus musical dynasty. 

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IG: @jamespaulmitchellmusic

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www.jamespaulmitchell.com

Bass, vocals

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Tim Halcomb has never taken a day off in his life. An accomplished and in-demand woodworker and contractor called upon to tend to the most intricate of architectural details, he has devoted the same care and simplicity to almost 50 years as a bassist for songwriters and bands including Robert Reynolds (The Mavericks), Greg Foresman (Martina McBride), and Danny Flanigan's Rain Chorus who were once requested by Bob Dylan himself to open up a string of shows for the legendary troubadour. Self-taught and playing in bars before he could drive, Tim's music work has taken him clear across the Eastern United States and to Europe. In addition to being a founding member of Back 2 MAc A Tribute To Fleetwood Mac, Tim also leads the bands Those Damn Torpedoes (A Tom Petty Tribute) and the exotic classic rock and roll cover band Slingshots. 
 

Keys, vocals

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