Driven by vocals that mix the subtle, velvety style of Norah Jones with the power of Neko Case, Milwaukee based West of East pairs intelligently crafted lyrics with their own blend of acoustic folk and gritty electric guitar soaked alt-country. While typically performing as a duo made up of husband and wife team Sara Moilanen and Tim Suchocki, West of East records and occasionally performs with a backing band comprised of a who’s who of Milwaukee musicians. According to Sonic Diet, the WMSE Radio Blog:

"Sara Moilanen and Tim Suchocki may follow in the footsteps of folk-twang artists such as Neil Young, Lucinda Williams and John Prine, but manage to carry their own weight in the genre by shifting the emphasis to Molianen’s more soulful vocal style and their introspective-yet-uplifting lyricism."


After releasing their first studio album, “Love in the Twilight Zone,” in 2009 and spending most of 2010 playing in support of that release West of East is spending the late Fall and Winter months working on a 2nd album with co-producer Ricky Ganiere. The album is expected to be released in early summer of 2011 and will be supported by a series of short Midwest tours. In addition to studio work, the band is currently busy booking spring shows and Summer festivals throughout the region. In reference to West of East’s debut album, reviewer Zack Daggy wrote:

“They’re twangy hook laced songs that seep with attitude and soul. Fans of Neko Case will instantly gravitate to these tracks.”

West of East has been grabbing attention throughout the Midwest. Most recently they won two WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) awards in 2011, one for Best Americana Artist of the year and Sara was also voted the Best Female Vocalist of the year. They have also been selected for a performance spot at Bastille Days in Milwaukee, WI by a panel of judges in the WAMI CD Roulette event. They have performed at the Porcupine Mountains Music festival, The Steel Bridge Music Festival, and Summerfest. In addition, they are regularly played on regional radio stations including Milwaukee’s 89.7 WUWM, Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Simply Folk” show, URL Radio’s “Midwest Music Review,” and have been in studio guests on both 91.7 WMSE’s “Local Live” and 88.9 Radio Milwaukee’s “414 Music” programs.