about the newlyweds
The Beginning…
Based in Lawrence, Kansas, The Newlyweds are a blues-rock band built around feel and storytelling with a sound that evokes the classic blues while injecting influences from a wide range of backgrounds.
The band came together in 2023 after frontman Michael Leos put a series of Reddit posts out in search of musicians. The band’s early shows at venues like the Replay Lounge helped define their identity. Playing late sets, sharing bills with friends, and learning how songs land in a room shaped both their sound and their confidence.
about the newlyweds
Why “The Newlyweds” Name?
Soon after forming, the band was faced with their first challenge: What do we name ourselves?
The name The Newlyweds came from the fact that all of the guys were recently married, an aspect that made the group feel closer and grounded. mindset. It wasn’t about romance or novelty — it was about the feeling of being newly committed to something.
At their core, The Newlyweds are about honoring the blues without treating it like a museum piece. Their music carries the weight of tradition while letting modern influences and real-life experiences shape the songs. It’s blues-rock that feels lived-in, intentional, and alive — music meant to be heard loud, in a room, with people.
From there, The Newlyweds began branching out, bringing their live energy to stages across Kansas and the Midwest, including The Bottleneck, Lucia, Jazzhaus, and beyond.
about the newlyweds
Who Are
The Newlyweds?
Michael Leos
Frontman Michael Leos comes from a deep love of the blues — the grit, the storytelling, and the emotional weight that comes from letting songs breathe.
Ben Bloch
Guitarist Ben Bloch brings a strong country background, grounding the band with an instinct for melody and phrasing that keeps the songs rooted.
Matthew Woodward
Bassist Matthew Woodward pulls from heavier influences, adding weight, drive, and tension beneath the groove.
Halen Higgins
Drummer Halen Higgins sits at the center of it all, blending those influences into a dynamic, responsive backbone that lets the songs move naturally.
about the newlyweds
Looking Ahead
That mix of backgrounds shapes how The Newlyweds write. Songs often begin simply — a riff, a groove, a lyric — and grow through collaboration. Arrangements are shaped together, with an emphasis on dynamics and space rather than excess. Some tracks settle into slow-burning grooves, others stretch out and break loose, but all of them are built with the live stage in mind.