About

Front & Main was born from a creative partnership between vocalist Paul Shotwell and multi-instrumentalist Michael Wu, two veterans of the Central New York music scene with deep roots across the Ithaca, Binghamton, and Syracuse regions. Formed in the fall of 2022, the band wasted little time making an impression, quickly earning a reputation as one of the most exciting original acts in the 607. Keeping with the Binghamton tradition of putting original twists on established genres, Front & Main put the rock in soul rock, with bluesy rock and roll purity and R&B flow that get your hips moving.

Paul Shotwell is the kind of frontman you don't forget. A seasoned solo performer, sound engineer, and stage technician throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes, his voice, powerful, smoky, and instantly recognizable, anchors everything the band does. Michael Wu is one of the region's most versatile musicians, a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter whose extensive resume spans jazz, metal, hip-hop, and beyond, with credits including Gunpoets, Maddy Walsh & the Blind Spots, Diwas Gurung, and LGN. At their core, Front & Main function as a kind of upstate New York supergroup, filling out their live lineup with seasoned regional veterans: Mary Tewksbury, Brian Tyneway, Samuel B. Lupowitz, Al Miele, and Jacob Kurtz.

The band released their debut LP Look Both Ways in 2023 to strong regional press, earning coverage from Parlor City Sound, Steele Notes Magazine, Pitch Perfect, and a feature on WBDY's B-Original show. Festival credits include the Ithaca Festival, Ithaca Apple Festival, Taste of the Catskills, and Another World Music Festival, building a loyal following across the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, and beyond. Now with a new batch of original songs written for the 2026 season, Front & Main are returning to stages with fresh material and renewed momentum.