Johnny Mullenax is a 27-year-old guitarist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, who’s been playing since age 5 when his mother put him on stage to play the Star-Spangled Banner at a 4th of July show. Raised in a musical family, Johnny cut his teeth at the Walnut Valley Festival in Kansas and spent his teens playing everything from jazz at local BBQ joints to backing rappers in hip hop clubs.

With influences ranging from AC/DC and The Ramones to John Coltrane and Parliament, Johnny’s style is reminiscent of Billy Strings—a funky country bluegrass sound that’s all about having a good time. After five years as a sideman for various bands, he launched his own project and started a Sunday Bluegrass Brunch residency at Tulsa’s Mercury Lounge in January 2021. The weekly show has become a gathering place for musicians and fans alike, featuring bluegrass standards, jam band vibes, and showcasing top-tier musicianship.

Johnny performs with an impressive lineup of sidemen including flatpicking champion Thomas Trapp, Jason Boland & The Stragglers drummer Jake Lynn, and upright bassist Paul Wilkes. They’re regularly joined by Roger Ray on dobro, Andrew Bair on keys, and a rotating cast of fiddle, pedal steel, clarinet, and even spoons players. A highlight of every show is when Johnny and Thomas go “hole to hole”—an improvised guitar face-off that’s more collaborative than competitive.

“My whole musical career, I have wanted to study music. Everyone I play with has also studied a lot of music,” says Mullenax. “That’s the draw for everyone who plays in the band—we’re bringing the heat every single time.”

At a Johnny Mullenax show, everyone who wants to get down is welcome and included. Just be ready to party.