Formed in late 2006, the band members, Mike Dodd (guitar & vocals), Mark Singleton (drums), and Kev Farish (bass) have a collective playing experience of over 50 years! Mike is well known on the local Cumbrian band circuit. His musical career goes way back and he's played with local covers band Sour Mash for over 10 years. He still uses a left-handed 'Stratocaster' which he built himself - a major factor in the unique tone he gets through his Fender amp. Mark only started playing the drums after surgery following a climbing accident, when his doctor said it would improve the movement in his foot. He joined local group The Answer - which opened the Maryport Blues Festival in 2005 - after blues band Stealer, which he co-founded, dissolved. Kev has been playing bass in various bands since his teens. Prior to being asked to join Mike & Mark he'd played for several years in Newcastle-based covers band diamondback.

In 2007, Sidewinder played at a number of the Cumbrian festivals including the B-Fest at Eskdale, the Silloth Music & Beer Festival, where they supported Wilko Johnson and Sean Webster, and the Cockermouth Beer Festival. At the end of 2007 they supported Dr Feelgood at the Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven.

A gig supporting Ian Parker got 2008 off to a great start. This was followed in March by a sell out gig at the Kirkgate in Cockermouth, with special guests South Quay. This coincided with the release of their first CD, "Snake-eyed Blues", which showed the diverse range of material the band is covering and the band' s distinctive sound. Each song on the CD was recorded without overdubs or post production tricks - the band really wanted the CD to be a reflection of their live sound. Later in the year saw a return visit to the B-Festival at Eskdale and at the end of August the band played the full weekend at the 2008 Great British R&B Festival at Colne, Lancashire. Towards the end of 2008, Mark was asked to be MC at the Carlisle Blues Festival and Sidewinder played at the Saturday Late Night Session - a bit scary as the Nimmo Brothers, Sherman Robertson, Ian Siegal, and John Amor were in the audience!