Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband
Experience a high-powered evening with Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband, a five man band of amazing musicians – “folk musicians on steroids playing eclectic string music with bluegrass roots.” Each member possesses years of experience on his respective instrument and when the band comes together their collective talent is explosive and undeniable.
Hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah, the band is a breath of fresh air when much of the music is over-produced, “practically to death.” Their organic approach to performing has built them quite a following, not only through the West but around the rest of the country. Lead singer Ryan Shupe originally formed the band as an outlet for his songwriting but it soon took on a life all its own, becoming bigger than anything he could have imagined.
A descendent from a long line of fiddle players, Shupe has been playing violin nearly as long as he could walk. He continued to play in bands all through school. In college, he formed the RubberBand which became a regional favorite.
Banjoist Craig Miner started playing music on a ukelele he bought at a garage sale, then added banjo, guitar, mandolin, and bouzouki. Performing with groups like Fire On The Mountain and Salt Licks, he had known Ryan for years before joining the RubberBand.
Guitarist Roger Archibald has been playing guitar since he was 11, and played in a band that Ryan’s dad organized, String Fever, while growing up. He worked as a regional musician in the same circles as Ryan for years before joining the band.
Ryan Tilby also played in String Fever with Archibald before joining the RubberBand the first time on banjo. After leaving the band, he attended Utah State University, where he studied jazz guitar. He could not stay away too long, as he returned in 2006 as the bassist.
Drummer Nate Smeding knew he was meant to play drums at the age of 8 when he assembled a drum kit out of pots and pans and used chop sticks as drum sticks. Later, he saw Shupe and his band at a local concert. When the opportunity came knocking, he jumped at the chance to perform with them.
Some of the group’s milestones include: being named Telluride Band champions, having performed at 2002 Olympic Games, featured on CBS’s Good Morning America, CNN, E! and NPR, and Shupe being named Colorado Bluegrass Association Songwriter of the Year.
They put on a unique, creative and entertaining show, playing a wide range of instruments and musical styles. Thoughtful lyrics, rapid-fire vocals, dynamic musicianship and hard driving arrangements make the live show a sure-fire winner!
