Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand
Founded in the mid-1990s in Ogden, Utah, Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand is an American bluegrass group. The group members include: Ryan Shupe (fiddle, guitar, ukulele, mandolin, lead vocals), Roger Archibald (guitar, vocals), Ryan Tilby (bass guitar, string bass, banjo, vocals), Craig Miner (banjo, bouzouki, mandolin, guitar, vocals), and Nate Smeding (drums).
The group recorded four studio albums on their own independent record label before being signed to Capitol Records in 2005. The title track of their first album for Capitol called “Dream Big” produced a Top 40 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. The second single from the album never made it on the charts, and as a result, Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand were dropped from the Capitol Records label. The band signed with Montage Music Group in 2008.
Traditionally, the band plays country venues and festivals all over the United States such as the Telluride Music Festival and Nashville, Tennessee. Nonetheless, their musical influence is drawn not only from bluegrass, but rock as well, leading them to be dubbed, according to Deseret News, as “a mix between Dave Matthews Band and Dixie Chicks without the political agenda.” Since their formation they have become one of the most successful musical acts from the state of Utah among other acts such as SHeDAISY, Peter Breinholt, and Neon Trees. The band has appeared on Good Morning America, E! TV, Mountain Stage, Woodsongs, GAC and CMT.
In the Fall of 2015, Ryan Shupe released a new album called “We Rode On.” According to the official website:
We Rode On” marks a striking career transition and a meaningful evolution in Shupe’s songwriting, his life, and the band’s sound. It strongly and deftly combines the rock side of their musical arsenal with the acoustic instruments and virtuosic jamming the band has become known for in their live shows.
The album focuses on themes like family, love, and maturity. The epic title track, “We Rode On” triumphantly belts out the phrase “singing songs at the top of our lungs” while the anthemic “Sun Will Shine Again” is a mantra to Shupe’s children. The catchy, rocking “If I Stay” and “Just Say Yes” deal with love interest dilemmas. “Dream Big”, a revamped version of their Billboard charting Capitol Records release, is triumphant, inspirational and powerful.
A few of the band’s upcoming tour dates include:
| Date | Venue | Location |
| November 28 | Peery’s Egyptian Theater | Ogden, Utah |
| December 4 | Covey Center for the Arts | Provo, Utah |
| December 19 | Cox Auditorium at DSU | St. George, Utah |
| January 15 | Highway Center for the Arts | Gilbert, Arizona |
| January 16 | Vail Theatre for the Arts | Tuscon, Arizona |
Follow Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand
Recent Posts
Garth W. Smith’s Original Arrangement of “Heaven’s Hallelujah”
On 13 January 2017, Garth Smith Music published a Christ-centered version of the Leonard Cohen classic "Hallelujah" on their YouTube channel. The original arrangement for the song was written by Garth Smith and features the vocal talent of New York vocalist, Lauren...
James the Mormon Performs Benefit Concert to Help Student with Cancer
James Brandt Curran, better known to most people as James the Mormon, says that he is not a rapper although his unique style of rapping has touched and influenced many lives. Many Rap artists perform and produce music videos about various subjects, but none have been...
Wonderama Version of David Osmond’s “I Can Do This”
The adage that states, “Quitters never win and Winners never quit” contains an enormous amount of truth and can benefit a person tremendously if he or she would heed the valuable lesson taught. There are many individuals in the world today who live their...
Monica Scott and Sarah Arnesen’s Serene Arrangement of “Take Time to Be Holy”
Latter-day Saint Musicians last featured the superb collaboration of Monica Scott and Sarah Arnesen in early December 2016 when the musical virtuosos performed a magnificent rendition of “In the Bleak Midwinter.” The one word that could be used to describe the...
Cedar Breaks’ “My Dog” Continues to Garner Acclaim
Father/Daughter's Film Report critiques world-wide film festival winners and submissions looking for content that inspires and entertains. Father/Daughter's Film Report sponsored the world's first ever online film festivals with their BEST of 2016 film selections....
Lexi Mae Walker’s Flawless Rendition of “When You Wish Upon A Star”
Audiences the world over are all too familiar with Disney’s classic film Pinocchio. From that magical, ageless story comes the song “When You Wish Upon a Star” - a song of hope and encouragement that captures the heart of people of all ages. Millions of people have...