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
TREN’s New Song Encourages Us to Seek After All Things “Fantastic”
The amazing music group TREN has released an exciting new original song called “Find Fantastic” inspired by the movie "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” The song was released on their YouTube channel on 25 November 2016. The movie is based on the spellbinding...
The Five Strings and Alex Boyé – Amazing Grace Africanized
Perhaps the most beloved hymn of the past two centuries, Amazing Grace is performed an estimated 10 million times annually and has been included as one of the tracks on more than 11,000 albums. The song was referenced in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s acclaimed anti-slavery...
Dynamic New Group SPARK Uses Music to Set the World on Fire
It only takes a tiny spark to ignite a flame. That single flame can be used to ignite other flames and collectively those flames soon become a roaring fire. That analogy accurately depicts an exciting new Contemporary Christian group just appearing on the Mormon music...
Amy Hansen’s Beautiful Rendition of “For the Beauty of The Earth”
Traditionally, the fourth Thursday of November is set aside for the celebration of Thanksgiving. However, every day is a reason to pause and give thanks for our many blessings and to even sing songs of praise to Him from whom all blessings flow. How can a person...
Jennifer Thomas and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
The feel of Christmas is in the air. Christmas Eve will soon be upon us. On that magical night, children sleep in their beds with visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads as they anticipate what unique gifts were left by the jolly old man dressed in red. As their...
Imagine Dragon Frontman Dan Reynolds Talks about His Debilitating Disease
In a recent interview with People, Dan Reynolds, the frontman of Grammy-award winning band Imagine Dragons, opened up and talked about how at the age of 21 “debilitating” pain that he was experiencing caused him to cancel shows. Dan’s health problems began just as the...