Small Town News

Loving their music

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The Gruff shares talents at schools, community events during tour

They're not in it for the money, but rather they're in it for the music. That's why The Gruff enjoyed their time playing throughout eastern Montana as part of the Montana Performing Arts Consortium Presenter Development Program.

Before coming to Sidney, The Gruff performed in Malta, Chinook, Dodson, Saco, Hinsdale and Glasgow. Once they arrived in Sidney, they entertained at the Mon-Dak Heritage Center Saturday night, Sidney Health Center Extended Care facility Sunday afternoon and then a performing arts council Sunday night. On Monday, they performed at-schools in Lambert and Cul-bertson.

"I think it's going great," Phaedra Kemp, band member, said.

Performing at schools and retirement homes is a different format for The Gruff, which is usually playing at IrishPubs in British Columbia.

. Besides making censoring a word or two, the three young women and one man said the music is the same "roots" style that they love performing.

"It's a good change from being in the bars, which we're used to," band member Jenny Ritter said. "They are really enthusiastic."

Kemp added about the students, "They've really enjoyed it."

Ritter explains she and Kemp started playing music as part of an Irish band. Then about five years ago, they joined their talents with Terri Upton and formed The Gruff. The lone male member, Adam Iredale-Grey, joined them about three years ago.

Ritter and Kemp write all the band's original songs. They have done two CDs and have material for another.

"We write separately and then bring the songs, to each other to vent," Kemp said.

That format appears to work much better than writing songs totally together.

"We wrote bad songs together," Ritter laughed. "So we stopped writing songs together."

Subjects on their songs include their travels and relationships. Males can be portrayed favorable or not in their music. "Depends on the song. Depends on our relationship status," Ritter said. "We both have range from cheerful to devasting."

Iredale-Grey jokes that the toughest part for him being in the band is being on stage smiling when they're introducing a song about boys.

Each of the group's members has outstanding talents. Ritter plays the guitar and mandolin, Upton plays the double bass, Kemp plays snare drums and the harmonica. Iredale-Grey plays the fiddle and banjo.

Jill Hill, member of the Northeastern Arts Network, says the three-part harmony by the three young women blows audience members away

"It's something they don't get to hear around here," HiU said. "It's not your typical country band."

Band members described their "roots" music as folky bluegrass harmonies.

"It's the updated word for folk," Ritter explained.

The Gruff got signed to do the tour during the Montana Performing Arts Consortium held in Great Falls. "That's where we saw them," Hill said.

Taking them to that audition and throughout the tour is a 22-year-old Dodge Ram pickup they call "Midnight Goose."

Upton explains the vehicle has gone through a lot of repairs and a "million and one oil leaks in the engine," but their music is what makes them travel the miles - not the fancy conditions.

They said singing as many! as three times a day has been' a change, but they've enjoyed; the challenges of the tour.

"Everybody has been so friendly, especially in Sidney," Kemp said editor@sidneyherald.com |



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© 2010 Sidney Herald Sidney, Montana. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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