Monday 26 August 2013

How was your summer?

The summer of 2013 has been a whirlwind of activity for the Rustic Brothers!

We released two new songs via iTunes
Hillbilly Queen https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/hillbilly-queen/id664693381?i=664693394
Kick the Habit https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/kick-the-habit/id664694022?i=664694073 .

We released a video of us live at the Ironwood for the single Leave http://vimeo.com/67593986

We did a show during Stampede 101 with Colin Cripps and Mike Little, (If you don't know who they are, google them. It's impressive!)

We've written new songs that we are incorporating into our sets!

We performed on CBC Radio's Alberta @ Noon live just before the songwriting legend Ian Tyson.

We performed a benefit for the High River flood victims with the cast of Heartland, Tom Jackson and the Honeybadgers.

We took part in the soon to be historic Alberta Flood Aid at McMahon Stadium to help raise funds for the victims of Alberta's 2013 flood disaster!

Calgary Herald did a story on us. See below

Maybe it’s the leftover glow from July 1.
Hell, maybe it’s the long, libationated evening they’re just coming off of.
But, on this particular Wednesday morning, two members of local roots rock act the Rustic Brothers are willing to make a fairly bold pronouncement: They could very well be the ultimate band this country could fly its flag for.
“We’re a truly Canadian band,” bassist Curtis Cripps says, pointing at fellow bro, guitarist Randy Hutchings, sipping a coffee across the table. “He was raised in Newfoundland; I was raised in Hamilton, southern Ontario; Geoff (Brock, guitarist) was born in Canmore — he’s an Alberta boy; and our drummer (Andrzej Ryszka), he’s from the East Bloc, he grew up in communist Poland, so he’s the most Canadian out of all of us.
“We’re a Canadian band,” Cripps says again. “All we need is a keyboard player from B.C. —”
“F—k. That,” interjects Hutchings with a laugh.
Ah, well, perhaps that particular regional bias is, itself, probably further evidence of their CanCred and most certainly evidence of their allegiance to Calgary, the city where the four seasoned vets ply their trade and are regular fixtures.
It’s something they’ve been doing for the past two years, ever since they met at Morgan’s Pub during the Saturday afternoon jam, which they are also now the regular hosts of and which, the band thinks, sums up their musical style and influences — anything goes.
“Between the four of us, our likes, it can be one day we’re talking about Merle Haggard or Waylon Jennings, or the next day it will be us going to Alice In Chains . . . it’s all that,” Hutchings says, referring to the previous evening’s celebrations.
“The pantry, it’s a very big pantry with the four of us,” Cripps agrees. “Which is great because there’s lots to pick from, there’s lots of influences.”
Hutchings continues, “There are certain styles of music that we all love, but the melting pot is what makes us the Rustic Brothers.”
The result can be heard on the quartet’s self-titled debut, which was released earlier this year. It’s a roadhouse jukebox that spits out a steady stream of classic sounding country rock, with just the perfect amount of twang and two-step fuel while also satisfying those who like a little poppy, Jayhawksy jangle in their mix.
It’s as tight, polished and pro as you’d expect from a band that’s made up of guys who make their living making music, wherever and whenever they can, which, with their sound ensures, is pretty much anywhere — country bars, folk clubs, rock venues, etc.
Helping, too, is that while they admit their younger, rock star delusions of grandeur are long gone — and with it the want or need to get in a van and head out for any road that leads to stardom — all four are nonetheless committed to the band and committed to each other, on a musical and personal level.
“The name really does mean what it means,” Hutchings says. “We are brothers. When I broke my leg in late December, and I was laid up for the first three weeks in January and I couldn’t do gigs, these guys did them without me and paid me.”
“We still split it four ways,” Cripps says. “He’s a brother, what’s he going to do? He’s got to eat, he’s got to pay his bills, so.”
The fact that they’re already booked tight until next January certainly means that shouldn’t be a problem.
Even the next 10 days of the Stampede are filled to capacity for the Rustic Brothers, including that regular Morgan’s jam, a weeknight happy hour gig at Craft Beer Market from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. until July 12, and, more importantly, their own special Stampede show Sunday at the Ironwood.
The band are making it a special event by also increasing their brotherhood — literally. Along with local keyboardist Mike Little (yes, born and raised in B.C.) who regularly plays with George Canyon, the crew will also be welcoming into their fold Curtis’s sibling, famed Canadian player and producer Colin, who has worked with everyone from Bryan Adams to Kathleen Edwards, and who also mixed the Rustic debut.
“It turns out that my brother Colin was available, so I just booked him, said, ‘You’re playing with us.’ He’s like, ‘Am I?’ I said, ‘Yes, you’re playing with us. Done, over,’ ” says Curtis with a laugh. “It turned into a great opportunity to have a good show during Stampede.”
It will also be a good opportunity for the band to give back to the community where they all met and now make their home. They’re planning on auctioning off signed posters and albums for flood relief, and will also donate 100 per cent of the iTunes proceeds from album track Don’t Give Up, which was written about the horses of McBride — a pair of horses trapped in an avalanche in B.C., who were saved by members of the surrounding community — but which has now been adopted by the CBC as something of an unofficial flood anthem.
“Who knows, it might not add up to much,” Hutchings says of the planned donations, “but it will add up to something.”

Good things often do.

Thursday 9 May 2013

Craft Brewhouse Stampede Shows

Rustic Brothers are set to play Craft Brewhouse July 4 & 5 and July 8-12 from 3-8 each day! 

Last year we played one show but we were booked elsewhere, so we are very pleased that Craft asked us to be the house band for Stampede!




Ironwood Stampede Show July 7

Special announcement....

July 7th at the Ironwood, the Rustic Brothers will have a very special guest!

Legendary Canadian guitarist, producer, Colin Cripps (Crash Vegas, Junkhouse, Jim Cuddy, Bryan Adams, Kathleen Edwards) will be joining the Rustic Brothers the entire night as the second guitarist! This marks the first time in years that the Cripps brothers have played on stage together!

Colin Cripps mixed the Rustic Brothers debut CD at Bathouse Studios in Bath, Ontario late 2012. 

Rustic Brothers debut is available online at iTunes and other digital media outlets. 

Lilac Fest Announcement

Rustic Brothers to play Lilac Fest at the Rose & Crown after party. This is the first time for the band to play Lilac Fest and to be the headliner for such an event is a welcomed opportunity!

The Lilac Fest is Sunday May 26 and runs all day in the Mission area of Calgary on 4th street SW between 12th Ave and 28th ave SW. 

Rustic Brothers hit the stage at 8pm

Monday 25 March 2013

Rustic Brothers Debut CD

It's been a busy month for us! We launched our CD February 11th digitally and March 1st we had a sold out show (standing room only) at the Ironwood Stage & Grill.

Radio has been very hot so far, with UP 97.7!, CBC Calgary (Homestretch), CBC Daybreak Alberta, CKUA Wide Cut Country and soon to be CJSW, all playing the Rustic Brothers is heavy rotation! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Although record retail is non- existent these days, there are some great local shops that still support music and carry lots of new CDs and vinyl! Our favourite is Heritage Music & Poster Shop in Calgary! Heritage has exclusivity on our debut and we've entered the Top 20 in the first week!

April 20 is International Record Store Day and Rustic Brothers will be performing in-store at noon until 1pm at Heritage Music & Poster Shop! 

We have a lot of things happening right now that we can't wait to share with all of our fans!

Stay tuned

Thanks for the support everyone!

Thursday 31 January 2013

Rustic Brothers Launch Debut CD

Well here it is! After 2 years of hard work, over 200 shows, and playing to enthusiastic fans, we are ready to share our original songs with the world!

Rustic Brothers self titled debut will hit the digital world on iTunes, and all other digital sites on February 11th! To say we are excited is an understatement!

Recorded in Calgary at MCC Recording Studio with the amazing talents of engineer Johnny Gasparic (Hey Romeo, George Canyon). Mixed at the Bathouse in Kingston by award winning producer/mixing engineer Colin Cripps (Blue Rodeo, Bryan Adams, Crash Vegas, Jim Cuddy Band) along with Chris Stringer and Nyles Spencer.

In the coming months we will be playing a lot of shows featuring songs from the album, as well as new material.

March 1st we will launch our CD release at the famed Ironwood Stage in Calgary. With special guests Conrad Walz and Sarah Cripps! Please join us for our celebration and make sure to pick up our CD and say hi to us at the merch table!

Cheers everyone!