On Saturday, Sept. 5, at 8 p.m., Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band will make its long-awaited return to southern Utah as the final act featured in the 2015 Zion Summer Concert Series at the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater. Shupe, a Utah native, will unleash his explosive brand of bluegrass, funk, and country hip hop in the stunning environs of Zion’s massive venue.
The Rubber Band is well-named because of its extremely flexible approach to mashing up musical genres and pushing the limit of instrumental virtuosity. Though there are a few new faces on stage since Shupe’s last southern Utah appearance, the songs will remain pretty much the same, and as a special treat, local “string ringer” Ryan Tilby will rejoin the band for this much anticipated return to Zion.
Since the release of his album, “Dream Big,” and the Top 40 hit that the title track became on country radio, the landscape of country music has changed. Pop and rock music have changed as well, with acts such as Mumford and Sons proving that acoustic instruments like the banjo and the upright bass can have a prominent place in the genre. As a result, Shupe is altering his musical direction just enough to be apart of this sea change.
“As things shift under my feet, it positions us a little differently,” Shupe says. “Obviously I still write songs that have the Shupe-sound, and even though it’s an evolution to a different place, it’s still very positive music.”
Friends, family, and neighbors will enjoy an evening of music and dancing in the majesty of the cliffs of Zion on a beautiful summer evening. Visit the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater website for a full list of this season’s performers and events. Tickets can be purchased at the door or from the DSU box office by calling (435) 652-7800. For more information, call (435) 652-7994.
