Member Since: 06/04/2008
Band Members:
LINDA JAYLinda has been booked regularly over many years at folk festivals throughout Australia as a performance poet, dancer, colourful MC and street character. She has also had her own show in the Adelaide Fringe Festival. For over 20 years she has toured all over the country doing backstage theatre construction, circus and rock 'n roll projects. This life on the road has led to many interesting stories with a depth of character that comes through Cherry Ripe.Cherry Ripe's songs are of carnivals, trucks, intersections and love on the road; trains, horses and other things you ride.(!) In Cherry Ripe, Linda sings, and plays guitar, banjo, bass and percussion(but not all at the same time!)ANDY MARSHALLAndy picked up his first bass as a teenager, and hasn't put the damn thing down since. He has been the solid bass player in many bands over the last 15 or so years including Delta Speed Deluxe, the Glenn Johns Band and the Baits, and filling in for the legendary Ruckus the Blackhill Ramblers, and most recently as the bassman of the Fender Benders. (Many Melbourne musos will know Andy as house bass player at the famous Wild Turkey jam sessions). He currently plays full-time with the Soul Surfers and Cherry Ripe.In Cherry Ripe he plays grooving electric bass, slap thumping double bass and 6- and 12-string guitars. His vocal harmonies are delicious, his lead singing passionate, and his smile is damn tasty too.....JUSTIN MCMAHONJustin McMahon is a windswept and interesting character, residing deep in the gold filled mountains near Reefton. Justin and Andy met years and years ago at the Wild turkey jams and have played together with various projects on and off ever since. One of the most well-known hills musos, he plays harmonica, keyboards and accordion with taste and flair, adding just the right flavours every time. The chance to reunite for a new project was irresistible to he and Andy, and Cherry Ripe is proud and lucky to have him on board. His hauntingly tasteful harmonica delivers soul and empowers the feel of the song. His accordian captures and magnifies the carnival atmosphere of Cherry Ripe, and his cowboy boots are suitably well worn too!
Influences: Mostly inspired by other touring folk festival artists, and people with stories to tell. People like Rory McLeod, Ruby Hunter, Tiffany Eckhardt and Penelope Swales, and the numerous other people who tell their emotions the way they feel them. The many different traditional, bluegrass and folk artists from their many varied cultures. Groups which use theatrics as a part of their show, like the Fuelers, Blue Grassy Knoll and Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen. More Commercial influences include Tom Waits, Paul Kelly, Keith Urban, Troy Casser-Daly, Kasey Chambers, Dwight Yoakam, June Carter-Cash and Johnny Cash.
Sounds Like: Deep dark rich cherries, smothered in smoooth, velvet, sweet old chocolate, with bright crunches of sunshine ! Hey diddle diddlio, the cat and the banjo, the cow jumped over the MOOOooooon !
Record Label: Unsigned