Confusion

Upon hearing the name, you might expect a bunch of rough guys with tattoos and long hair, but the picture does not confirm your assumption. Luckily, these lads have other aces to pull out of their sleeves.

G-runs 'n Roses are a young and energetic bluegrass band from the Czech Republic in the heart of Europe. They play both original and existing songs with a strong focus on solid rhythm and tight vocal harmonies. This is complemented with fancy instrumental solos and incorporated into elegant arrangements. However youthful their music may be, tasteful it shall remain, and the band retains a deep respect for traditional bluegrass music. The band was formed in July 2006 and has performed in the current line-up since November 2007. Their first CD "Learning To Fly" was released in the spring of 2008 and received enthusiastic reviews in the major European bluegrass magazines. The band's latest release, Gravity, features the new line-up and was released on May 7th, 2013.


The band:

Ralph Schut - banjo, guitar & vocals

Ralph Christian Frederick Martin Schut was named after Ralph Stanley and the founder of the legendary Martin guitar company. Born in the Netherlands, he moved to the Czech Republic at the age of 19. The main reason for moving to this country (and learning the language) was the high level of musicianship and the large Czech bluegrass music scene. He has since performed in several bands and has enjoyed every minute of it. Ralph was raised on bluegrass and ‘50s country music. When playing with G-runs 'n Roses, he aims to combine the soul of real country music with the drive of '80s and '90s bluegrass. Apart from playing banjo, he is also an accomplished guitar and mandolin player.

Martin Burza - fiddle & vocals

Martin discovered this talented fiddle player from Slovakia when he was a mere 16 years old. Already at that age, he was playing like a devil while looking as innocent as an angel. It was immediately clear that they had to play together and Martin soon became a founding member of G-runs 'n Roses, touring Europe before he had even finished high school. Martin took classical violin lessons from age 6 till 18 and has played in several bluegrass bands since he was 13 years old. Martin enjoys listening to different kinds of music, including the Punch Brothers, Coldplay and Jamie Cullum. Among his favorite musicians are Bobby Hicks, Mark O’Connor, Aubrey Haynie and Chris Thile.

Milan Marek - mandolin & vocals

He might look shy on stage, but out on the road Milan is actually the band’s biggest entertainer. Being a large fan of Stephen King, this can get pretty scary at times, but Milan’s humor does shorten the long drives between the gigs. Whenever he is not playing his Gibson F-5 mandolin, he can be found in the kitchen cooking exotic meals or at the ponds around Prague catching fish. Before joining G-runs 'n Roses in November of 2007, he played with the very popular Czech group Vabank Unit, and later with Fragment, with whom he toured the United States five times in 2001 – 2005. He also accompanied Bill Keith on his Czech tour. Milan is married and has one daughter.

Ondra Kozák - guitar, fiddle & vocals

Although Ondra is actually a founding member of G-runs 'n Roses, he played just one show with the band in 2006 and then decided to concentrate on playing with his other groups. After six years, he returns to G-runs 'n Roses and the band not only gains a first-class guitar player and singer, but also a gifted fiddle player. This means that G-runs 'n Roses are now blessed with the luxury of having twin-fiddles, which is set to become one of the band’s strongest assets. Finally Ondra is in a band with his great friend Ralph, with whom he has recorded two guitar instructional DVDs. Besides that, he is also the author of two DVDs with guitar and fiddle solos for Czech bluegrass standards. Ondra is a researcher, which means that there are two different sides to his personality - a creative musician and a rigorous scientist who has - so far - not been able to describe his emotions with any equation so he tries to convey them by composing and arranging music. Apart from playing guitar and fiddle with G-runs 'n Roses and Fragment, Ondra also plays mandolin with the group East-West.

Tomáš Kubín - upright bass

G-runs 'n Roses couldn't have wished for a better bass player! Besides being a reliable friend and a passionate driver, his excellent tone, timing and taste keep the band focused and fascinated at the same time. Before joining G-runs 'n Roses in 2007, he played with the Austrian group New River Train and the legendary Czech group Pražce. He recorded well-received CDs with both groups before joining G-runs 'n Roses in the fall of 2006. Tomáš lives in a small village in the so-called “Czech Paradise”. He is married and has two little children.


What people say about us:

"G-runs 'n Roses is the most exciting of the new generation of European Bluegrass bands. They play plenty of great original songs and they are not afraid to take risks with their arrangements - successfully. They have performed three times at La Roche Bluegrass Festival now. I have enjoyed their set every time and, this year, I was pleased to see them crowned worthy winners of our band contest."
Christopher Howard-Williams, president of the La Roche Bluegrass Festival, France


"I am a large fan G-runs 'n Roses. I liked the name when I first heard it and I like the style even more. When you hear this band, you will too."
Ron Rigsby, banjo player and record producer, Leiper’s Fork, TN


"...a seriously talented band that will turn heads wherever they play. G-runs 'n Roses has something for traditional and modern bluegrass fans alike, with a powerful and polished sound that needs to be heard."
Chris Pandolfi, The Infamous Stringdusters


Booking:

The philosophy of G-runs 'n Roses is, that if the band members are having fun, it shouldn’t be hard to share that fun with the audience. The result is a relaxed atmosphere, which gives every individual member enough space to add his own individual touch to the group’s music. Interaction with the audience is a key-element of any successful performance and the group will adapt itself to entertain audiences regardless of age or background.


Contact:

www.g-runs.com
www.myspace.com/gruns
E-mail: g-runs(at)seznam.cz
Cell phone.: +420 737 580 679