Biography
Mamaguroove has been playing its highly infectious, homegrown, eclectic brand of revolutionary and emotional music for the past eight years. Grown from the roots of back-to-the- land-life in the Rocky Mountain wilderness of Northern BC, the Guroove consists of a tight knit tribe, which is pronounced in their lyrics, music, and live theatrical intensity.
Lyrically, their songs express a strong connection to working, raising families, and addressing social and political issues that are found both in their own backyard and the world abroad. Musically, their songs are as diverse as their influences of Funk, Reggae, Ska, World Beat, Acapella, Folk, and Rock.
Live shows are really what makes the Mama Guroove. It is the philosophy of Mamaguroove that stage performance is an art, in which it is essential to combine live music with outrageous and stunning costumes and theatrics. Mamaguroove is a live show not to be missed!
Every organization that has ever hired Mamaguroove has requested a repeat performance!
Mamaguroove's core unit consists of three family members: Shara Gustafson (lead vocals/percussion), wife of; Seth Macdonald (guitars/vocals), who is cousin to Chris Chapman (Bass/Vocals.) These members all reside in the rural community of Dunster, BC (two hours east of Prince George, BC). Rounding out the groove from Prince George and Quesnel, BC, are surrogate brothers; Dave McKillican (Drums) and David Radies(Saxophones).
Mamaguroove has three independently recorded and released albums
Songs from these albums have received airplay on CBC, CKUA, CJSR , FM 94X, CFUR, as well as other College/University and Internet radio stations across Canada and the United States.
Headlining Festival slots over the past 8 years, include:
EARTHDAY FESTIVAL in Edmonton (twice)
NORTH COUNTRY FAIR (twice)
EDGE OF THE WORLD FESTIVAL (3 times),
WILD MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL,
ARTS ON THE FLY (twice),
KISPIOX MUSIC FESTIVAL (8 years)
STARBELLY JAM,
ATLIN ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL (twice)
KOMASKET MUSIC FESTIVAL,
ARTSWELLS FESTIVAL (3 times),
JASPER HERITAGE FOLK FEST (3 times),
SWEETWATER 905 FESTIVAL(twice),
MORPHEE MOUNTAIN FEST,
REVELSTOKE MOUNTAIN BEATS FESTIVAL,
ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL,
ROBSON VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL (5 years),
They have shared the groove and a stage with the likes of RACHELLE VAN ZANTEN, MIHIRANGI, AURORA JANE, SHANE PHILIP, RANDOM ORDER, LYNDELL MONTGOMERY, MR SOMETHING SOMETHING, DON ALDER, CREAKING TREE STRING QUARTET, DEHLI 2 DUBLIN, COCO LOVE ALCORN, SARAH NONI METZNER, COLIN LINDEN and JOSEPH "PEPE" DANZA . Shara and Seth, when not busy touring with the band, are organizing the "ROBSON VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL" held in their front yard. robsonvalleymusicfestivalbc.com
Stay tuned as MAMAGUROOVE gears up for another busy and grooving 2010 season!
Instrumentation
Shara Gustafson: vocals, percusion
Seth Macdonald: guitars, vocals, percussion
Chris Chapman: bass, vocals, percussion
David MacKillican: drum kit
Dave Radies: saxophones
Discography
DISCOGRAPHY
Currently recording winter/spring 2009/2010
Resistance is Fertile! released in April 2007. Independent
2005 Demo CD (5 Songs), including single 911
2003 "Fruit of the Groove" Co-produced with Big Fun Records
2002 Demo CD (5 Songs), in wake of Fruit of the Groove
2000 Self titled CD Mamaguroove, recorded and produced by Mamaguroove
AIRPLAY, singles
Resistance is Fertile: Regular airplay on CFUR(UNBC campus radio), P.G Rock Radioï (FM 94X, CBC North, Radio Smithers, CKUA and CJSR in Edmonton
"911" (2005 Demo CD): Regular on 5 American Radio stations; advanced to third round of the "2005
International Songwriting Competition" Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
"Mamaguru" (Fruit of the Groove, 2003): Canadian airplay; University of Toronto top 40 for 3 weeks.
Links
| http://www.mamaguroove.ca |
| robsonvalleymusicfestival |
| myspace.com/mamaguroove |
| www.mamaguroove.ca |