The Ryde

Originally from Thunder Bay Ontario, The Ryde is a four piece Rock band residing in Toronto Ontario. Novak, Shaw and Johnson moved to Toronto in the summer of 2004 to further their music career. With many different influences, they have created a unique sound that they can call their own. Tim Shaw (Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar) grew up listening to bands such as Oasis, U2, The Verve, Rolling Stones and Our Lady Peace. Boris Novak (Bass/Backup Vocals) and Jeff Johnson (Drums) also listened to those bands but both have an ear for harder rock such as MetallicA, Led Zeppelin, Godsmack, Guns and Roses, Nirvana and Tool. Some other bands that influenced The Ryde are Incubus, Aerosmith, RUSH, Finger Eleven and Thornley.

After losing the bassist in 2003, Johnson and Shaw asked long time friend Boris Novak if he would like to try out for the band because they knew that he has played bass in a few other local bands. Novak accepted the offer and after only one year, the band decided that they were ready to move south of their hometown of Thunder Bay. The Ryde's original lead guitarist Dustin Palko has parted from the band in July 2006 and replacing his role is Andrew Roudny who was featured in guitar magazines and has played the role of Eddie Van Halen in a Van Halen Tribute Band. The Ryde has won many Band Battles including a 2003 battle which got them an opening spot on the Molson Rocks House Party with Theory of a Deadman, Kazzer and High Holy Days which they accepted and blew the crowd away with their live performance. Since then they have played at most of Toronto's best Rock venues including the legendary Horseshoe Tavern, Opera House, Lee's Palace, Club 279, Edge 102.1 Station, The Reverb and The El Mocambo.

The biggest show they played was the Rock the Fort Festival (June 2006) in Thunder Bay for 45,000 fans where they sold more albums than the rest of the bands who played. The Ryde takes music very seriously and will keep writing and performing as long as it takes to get them to the top.