Friday night April 1st, no fooling around with this great lineup, Group Therapy and The Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds.  The show starts at 7:30.  $5.00 for IAMA members, $10.00 non-members.  South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, 6876 South Highland Drive.

Group Therapy Bio

In its original form, Group Therapy was a church band named Messenger.  Over a 20+ year evolution, the group has added more pop, folk, light rock and bluegrass music to its play list and has become a go-to band for non-profit fundraisers and events.  It still performs for church services and has had a long-term relationship with the Utah State Prison as up-tempo church service volunteers.

While the group performs a wide range of music styles, its strength is in its vocal harmonies.  Tight harmonies – and more than a few a’capella songs in its repertoire – set Group Therapy apart from most groups of its genre.  The group has been heavily influenced by the music from “Oh Brother,” Bill Gaither, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Eva Cassidy, Allison Krauss, Selah, Phoebe Hunt, the Hopeful Gospel Quartet and others.

A long list of non-profit organizations have used Group Therapy to enhance their fundraising and thank their volunteers: Habitat for Humanity of Summit and Wasatch Counties, COPI (Children of Peace International), The Episcopal Diocese of Utah, The Utah Mentor Project (foster kids), Wasatch Presbyterian Church, Catholic Community Services (St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen), Highland Cove Retirement Center, Royal Family Kids and a wide variety of churches in Salt Lake City and as far as Tooele, Evanston and Logan.

Playing locally has included a number of coffee houses, restaurants, birthday parties, retirement get-togethers and holiday events.

The members’ musical backgrounds are as eclectic as their song list…

John Craigle (bass guitar, ukulele & bass vocals) is a retired high school teacher and administrator.  His musical roots go back to Chicago where he played in blues and rock bands and was a part-time studio musician.  After moving to Utah, he played in pit orchestras at Kingsbury Hall, Park City’s Egyptian Theater and for other acting companies in Salt Lake City.  John is also a commercial photographer and graphic artist.

Stacee Riekhof (lead vocals, hand percussion) has an extensive background in musical theater and has appeared in movies, stage productions and commercials.  She came to Messenger/Group Therapy by way of the church choir and was an original member (along with Russ and John) of the nucleus that became the present group.  When she is not performing, Stacee runs a successful real estate business.

Shelley Horel (backing vocals, keyboard & hand percussion) can’t remember when she hasn’t been involved with some form of music.  She has been a church organist/pianist/keyboardist and has sung and played on several worship teams.  A retired social worker, Shelley has a long relationship with the foster care community and plays a big part in their annual fundraisers and events.

Russ Fericks (guitar, harmonica & tenor vocals) is a practicing attorney and comes from a family of church musicians and singers.  He is heavily involved with community activities and is a sustaining member of IAMA.  Russ is instrumental in the on-going connection the group has with the Utah State Prison.

Tumlin Tumbleweeds

Tumbleweeds, provides a unique blend of instrumental and voice harmony, lending itself to both traditional and contemporary western music. The formation of this singing duo was one of those chance happenings that just seemed to click.  Steve Fillmore and “Ugly” Earl Bradley have an unlikely combination of comedy and acoustic music that is both pleasant and fun to listen to.  Being raised in the forties and early fifties, both men have backgrounds in traditional western, grassroots country and original music from which to draw.

Although both have played in other bands over the years, they found themselves performing together for many functions, and eventually formed the group Tumbleweeds. Their voices, plus Steve’s guitar and Earl’s bass, form a unique full sound without any other instruments. Earl’s banjo and harmonica were added later, but the original sound of their voices with only acoustic guitar and bass remain the backbone of their music. Lead singer, guitarist Steve Fillmore, brings with him not only voice and instrumental expertise, but a truly gifted talent for writing original compositions of cowboy poetry and music. Earl Bradley, affectionately known as “Ugly Earl”, rounds out the Tumbleweeds duo with his sense of humor, harmony voice, and upright bass.

Marilyn and Chuck Dillard will host our popular Jamming 101 workshop at 6:00 before the show.  This clinic is free for all those who want to learn about jamming and jam etiquette.