The Runaway Grooms + Wurk
$12 ADV / $15 DOS
Doors 7:00PM / Show 8:00PM
Born from the rich culture of the Colorado mountains, The Runaway Grooms are bringing a refreshing take on contemporary jam band music. With pocket grooves, syncopated rhythms, and expansive tones, the band captures elements of funk and psychedelic rock while simultaneously celebrating traditional songwriting roots of Americana music. Dueling guitar solos, 3-part harmonies, and a screaming lap steel guitar, combine to create a unique soundscape that takes listeners through an experiential musical journey.
The Colorado based band formed when frontman, Adam Tobin, met guitarist, Zac Cialek, at employee housing for a ski resort. The two were joined by drummer and long time friend, Justin Bissett, shortly after and formed the original lineup of the band. Bassist/vocalist, Zach Gilliam, and keyboardist, Cody Scott, joined the band in November 2019. The addition of the new members helped catalyse the evolution of the band’s sound.
The band released their debut album ‘Tied to the Sun’ in March 2020 , The release was immediately followed by the global Coronavirus pandemic during which the band continued to develop and write music together. The newly written music contributed to the Groom’s sophomore album, Violet Lane, set to be released October 2021.
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Wurk is a 6-piece funk-fusion group that formed in Madison, WI in 2016. Inspired by Snarky Puppy, Umphrey’s McGee, Herbie Hancock, and many others; their innovative original songs and ambitious interpretations of popular covers offer an impressive multi-genre exploration of funk, jazz fusion, prog rock, reggae, and more. Described by Isthmus Magazine as “summer-jam-perfect”, their sound seeks to employ a musically educated tone; Wurk fills the gap between complexity and groove, impressing fans and keeping them dancing all night. The Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) Awards recognized their rapid ascent to stardom in 2018 with the Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award; then only six months later Wurk won five more awards including the coveted 2019 MAMA Artist of the Year Award.
Max Morkri drives the band with his blend of solid grooving and intricate chops, which is coupled by Casey Seymour’s powerful bass lines to glue the band together. Frank Laufenberg (guitar/vocals) and Miles Morkri (electric piano/vocals) provide rhythmic and tonal complexity while filling the role as the principal songwriters and vocalists. Daniel Haschke (saxophones/flute) and Carl Hipenbecker (trumpet/vocals) top it off with impressive horn lines and effects. Most of Wurk’s members grew up in Mount Horeb, WI, just west of Madison; their shared background creates the band’s closeness and ability to communicate complicated ideas musically. Wurk released two EPs in 2017 (Wurk, Broken Disco) and a third in 2018 (The Devil’s Wurk), the latter of which received the 2019 MAMA Rock Album of the Year. In November of 2019 Wurk dropped their first full length album (Animation), which has received critical acclaim from Isthmus Magazine’s Michael Muckian who describes it as having a “retro jazz-fusion feel” and describes the 2020 MAMA Jazz Song of the Year “Cathedral” to be a "rhythmic jazz opus".