Rubbles to host bluegrass band

This weekend is somewhat of a
homecoming for Dan Ripke.

This weekend is somewhat of a
homecoming for Dan Ripke.

In 1996, he graduated from
CMU, where he studied English and music.

Now, this Friday, Ripke will
be back in Mount Pleasant to play with his band at Rubbles.

“It’ll be like coming home,”
Ripke said. “I used to live like 30 yards from Rubbles.”

Ripke’s band, Back Forty is a
down-home bluegrass band with funk and rock mixed heavily into the
sound.

“It’s one of the few jam bands
touring today with and electric fiddle and an electric mandolin,” he
said.

Friday will be the first time
Back Forty has played in Mount Pleasant since bassist Jeff Friesen
joined the band nine months ago.

“When Jeff came in, he filled
the void in the rhythm section,” Ripke said. “Everything just came
alive.”

The band has 65 songs it
performs live with sets that include improvised songs never before
rehearsed.

In recent months, Back Forty
has received much attention from their unique sound.

“We used to call people
begging them to play,” Friesen said, “but now we have to turn people
down.”

Fans have described their
concerts as a face-melting groove tractor, Ripke said

Setting Back Forty apart from
other bands is its fiddle player Colin Murphy.

“Every time we play a show,
the audience’s jaw drops when they hear him,” Ripke Said. “He has all
of these distortion pedals set up — sort of like Jimmi Hendrix.”

Back Forty performs at 9:30
p.m. on Friday at Rubbles, located at 112 W. Michigan St. Doors open at
9:30 p.m.

For more information on Back
Forty, visit their Web site, www.backfortymusic.com.