Arukah

Arukah is a three-piece Massachusetts-based original jamband that has quickly gained a loyal and ever expanding following in New England since starting in the summer of 2021. Their high energy live shows have generated a strong word of mouth buzz across the Northeast region.

A super group made up of musicians from various well-established bands, an Arukah show features top-shelf musicianship showcased in jaw-dropping solos and improvisations, multitudes of grooves that keep the dance floor hopping, and songwriting contributions from each band member featuring harmony vocals and catchy hooks. With a wild and high energy performance style, an Arukah show is a fun and uplifting experience that is not to be missed!

One of the most talked about new bands in the Northeast jamband scene, Arukah has developed a strong reputation through a viral word of mouth and online buzz inspired by their explosive sets. Their rabidly supportive fan base can be found on the Arukaheads page on Facebook.

Arukah has a wide range of influences from across the musical spectrum, most notably from the styles of jamband, funk, classic rock, reggae, jazz fusion, prog rock, and pop. They have shared the bill with Pink Talking Fish, Eggy, The Breakfast, Mungion, Baked Shrimp, Bearly Dead, Max Creek, Lee Ross, and Marble Eyes.

The band originally began forming in 2019. After going through a few line up changes the project was stopped short by the Covid outbreak. In early 2021 they reformed and began rehearsing again. Their 6/11/21 debut show at Electric Haze in Worcester had over 125 tickets sold pre-sale. They went on to blow minds and melt faces at festivals and clubs from Maine to Rhode Island throughout 2021, with the highlight being a gig playing to a crowd of 500 at Pink Talk Fish’s “Golf Ball” festival at The Range in New Hampshire. In 2022 Arukah continued this trend and played widely acclaimed main stage and late-night sets at the Strangecreek, Summer Jam, and Grateful Campout festivals.




BAND MEMBER BIOS:

DENNIS ANGELO - Guitar, Vocals
Dennis plays guitar volcanic solos that search the horizon for new realms which he alternates with an amazingly funky rhythmic feel. He is also a prolific songwriter and collaborator with a strong vocal delivery that goes from a snarling growl to heart melting soul. His enthusiastic embrace of both the music and the scene has won him many fans over the years who not only love his wildly entertaining performance style but sing along to every chorus of his uniquely catchy songs. A founding member of the popular band The New Motif, he has also toured with Entrain. Some of his major influences include: John Scofield, Jerry Garcia, John Frusciante, and Trey Anastasio.

BRIAN O'CONNELL - Bass, Touch Guitar, Vocals
Brian is widely known for his inventive and kinetic bass guitar playing with Uncle Sammy, Gordon Stone, Gary Backstrom, Dave Brunyak, Wolfman Jack, Bearly Dead, and Dead Man’s Waltz. He has also been known to turn heads with the unique 12-string Touch Guitar, a hybrid guitar-bass that is played by finger tapping. A lover of intense improvisational jams and performing fun and interesting music for true music lovers and fans, he has recorded with Mike Keneally (Zappa, Vai, Satriani) and shared the stage with members of: moe., The Spin Doctors, Soulive, The Tubes, Utopia, The Disco Biscuits, Max Creek, and Tom “TC” Constanten of the Grateful Dead. His bass heroes include Jaco Pastorius, Tony Levin, Victor Wooten, Phil Lesh, Jack Casady, and Mike Gordon.


BRIAN EPSTEIN - Drums, Vocals
Brian plays in the Grateful Dead tribute band, Playing Dead, as well as Providence based jam/electronica band, Electro Politics. In Arukah Brian gets to showcase the full range of his drumming prowess. As the foundation of the band, his rock solid and in the pocket grooves hold the music together through far reaching frenetic jams while keeping the dance floor moving all night long. He also adds his great singing voice creating lush harmonies. Brian has a wide range of musical taste going from long winding improvisational jam bands to heavy progressive rock to jazz. His primary drumming inspirations include Jon Fishman, Stewart Copeland, Billy Kreutzmann, John Bonham, and Mike Greenfield.