The Oot n害羞草研究所� Oots, an upbeat, fun-loving family band, was born three years ago from the vocal splendour of an eight-year-old girl.

Truly a family band, they are made up of four adult brothers 害羞草研究所� Matthew, Ezra, Gabe and Ari Cipes 害羞草研究所� and 11-year-old Ruth, Ezra害羞草研究所檚 daughter. The family has a farm in Kelowna.

Ezra explains that the family害羞草研究所檚 first professional gig with Ruth took place in 2015. Matthew, the oldest, had played in bands and was the inspiration for the others to pick up instruments and play together. Ezra and Gabe had since been working as recording artists and touring and session musicians.

The brothers invited Ruth to join them near the end of the set.

害羞草研究所淲e did our set and the last three songs, she got up with us. She completely stole the show; it was like nothing before that mattered,害羞草研究所� Ezra smiles. 害羞草研究所淭hat was the start of the band. It was undeniable.害羞草研究所�

The Oots n害羞草研究所� Oots delighted both young and old at this year害羞草研究所檚 Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival. Although it was the band害羞草研究所檚 first time playing at the festival, they害羞草研究所檝e attended several times. Ruth has been going to music festivals since she was a baby.

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Theirs has been a musical family throughout the generations. Ruth害羞草研究所檚 Grandpa Steve would play boogie woogie piano and get all the children jumping around.

害羞草研究所淚t was like a magic trick and we wanted to get in on that magic trick,害羞草研究所� says Ezra.

Ruth began her appreciation for music as a wee one. She had a thing for Elvis, then Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Wanda Jackson and Patsy Cline.

害羞草研究所淲hen Ruth started singing, she started singing with a real swagger at a very young age,害羞草研究所� Ezra smiles. 害羞草研究所淲hen she was really little it would crack everybody up, because it was coming from such a little person. She would sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star like a blues singer.害羞草研究所�

When she was seven, she started doing open mic, with her dad accompanying her. Not only did she have a rich, deep voice, she would write her own songs. At six or seven she wrote 害羞草研究所淲here the Purple Geese Fly害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淪aturday害羞草研究所檚 a Sadder Day.害羞草研究所�

Ruth explains the latter song: Her mom Rio (who loves music but doesn害羞草研究所檛 perform) would go to the farmer害羞草研究所檚 market on Saturdays, so she and Ezra would have 害羞草研究所淒ad and Ruthie day.害羞草研究所� The song title refers to the times they weren害羞草研究所檛 able to have their special day.

害羞草研究所淪aturday害羞草研究所檚 a sadder day when I害羞草研究所檓 not with you.害羞草研究所�

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Ezra recounts the Roots and Blues Festival in 2014 when Mavis Staples of the Staple Singers headlined.

The security guards took a couple of kids, including Ruth, inside to visit.

害羞草研究所淢avis Staples was singing to her. It was almost like she bestowed her blessing on Ruth,害羞草研究所� says Ezra.

Adds Ruth: 害羞草研究所淚 hadn害羞草研究所檛 heard of her before and now I love her music.害羞草研究所�

All of the Oots n害羞草研究所� Oots write songs, and sometimes they write together. Ruth says she takes guitar lessons and practises almost every day.

Ezra notes that in their mud room sits an organ and a piano.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l start a jam when we害羞草研究所檙e trying to get our shoes on.害羞草研究所�

The song 害羞草研究所淚 Like it Saucy,害羞草研究所� in the style of David Bowie early-害羞草研究所�70s glam rock, came to life at the dinner table when Ruth was asking her mom for more sauce. She and her dad created it.

Ruth is an only child but has lots of cousins. She says she enjoys playing music with her dad and uncles.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e always being silly. That害羞草研究所檚 what we do, that害羞草研究所檚 what our band is害羞草研究所� We害羞草研究所檙e always making jokes, coming up with silly songs.害羞草研究所�

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Asked if such a close family gets along well, Ezra says most of the time.

害羞草研究所淥ur dad tells a story about 害羞草研究所� he was an ambitious young man 害羞草研究所� he had an idea to broker peace in the Middle East.害羞草研究所�

His rabbi told him that if you want peace in the world, first you must have peace in your family, Ezra explains.

害羞草研究所淪o you work at that every day.害羞草研究所�

The band took time off touring recently so Ruth could attend summer camp. She says kids treat her like anyone else, although at camp she told someone about the band and they asked her to sing a song. She sang, 害羞草研究所淚 Like it Saucy.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭hen the kids were singing it 害羞草研究所� older kids, younger kids, the counsellors, they were asking me to sing it.害羞草研究所�

At the festival she was on crutches, after injuring her foot jumping off a bunk bed. She was also dealing with a cold, which meant singing was difficult with her sore throat 害羞草研究所� so she did less than normal. One good friend told her she is his hero, because he knew everything she was going through.

For the future, Ruth says she害羞草研究所檇 like to be a musician 害羞草研究所� a singer, a songwriter, a performer. But she might also like to try working as a producer or a recording engineer.

害羞草研究所淚 would say she害羞草研究所檚 on a path in music, however that unfolds,害羞草研究所� says Ezra. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e just enjoying the journey, it害羞草研究所檚 so much fun, it害羞草研究所檚 great. We meet so many amazing people along the way.害羞草研究所�

marthawickett@saobserver.net
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