The Grey Jays

About

Brainy but physical beats, in English and in French. The Grey Jays provide an emotional roller coaster of crescendos to whispers while instruments do the talking and voices do the singing. Their roots/R&B sound blossomed under the endless skies of Winnipeg, Manitoba located within Treaty 1 Territory. The Grey Jays collaborate to arrange Holly Ruth's earnest, vulnerable song writing with Finley Allison's intuitive jazz-inspired composition and their own brand of passionately playful orchestration. Their muses include artists like Moonchild, Hiatus Kaiyote, Corey Henry, The Brothers Landreth and J Dilla.

Prior to 2016, the band was known as Holly Ruth and The Grey Jays/ Holly Ruth and The Bindle Band. Those earlier bands included two of the same members – Holly Ruth and Finley Allison. Their sound was mostly roots/alternative folk. Now they have changed their tune and the vision has expanded into what it was always meant to be – roots/R&B. They released an album under Holly Ruth and The Grey Jays, titled ‘Birds’ in September 2015 at The Park Theatre in Winnipeg. The band mailed the album to every campus radio station across the country listed on ‘earshot.’ The album charted on the Kamloops Campus Radio for a couple of months and was met with critical acclaim in Winnipeg by the band’s peers and dedicated followers. The latter is shown graciously by talented Winnipeg/Calgary musician Selci’s moving review of the album, written for The Uniter, the University of Winnipeg’s official student newspaper (see below).

The Grey Jays are currently working on their first album along with video releases to accompany singles. The quarantine is keeping their brains storming with ideas for collaborations both virtual and at social distances. Keep your eyes and ears open for online announcements and entertainment!

Water-colour logo by Megan Turnbull