Scruj MacDuhk (stylized as Scrüj MacDuhk) was a Juno-nominated Canadian folk music group based in

Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

. The band included singer-songwriter

Ruth Moody Ruth Moody is a Canadian soprano singer-songwriter and member of the folk trio the Wailin' Jennys. Moody was born in Australia and grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, with her parents Charles and Marcelline, older brother Richard (The Bills) ...

, current member of the

Wailin' Jennys The Wailin' Jennys are a Canadian music group. A 2011 review says they "sing like siblings and play like seasoned veterans". They have released several albums and received two Juno Awards. The group has been featured several times on the Ameri ...

, and also

Clawhammer banjo Clawhammer, sometimes called down-picking, overhand, or most commonly known as frailing, is a distinctive banjo playing style and a common component of American old-time music. The style likely descends from that of West African lutes, such a ...

player/vocalist Leonard Podolak, who went on to form

The Duhks The Duhks were a Canadian folk fusion band, formed in 2002 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Featuring banjo, fiddle, guitar, percussion, and vocals, The Duhks blended folk music together with various Canadian and American traditional styles, inc ...

History

Scruj MacDuhk formed in 1995. In 1997 the band released an album, ''Live at the West End Cultural Centre'', which was recorded in Winnipeg in May that year with the cooperation of

CBC Manitoba CBWT-DT (channel 6) is a CBC Television station in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It has common ownership with Ici Radio-Canada Télé station CBWFT-DT (channel 3). The two stations share studios on Portage Avenue and Young Street in Downtown Winni ...

. All five group members, including Moody, contributed to the vocals, and the album featured Podolak on 5-string banjo, Jeremy Penner on fiddle, Dan Baseley on accordion, tin whistle, and steel pan, Joel Fafard on guitar, and Gilles Fournier on bass. Guest musicians Geoff Butler on button accordions and Alistair Dennet on bodhran can also be heard on the album. The band toured across Canada, including participation in the

Stan Rogers Folk Festival The Stan Rogers Folk Festival, informally known as Stanfest, is an annual music festival held in Canso, Nova Scotia. Established in 1997 in honour of the late Canadian folk singer and songwriter Stan Rogers, the festival bills itself as "Canada's ...

, and released a second album, *''The Road To Canso'', through their label Scruj Tunes in 1999. The album featured

Christian Dugas A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the world. The words ''Christ'' and ''Chr ...

on percussion and guitar with some bass and feet. Moody contributed lead and backing vocals as well as piano and bodhran. Penner on fiddle and Podolak on 5-string banjo and

bodhrán The bodhrán (, ; plural ''bodhráin'') is a frame drum used in Irish music ranging from in diameter, with most drums measuring . The sides of the drum are deep. A Goatskin (material), goatskin head is tacked to one side (synthetic heads or ot ...

, also contributed some vocal work. Bassist Oliver Swain also sang and played mandolin on one tune, and Jeremy Walsh contributed guitar, whistle, and some vocal work. In 2000 Scruj MacDuhk was presented with a Prairie Music Award for best independent album."Singer Jann Arden tops music awards"
SASKATOON — ''Globe and Mail'', October 2, 2000 The band broke up in 2001.

Discography

*''Live at the West End Cultural Centre'' :Track listing: :# Roddy McCorley / Lost gander ''(traditional)'' :# Walkin Boss / Cold Frosty Morning ''(traditional)'' :# Oh No Not I ''(traditional)'' :# Rocks of Bawn ''(traditional)'' :# Alice in Frenfell ''(Joel Fafard)'' :# Fierce Warmth ''(Joel Fafard)'' :# Alan MacPherson of Dumbarton / Pretty Little Indian ''(traditional)'' :# Banks of Red Roses ''(traditional)'' :# Waiting for Nancy ''(Curtis Bouterse)'' / Aqua Marine One Step ''(Geoff Butler)'' / Paddy's Jig ''(traditional)'' *''The Road To Canso'' :# Cidermill: Cidermill / The Colliers' Reel / Sadie at the Back Door* ''(Trad., arr. Sruj MacDuhk; * composed by Jere Canote)'' :# The Rambling Irishman ''(Trad., arr. Sruj MacDuhk)'' :# La Banqueroute* / La Reel St. Jean ''(Trad., arr. Sruj MacDuhk; * composed by Oscar Thiffault)'' :# Silence They Say ''(Jeremy Walsh)'' :# Nonsuch/Dinky's Reel/The Meech Lake Breakdown* ''(Trad., arr. Sruj MacDuhk; *composed by Emile Benoit)'' :# The Maid Who Sold Her Barley / The Rakes of Kildare ''(Trad., arr. Sruj MacDuhk)'' :# The Northern Set: Anderson's Rel / Alan MacPherson of Dumbarton / The Man From Dundoran ''(Trad., arr. Sruj MacDuhk)'' :# Roddy McCorley / Lost Gander ''(Trad., arr. Sruj MacDuhk)'' :# Things In Life ''(

Don Stover Don Stover (1928-1996) was an American Bluegrass musician. He toured with numerous bands, most notably The Lilly Brothers. He is a member of both the Massachusetts Country Music Hall of Fame and the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, ...

)'' :# Adventure Sings ''(Jeremy Walsh)'' / Louis Riel ''(Andy Desjarlais)'' :# Cragie Hills (Trad., arr. Sruj MacDuhk) :# The Road To Canso: A Thousand Roads (Geoff Butler) / The Road to Canso (Ruth Moody) / Hare O' The Dug (Alan MacLeod)

References

{{Authority control Canadian folk music groups Musical groups established in 1995 Musical groups disestablished in 2001 Musical groups from Winnipeg 1995 establishments in Manitoba 2001 disestablishments in Manitoba