Electronic press kit
PHOTOS
BIO
Boston-based band Ruby Grove (2022- now) is a New England Music Award-nominated multi-genre indie
alternative musical project primarily inspired by trip-hop, soul, indietronica, and indie rock/pop. Ruby
Grove’s core driving force is to soothe anxious hearts and minds during the post-pandemic era, create an
alternately funky, soulful, and mystical atmosphere, and aim for the formation of new genres through multi-
genre synthesis madness, which is reflected in the band’s diverse sonic palette and focuses. Ken Sears of If
It’s Too Loud said of Ruby Grove, “Nothing else in the city [of Boston] sounds anything like Ruby Grove…
almost impossibly infectious”.
Lead singer and keyboardist Melissa Nilles brings an eclectic background to Ruby Grove from years of
fronting indie and cover bands in California (her home state), New York, Japan, and Massachusetts, including
Boston’s art/alternative rock project Miele (2014-2020). Nilles’s vocal style was described by the Boston
Survival Guide as “travelling effortlessly through many moods… forceful and determined, melancholy and
dreamy, exotic and magical”. Bassist and backup vocalist Cedric Lamour of Brockton, MA hails from
previous projects Miele and Teardrop Tank as well as the Bridgewater State Jazz Ensemble, and brings a
masterful, dynamic, and groove-based rhythm bass to the band. Ruby Grove also includes talented
newcomers Sergio Romero from Delaware on guitar and Reed Farhat from New Hampshire on drums.
MUSIC SAMPLEs
PERFORMANCe VIDEO SaMPLES
Ruby Grove performs "Emerald Daze" at The Jungle Community Music Club in September 2024.
Ruby Grove performs live in January 2024 at the Square Root in Boston, MA.
Ruby Grove playing their song “Lazy River” live in August 2023 on tour in NYC. (Technical note: This video does not have high quality mix audio, it is just filmed from a high quality camera).
Press
““Boston has a varied musical sound, but nothing else in the city sounds anything like Ruby Grove... almost impossibly infectious. “Maybe It’s Time” has this laid back lo-fi trip hop groove intermingled with hip hop, R&B, and indie rock. It’s a distinct and new sound that feels warmly familiar, but defies any true categorization... Ruby Grove are the 2023 version of repurposing old sounds into something brand new and fresh. I’m willing to bet you’re going to be hearing about them around here a lot.””
““You find yourself getting pulled away from your surroundings and put into this different place altogether, but I think that’s part of the point of the song... a mystical journey that has a way of staying with you long after you’ve listened to it.””
““Nilles’ vocals travel effortlessly through their many moods... forceful and determined, melancholy and dreamy, exotic and magical. It is one wild ride through the ebbs and flows of human experience.””
““Ruby Grove catches that slinky, smooth, clubby fire in their latest single “Maybe It’s Time.” Steady percussion with a faint industrial flavor, a commanding bass line, and vocals that are a little bit 1920’s jazz dancehall and a little bit séance. It’s music for vamping in the mirror while getting dressed for a very late night out…””
““[Ruby Grove’s] epic evolution from then until now is nothing short of astonishing with a new song on the horizon that could already be the defining sound of this young band.
While “Maybe It’s Time” dwelled in a lo-fi trip-hop meets groove and soul area, “Crystal Land” breaks new ground entirely with a gargantuan sound that’s still Ruby Grove at its core. Just more... an intricate musical web... a synthetic symphony that barely contains the vocal range [Nilles] brings on this outing.””
““It’s hard not to appreciate the many changing voices of Nilles as she acrobatically delivers searing vocals...””
“Sounding nothing quite like anyone else in Boston... their latest single shows a band truly discovering themselves, and it’s a magnificent sound. “Crystal Land” is this amazing mixture of artists like St. Vincent and Siouxsie & The Banshees, albeit a little more pop than those artists. Ruby Grove have always mixed pop with indie rock, soul, and whatever other sounds they felt like, but “Crystal Land” is just different. It’s beautiful and upbeat at some parts, and at others darker and more sinister... partially because of the John Carpenter-esque synths and also from singer Melissa Nilles’ intense vocals. We’ve been fans of Ruby Grove for a while now, and “Crystal Land” just amplifies that fandom exponentially. ”
““Nilles’ lyrics... are fast and slow at the same time, dark but hopeful, resonant but something of a riddle.””
““Ruby Grove’s new single is an imaginative mix of pop and psych indie, fused with blues undertones and savvy musicianship... a super catchy “la la dee da” jingle delivered with a bluesy flare and a feel reminiscent of Portugal. The Man’s “Woodstock” album. “Maybe It’s Time” is a fresh record that positively oozes with deep relaxation and summertime vibes—a self-dubbed anti-anxiety anthem.””
PRIOR FESTIVAL APPEARANCES:
SALEM LGBTQ+ PRIDE FESTIVAL (SALEM, MA)
ROCK AND ROLL RUMBLE (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
BOSTON LOCAL MUSIC FEST (BOSTON, MA)
SOMERSTREETS MONSTER MASH FESTIVAL (SOMERVILLE, MA)
SAM ADAMS OKTOBERFEST (BOSTON, MA)
SOMERVILLE PORCHFEST (SOMERVILLE, MA)
JP PORCHFEST (BOSTON, MA)
ROSLINDALE PORCHFEST (BOSTON, MA)
PARK SOUNDS FESTIVAL (BOSTON, MA)
MAKE MUSIC HARVARD SQUARE/FETE DE MUSIQUE (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
EMF FEST (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
SELECTION OF PRIOR VENUES PLAYED:
PIANOS (NEW YORK, NY)
POPPED.NYC CBD LOUNGE (NEW YORK, NY)
THE BOWERY ELECTRIC (NEW YORK, NY)
BROOKLYN MUSIC KITCHEN (BROOKLYN, NY)
GOWANUS DREDGERS CANOE CLUB (BROOKLYN, NY)
LOW DIVE (ASBURY PARK, NJ)
33 GOLDEN ST (NEW LONDON, CT)
THE TIN CAN (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
BROKEN GOBLET BREWING (BENSALEM, PA)
ALCHEMY (PROVIDENCE, RI)
MAYDAY (PROVIDENCE, RI)
AUBURN PITTS (AUBURN, NH)
GULU GULU CAFE (SALEM, MA)
MERCY TAVERN (SALEM, MA)
HOTEL VERNON (WORCESTER, MA)
JOHN HARVARD’S BREWERY (HANCOCK, MA)
THE OVERLOOK AT MILL NO 5 (LOWELL, MA)
THE TURING TAVERN- ONGOING MONTHLY RESIDENCY IN 2024 (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
THE RED HOUSE- MONTHLY RESIDENCY IN SPRING AND SUMMER 2024 (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
THE MIDDLE EAST- UPSTAIRS (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
THE LILYPAD (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
TOAD (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
ATWOOD’S (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
THE PLOUGH AND STARS (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
CHARLIE’S KITCHEN (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
THE CANTAB LOUNGE (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
STATE PARK (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
THE JUNGLE COMMUNITY MUSIC CLUB (SOMERVILLE, MA)
THE BURREN (SOMERVILLE, MA)
PINK NOISE (SOMERVILLE, MA)
SALLY O’BRIENS (SOMERVILLE, MA)
ONCE LOUNGE (SOMERVILLE, MA)
PA’S LOUNGE/UNION TAVERN (SOMERVILLE, MA)
AERONAUT SOMERVILLE (SOMERVILLE, MA)
WAREHOUSE XI (SOMERVILLE, MA)
SILHOUETTE LOUNGE (BOSTON, MA)
TRES GATOS (BOSTON, MA)
THE HARD ROCK CAFE (BOSTON, MA)
AERONAUT ALLSTON (BOSTON, MA)
MCGANN’S (BOSTON, MA)
MIDWAY CAFE (BOSTON, MA)
HENNESSEY’S (BOSTON, MA)
O’BRIENS (BOSTON, MA)
FLYING EMBERS (BOSTON, MA)
SAM ADAMS BREWERY (BOSTON, MA)
DORCHESTER BREWING CO (BOSTON, MA)
COPPERFIELD’S (BOSTON, MA)
THE SQUARE ROOT (BOSTON, MA)
WE ARE ALSO A REGULAR FEATURED ARTIST AT SOFAR SOUNDS SHOWS IN BOSTON AND NEW YORK.
We even played at the legendary TT the Bears in Cambridge! (back when we were called MIELE)
(and many, many FUN little house/rooftop shows in Boston, Allston, Somerville, Cambridge, Medford, and Brooklyn)
TV/RADIO/podcast APPEARANCES with Ruby Grove:
NATIONWIDE COLLEGE RADIO AIRPLAY IN 2024
WMFO airplay in 2024
WATD 95.9 airplay throughout 2023-2024
Honeybee Radio in 2024
Mark Skin Radio in 2024
Boston Emissions airplay in 2024
Radio appearances with Melissa Nilles:
WMWM with Aaron Bornstein- August 2018
WMFO with Aaron Bornstein- April 2018
Regular airplay on WEMF radio- ongoing since September 2015
Live on The Underbelly on WEMF Radio- September 2017
Nadeau Media's "Crowdfunding Cast" Podcast- September 2017
Don't Forget To Rock- TV Program on Somerville Community Arts Television- September 2017
Deeavataproject's "It's My Turn to Talk" Podcast- June 2017
Live Stream @ Hard Rock Cafe on WEMF Radio- June 2017
Live on the Underbelly on WEMF Radio- June 2017
Live Stream @ PA's Lounge on WEMF Radio- May 2017
Interview and performance on WEMF Radio- August 2016
SCATV and Aeronaut Brewery Present- Duck Village Stage Sessions (TV Program)- August 2016
Bay State Rock- WAAF airplay- August 2015
Live with Nash on WEMF Radio- July 2015
FOR BOOKING, CONTACT:
Booking Manager
Glen Fant at Fantastic Shows
fantasticshowsma@gmail.com
And if you can't reach Glen, you can give Melissa a call at 650-305-9082.
(IF YOU CALL, PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE W/NAME, SUBJECT, AND BEST TIME TO RETURN CALL)
THANKS FOR READING ALL OF THIS! WE APPRECIATE YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. LET'S HELP EACH OTHER CREATE SOMETHING SPECIAL.