In the Saddle rides into Uniontown for concert
In the Saddle, a well-known pop country band from the Pittsburgh area, will perform on Saturday at the Longbranch Saloon, which is located at Oliver Plaza off Route 51 in North Union Township. Ruff Creek, a seven-piece country band who performs today’s hot country hits, its own original country music and a little bit of rock ‘n’ roll, will also perform.
In the Saddle, which includes band members from various professional backgrounds, formed in December 2001. Patrick Duff from Lexington, Ky., who has been played bass and keys for more than 20 years, leads the band. Duff has performed all across the country with various national touring acts and has been performed at Universal Studios in Florida.
Duff is a graduate of the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, Calif., and he received his bachelor’s degree in music performance from Morehead State University in Kentucky.
Lead vocalist Shelley Duff has performed with numerous Pittsburgh theater organizations and has studied voice, guitar, mandolin, fiddle and drums.
Steve Jackson has been playing in clubs and teaching guitar since the age of 16. Before he joined In the Saddle, Jackson performed on cruise ships and with guitar-oriented rock bands.
Drummer Frank Bastone is not a newcomer to the Pittsburgh music scene.
He previously played with the Buzz Poets, Mocko Jumbie, Sex, Brownie Mary and the Sleaze.
In the Saddle brings the hottest country music from artists like Shania Twain, Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Toby Keith to clubs throughout western Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Ruff Creek was formed in November 1997 by lead singer Devon Johnson and former bass guitarist Sean Keene. The band played its first show in the basement of a Marianna home.
Since then, Ruff Creek has performed throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, burning up the local country roadhouses, headlining festivals and opening for country music acts such as John Anderson, Clay Davidson, Ricochet, Rhett Atkins and David Allen Coe.
Recently, Ruff Creek was joined on stage by Nashville songwriter, Craig Martin, who performed his Tim McGraw hit, “Don’t Take the Girl.”
Band members are Devon Johnson, lead vocals; Jesse Wyels, lead guitar and vocals; Aaron Leeper, bass guitar; Gary Antol, guitar; Jessica Wright, keyboard and vocals; Eddie Brewer, fiddle; and Murray Perry, drummer.