WATCH: This local band is nominated for a Juno Award

Ari Cipes and his family make music for anybody who is a kid at heart.

That from the guitarist for The Oot n’ Oots, who are nominated for a Juno Award for Children’s Album of the Year for their latest album Ponderosa Bunchgrass and the Golden Rule.

“It’s a real honour and it’s nice to know that people are enjoying this music and hopefully having as much fun listening to it as we have making it,” Ari told Kelowna10.

The family run music group is composed of brothers Matthew, Ari, Gabe, and Ezra, as well as Ezra’s daughter, Ruth. They describe their performances as casting spells of freedom, lightheartedness, and laughter through their songs.

“We’ve all played music all our lives, so it’s what we love to do,” Ezra said. “We’re inspired by the children in our lives and making sure we create some good vibes for families all around the world.”

The band has played at a variety of festivals and has received awards and nominations in Canada, the U.S.A., and Australia. Ponderosa Bunchgrass and the Golden Rule is the group’s third album, which was produced throughout the pandemic.

“It took us I think two years or maybe even more than two years to make it,” Ezra explained. “We put a lot of love into it, it was a labour of love.”

His daughter Ruth said the family is inspired to make songs about a variety of things in life.

“We write a lot of songs about food or about just silly things we come up with, the little absurd things of everyday,” she said. “We record all of it at home in our garage and dad does it all, and he has been growing a lot in his abilities to do so.”

For her uncle, Ari, he relishes post-production, when different pieces of the song come together in a magical way.

“Also, those moments of inspiration where you hear something that’ll bring the song to the next level and you know how to implement it,” he said.

The Oot n’ Oots will be performing live at Ignite the Arts Festival in Penticton on April 2 and 3. They will also be performing at the Venables Theatre in Oliver for the Family Showtime Series on May 7.

The Juno Awards are back live in-person on May 15 in Toronto.