Hailing from Charlottetown, PE, Fugato is currently sporting its original four-man line-up of Mark Steele (vox & guitar,) Devin Stevenson (vox & guitar,) Peter MacDonald (bass,) and Jonathan Holmes (drums.) Having formed in 2005, Fugato would spend the next three years writing, recording, and performing their own blend of reggae/funk/rock.
Fugato’s first album, Grass Radio, received two nominations for the 2006 PEI Music Awards and won the award for “Best New Artist.” The following year Fugato released their sophomore album, The Stash. Like its predecessor, The Stash also received a double nomination from Music PEI at the 2007 award gala. For the next year and a half, Fugato would go on to promote their music and wow audiences at various clubs, festivals, and events across the Maritimes.
In the fall of 2008, Fugato took a sudden six-month hiatus. During this time someone or something changed Fugato. With complete disregard to the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” the band decided to switch gears and drop their original trademark style. However, rather than fixing it, Fugato smashed it to pieces and rebuilt it into an engine that runs on the purest of rock music.
Upon their return this past summer, Fugato have hit the ground running and immediately got back into the studio to record their new self-titled album. This effort truly showcases the bands transformation by displaying a brick wall rhythm section complimented by melodic vocals and guitar riffs so chunky you won't know whether to use a spoon or a fork.
With a new album, new tunes, new audiences, new merchandise, and a revamped website, the future looks very bright for Fugato. You can expect to see Fugato in a Maritime town near you. If that’s not enough, Fugato also plans to keep pushing forward with another visit to the studio in the new year.
