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About Gru

Grushenka was born in Dublin, but was not without musical influences as her father was part of the "Showband" era in the 1960’s. Brendan Arnold played rhythm guitar with the "Royal Blues" showband fronted by Doc Carroll.

Taking up piano at an early age, Grushenka was taught guitar by her father and began writing songs when she was 16. She played saxophone and clarinet in a local marching band while in secondary school and later, attended the Bull Alley College of Performing Arts, a course which included voice training, singing/dancing and acting.

In her early 20’s, she played Bass/rhythm guitar with various local bands before embarking on a career as a solo performer, resulting in many talent contest wins. * see below

Since then, Grushenka recorded her first demo in 1999, followed by her EP in 2006. While residing in Canada, she performed in many venues, played support to Canadian rock band “The Cliks” and recorded the first 5 tracks of her debut album “Waiting For Something To Happen”. The album was completed in Ireland and subsequently released independently in 2008. Following a review in “Hotpress” magazine, Jackie Hayden mused ...."Grushenka has a fetching voice"...."This Love" is well sung with intelligent lyrics"......."I Hope nothing goes wrong" he describes as having an "Infectious rockabilly edge" he also suggests that inside the comely-maiden folksinger Grushenka there's a rocker Grushenka that deserves a better hearing".

Norman Cristofoli from the coffeehouse singer/songwriter circuit, Canada, described Grushenka as “Boldly beautiful, intriguingly intelligent and a voice that makes you feel like you've been caressed by an broken angel…She writes music from the depths of her heart, and from the furthest recesses of her mind. She explores emotions; she dissects social issues; and she strips humanity to its barest forms.
She doesn't write pop songs, she creates art”.

Brendan Hickey of D.S.F.M radio, wrote: “Grushenka has been honing her talents
on the Coffeehouse circuit in Canada and this was very evident during her accomplished, well crafted sets for On The Verge”.
“This Love” and “Sacred” were featured on the “irishsongers.net” cd which was also independently released in 2004.

In 2006, she also appeared on Galway band "The Deans" debut album “One” singing "home in the past" which was penned by the bands frontman, Gavin Dean.

As well as her own performances, Grushenka has enjoyed success playing support to acts such as “Anastacia” live @ The Marquee, “Hybrazil”, “The Cliks”, “Colm Heaney and the Bad DJ's” to name but a few.

MEMBER OF IMRO (Irish Music Rights Organization)  
*In 2000, Grushenka won her first talent contest while attending college in Dublin.  In 2004, she won the “Wicklow Battle of the Bands” in the solo performer category.  In 2007, Grushenka made it through the first round of The Platform songwriter’s night competition in Clonmel.  Following this, she then won “the lucky duck award” at the Ha’penny Bridge Inn, Dublin, having been voted for by the audience.  In 2008, she appeared on TG4’s talent show “Nollaig No.1” making it through the auditions to play live on T.V. in front of a panel of judges and live audience.  In 2009, Grushenka’s highlight of achievement was winning a competition in association with Red FM, (Cork) to perform live at the Marquee, Cork.  This opportunity allowed Grushenka to play a forty minute set, playing support to superstar “Anastacia” in front of a highly enthusiastic and supportive crowd.


Most recently, Grushenka took part in the “Our Thursdays with Guinness” competition, searching for talent to perform during the celebrations on the 23rd of September 2010 for Arthurs Day.  Acts took part to battle it out in various venues around Ireland, and the audience voted for their favourite act on each the night.  Grushenka made it through to the outlet final by way of majority vote.   Sadly, on the night, Grushenka missed out winnning the competition by one vote.