English

Markus Rüeger

Markus Rüeger, 25.1.1956, is a swiss singer/songwriter with his roots in the Rockmusic of the 60-ties and in the folk-scene of the 70-ties. He‘s been a constant member of the swiss folk sceen for the past 40 years and been moving solo and with bands around Switzerland and Europe for many years. Markus is a great singer and guitar-player in the first place, but he plays all kind of other folkinstruments aswell. He‘s got a strong connection to Ireland having lived there for some times and in 1980 he did his long march with his Irish donkey „John O’Donohue from Carnew“ and guitar all the way through Ireland, Belgium and France to Switzerland.

Since 2006 he has been working on a show called >mission earth< which he has translated into english, the irish and further island-audiences on his mind. Markus is known for his engagement for environment and peace. He has been playing on all kind of manifestations against climate change and for peace with his band GreenTrees over the past ten years.

2010 he travelled with his partner to Sapmi and started to discover the Sapmi-Culture and getting in touch with the art of Yoik. He became friend with the the singer Berit Alette Mienna and thefluteplayer Øistein Hansen wich had a great input on his song „Saami-Land“. Since then he keeps on travelling to Scandinavia discovering further roots of the worlds musical heritage.

At present Markus plays with his band GreenTrees or SOLO with his „Take this World in your Hands“-Project. He and his Band have released their latest CD, produced by the Irish drummer and multi-instrumentalist WAYNE SHEEHY (Ron Wood, Rolling Stones, Bo Diddley, Peter Gabriel, Hothouse Flowers …) at ocean studios in Kilcrohane, Ireland.

The CD “ Take this world in your hands“ is a further engaged album for a peaceful and sustainable way of living on this planet. Together with one of Irelands most gifted musician and producer Markus and GreenTrees managed to record a most beautiful album supported by friends as Eva Hurley (Cover Artwork and coaching), Eoghan Clarke, (Sound Assistant, Backing Vocals), Esosa Ighodaro, (Backing Vocals), Lukas Rüeger (Layout), Palma Fiacco (Photographs) and many more!

As the first feedbacks of the audience show, the whole work as such is a very touching one.

Listen to my music: Radio Makurugu on Jango-Radio or on mx3

Foreword from producer Wayne P Sheehy

The early meetings with a client / artist can sometimes be the most informative. This proved to be the case when i first met Markus.

It was a damp and wet Irish day and he suggested we walked and had our first meeting on the mountain! An old Swiss custom i wondered? a test of my connection with nature? It was in fact where he was most comfortable and at peace and this set the feel for the entire production.

This album is about being connected, not about being cool (although it is very cool indeed). Its about integrity, honesty, loyalty and most importantly authenticity. The cross pollination of an Irish man producing an eclectic group of Swiss musicians could have been a recipe for a rather too diverse piece of work. However this diversity has made it extra special. In the days of homogenized sounds, arrangements and production, this record stands out as a truly beautiful, organic, authentic and unique body of work.

A composer who has travelled Ireland and Western Europe with a donkey and cart was always going to have a story to tell. A band of Swiss academics and craftsmen were always going to have a different musical feel and then to top it off they go and choose a crazy Irishman like myself to produce, arrange and record it for them in a 200 year old converted farm house on the shores of the North Atlantic on the West coast of Ireland.

Cover: Take this World in your Hands (Download Album)

It was a pleasure to make this album and now i respectfully ask the listener do one thing. In these days of instant gratification, everything is a quick hit, a rush, a buzz! Please take the time to listen to this album, the stories, the music, the places it will take you to will be like a short but pleasant holiday from the occasional madness of this beautiful world.

Breathe the mountain air off this music.

Beside his stagework Markus works with adolescents in schools teaching music and theater. He is a member of the swiss singer/songwriter-association „Lieder-Lobby“.

New Video out: „One Drop of your Hearts Blood“:

Green Trees

GreenTrees – The Band

The sound of friendship
A Band for the storm, rain and snow – to go this way I was looking for friends, who would be ready to carry my vision with me in all kind of weather. Looking for the kind of alpine fir, who would stand on it’s own in snow and storm and sing in the wind. They are well rooted and communicate in a magical way under ground, knowing how to support each other. Sure it wasn’t easy to bring these mountain guys across the ocean to Ireland – but what works with a donkey should be possible with four GreenTrees I said to myself. So by the time we got over they managed to stand through all the storms the Irish weather threw at them, of which there where quiet a lot during that time. But as the wind makes firs sing, the Irish winds with all its temper and with the great help of sailor Wayne made us grow into strong and unique sounds. Now we find ourselves as travelling trees, roaming to connect with those who also look for to be oxygen for this planet.

Markus Rüeger & GreenTrees are on the road since 2010 playing for their audiences, who specially like those vibes in their sounds expressing hope, peace and friendship with all living beings. Having played at climate-action days and other gatherings for the future of the planet, they are quiet known in the scene of eco activ people.

The new video clip taking on the stormy west coast of Ireland on Sheephead Peninsula while recording their new album „Take this World in your Hands“. So here is „Asylum for Polar Bears“ – our contribution to the Earth Day 2018 against plastic pulltion (22.April 18)

„Trust in the sea“ a Greentree-clip with the scenery of Ireland and Sweden and the uileann pipes of Marina Tanner.

„Peace&Respect z’Schwamedingä“ a clip about the a suburban town of Zurich, showing the peacful sharing of multicultural live. Thanks to Julinho Martins, Samba, Colin Tieg, the Stettband, Joy Tieg and the students of the „Oberstufenschule Stettbach“, playing, singing and dancing as well as to the musicians of the „Schwamedinger Kulturfest“.