What do you get when you cross 3 amazing saxophonists dressed in wacky clothes, a crazy dancing drummer and a killer upright bass player and have them sing songs about Buses, Roaches and Hockey and spend 1/2 their time playing in the audience? The Shuffle Demons, that’s what!!! They were a band that captured the imagination of a generation with their antics and amazing no holds barred playing and stopped traffic on a regular basis. And now they’re back!!

35 years later, the Shuffle Demons return! So get ready to sway in your seat, jump to your feet and dance to the Demon beat!

The Shuffle Demons are a high-energy Canadian band that blends virtuosic jazz and funk playing with eye-catching costumes and over the top stage antics to produce an incredible show. A hit at festivals all over the world, the Shuffle Demons are a crowd pleasing, full-on musical group that backs up wild stage antics with phenomenal playing by some of Canada’s most talented musicians.

The legend of the Shuffle Demons is well known to Canadians. Beginning in September 1984 with veteran street sax player Demon Richard Underhill pleasing the pedestrian multitudes at the corner of Yonge and Bloor in Toronto, the Shuffle Demons quickly evolved into an immensely popular street band. Drawing hordes of hipsters to their street gigs with their wild playing and exotic wardrobe, the Demons next took their caustic collection of musical majesties and travesties inside and began pleasing bunches of boppers in Toronto clubs. Inspired by these fashion assassins and their original street hits Spadina Bus, The Shuffle Monster, Out of My House, Roach, and What do you Want? large delirious audiences began experiencing the early stages of shuffle rapture.

Then things got really crazy! In 1986, John Gunn and Rob Fresco directed the video Spadina Bus. Spadina Bus became a MuchMusic hit, and was quickly followed by the hilarious Out of My House, Roach.

The Shuffle Demons have released 8 albums and 2 hit videos in their 35-year career. They have conducted 25 cross Canada tours, 5 US tours, 16 European tours, as well as tours of Mexico, Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, Brazil, India, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Aruba and Cuba playing on big festival stages, theatres and clubs.

Don’t miss the return of the shuffle demons!

FACTS & Estimates

3 saxes, bass, drums, one goatee, 35 years later, 8 albums, 5 Casby Awards, 2 Toronto Musician Awards, 1 Juno nomination, 7 videos, 700,000 km, 3800 concerts, 6500 conga lines, 1 cockroach, 12 Beer my dear, 100,000 rubles,1 Spadina Bus, 29 countries.

Band members

Richard Underhill - Alto Sax, Vocals
Kelly Jefferson - Tenor Sax, Vocals
Ryan Oliver - Tenor Sax, Vocals
Pat Collins - Acoustic Bass, Vocals
Stich Wynston - Drums, Vocals