Hailing from the northern country of Finland, has journeyed far and wide in search of her authentic sound.  A natural-born songwriter, is the granddaughter of world-famous opera composer, Aulis Sallinen.  She discovered she could play piano by ear and started writing original songs at age 7.

  moved to the States with her mom and sisters when she was 16, and at the age of 23 she embarked on her solitary quest to find her true voice as a writer and performer.   The journey took her to Nashville, New York and Los Angeles, where she tirelessly attempted to break into the pop scene.  Continually forced to push her own boundaries, Ruut’s seemingly futile search finally led her to confidant and mentor, award-winning LA sculptor, Tanya Ragir, whose legendary sound-engineer brother, Frank Wolf, was able to capture raw, live piano-vocal performances of songs that Ruut had composed in a secluded room housing a 9-foot Steinway concert grand piano.  This collection of songs was later released independently, and these “steinway sessions”, with Ragir’s hand-drawn picture of the artist on the cover, caught the attention of other industry veterans.

The Steinway Sessions not only delivered her back to her musical roots, but to the Baltimore area, and to the esteemed Wood and Stone Room, where recorded a full-length studio album, Glimpse.  The 2013 release has already received numerous outstanding reviews, and Ruut’s fan base is quickly growing as she tours nearby her hometown of Baltimore with her band.

In 2015, began work on her new full-length original album, Untold Stories, her 6th original studio album. This self-produced album is being released in March, 2016.

treats its audience to high energy entertainment featuring multiple fiddling styles, dynamic dancing, driving percussion, and strong vocals from all the Celtic nations, including America.  Presenting the music and dance of all the Celtic countries--Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Brittany, Asturies and Galicia -- emphasizes that America is not only the repository of all these cultural influences, but also the progenitor of many of its own.  Audiences are encouraged to clog along, or dance Breton line dances, and join in singing.

Conceived in 1986, has evolved into one of the top rated pan-Celtic groups in the world.  founders Barbara Tresidder Ryan (lead vocals, Celtic bouzouki, guitar and bodhrán) and Bernard Argent (wooden flute, whistles, doumbek, back-up vocals) are joined by Air Force Band veteran Jim Queen on fiddle, banjo and vocals, and Chuck Lawhorn on 6-string bass guitar, whistles and vocals.  The group has released eleven albums, the most recent of which, Silver, is their 25th anniversary celebration.