Scupanon ended in 2020. I am leaving this site up for historical curiosity.
Rob Roper continues to play occasional solo acoustic shows, and is sometimes joined by Janet Lipson on backing vocals and Sam Caston on percussion. Email rob@robroper.com to sign up for Rob's email list and find out about new shows, recordings, etc.
Scupanon began in 2010 when violinist Paul Ermisch began accompanying singer-songwriter Rob Roper at his acoustic gigs. Upright bass players and percussionists have cycled through from time to time. In early 2014, Roper decided to give this collection of musicians a name. Sam Caston, percussionist at the time, suggested "Scupanon", a wild grape from his and Roper's home state of Mississippi.
Caston moved from Denver in 2015 and had to leave the group but the name stuck. Recently, singer Janet Lipson has joined to add harmony vocals. Ermisch left the band in 2019 and was replaced by Diamond Jim Hewitt, who plays fiddle, mandolin and mandola. Jim moved to Wisconsin in 2020 and Rob decided to continue playing under his own name, and retire the bandname Scupanon.
