Doug resides in Cambridge, Ontario, with his partner, Melissa Sherman. With Doug at Hard Ryde's helm and Melissa attending to the logistical and navigational details of keeping five to six widely scattered musicians on the same course, the band is a tight ship. Bluegrass has been a constant in Doug's life, coming from a family of musicians, fans and promoters of the genre, so it came as no surprise when he formed his own band at age sixteen. He then went on to perform with Crossfire and Wheatland County before forming the long-running and award-winning Grassworks, which disbanded in 1996. Doug's many awards for his powerful rhythm guitar and strong and soulful vocals have earned him Hall-of-Fame status with the Central Canadian Bluegrass Association.

Will, from Toronto, Ontario, has been playing in country bands since the age of twelve, earning him a solid reputation on lead guitar, bass and pedal steel. Will's innate skills with stringed instruments and intuitive musical sensibilities have allowed a natural transition into the world of bluegrass and the disciplines of the mandolin, which he has embraced with passionate focus and refreshing energy. Will grew up in a musical household and was mentored from a very young age by some of Canada's leading country artists and songwriters. His obvious talents, combined with his dedication to keeping music honest and real, are rapidly earning this young musician a name as a dynamic emerging force on the bluegrass scene.

Since joining the band several years ago, Rich, who resides in Grimsby, Ontario, is the heartbeat of the band, providing the steady pulse behind Hard Ryde's energetic sound. A respected studio musician, Rich honed his performance skills at a young age playing bass in a variety of bands and genres throughout southern Ontario. He also played alongside his father in the bluegrass bands, Sweetwater and the Torchmen, and has a solid reputation for his professionalism and tasteful contribution to any musical endeavours he commits his talents to.

Rich is the 2007 "Bass Player of the Year" recipient from the Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards.

Nathan Smith - Fiddler
Nathan Smith, a native of North Bay, Ontario, is Hard Ryde’s newest member. Nathan's praised versatility as a musician is the product of a mixed musical upbringing. He started classical violin lessons at age 6 and switched to playing Old-time fiddle music a few years later, only to turn once again to the classical world. He then went on to complete a Bachelor of Music, all the while discovering bluegrass music with the help of River Blue in North Bay and The Dusty Drifters in Ottawa. His disciplined training and diverse background have produced a pure tone mixed with the attitude and finesse that only a fiddle player could have.

Matt Elwood - Banjo
After finding bluegrass in high school, Matt has immersed himself in banjo. Starting with his father's collection of Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and the Stanley Brothers, Matt has digested Bluegrass from it's first generation roots to the sounds of today. Combining the smoother sounds of the modern banjo with the raw energy of the first generation pickers, Matt brings his own approach to the instrument he loves. When not traveling with Hard Ryde, Matt resides in Toronto playing with local Bluegrass band Smokey Folk and filling in for all the city's Bluegrass banjo needs.

Invariably described as an "instrumental genius" and "acoustic enigma" Marc Roy is a familiar face at bluegrass festivals and concert venues across Canada and the U.S. He is widely known for his continuing work with the Emory Lester Set, has recorded with numerous artists and plays regularly in the Toronto bluegrass circuit, including a weekly spot at the popular Silver Dollar Room with Crazy Strings. Marc is currently breaking in the first of a new line of acoustic guitars hand-crafted by the highly respected Toronto luthier, Alastair Miller, and specifically designed to compliment the unique sound and style that Marc brings to the instrument.

Marc was honoured with the "Guitar Player of the Year" award at the 2007 Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards.