Growing up along the shores of the Great Lakes in Southern Ontario, Canada, the three members of coconut all attended the same elementary school where they each developed an individual interest in music at a young age, taking lessons and going to shows before they were even teenagers. Although vocalists Ryan Hollenbeck and Rob Bakker, who share responsibilities when it comes to strings, had the same guitar teacher growing up, the pair never got together to write songs or start a band until high school.

The two started getting together and playing their acoustic guitars around the age of 15 and haven't stopped since. Once Justin got his first drum kit the three friends decided it was time to find a bass player and coconut was formed. The band entered a home-studio in the basement of a house where a local punk rock band was living at the time and recorded their first tracks, then it was time to hit the road. But in 2007, after having played dozens of shows in London, Hamilton, Toronto, and as far as Ottawa, coconut parted ways with their bass player at the time. Rather than find a replacement, Ryan and Rob decided they'd be better off playing bass themselves.

Fast forward a year later and the band has nearly a dozen tracks they've been recording with Rob McKercher of DIG PRODUCTIONS, the same punk rock drummer who recorded their earliest tracks in his basement. Their debut disc Mash It Up is set for release in 2009, and with artwork for the album and merch designs being done by Matt VanHaaften of RESPOOKT DESIGN in Hawaii, whose done work for Bam Margera and Element Skateboards. coconut will be sure to catch your ears and your eyes as they bring their unique Canadian blend of reggae, punk, hip hop, dub, ska & rock to people everywhere.

- coconut has performed alongside some of Canada's best acts including illScarlett, The Johnstones, Keepin 6, Staylefish, Walk Off The Earth, The Expos & Down With Webster just to name a few.