The decade of music will culminate with a celebration show at The Bridge Hotel on August 1.

Bass played Scott McHugh said the gig was an open invitation for customers, clients and contacts as well as anyone who had enjoyed a Grinners show over the years.

“We want people to come and enjoy the music and have a great night,” he said.

“We have always had good support from Bluey and Sue at the Bridge.”

Ten years has seen the band play at most of Bendigo’s live music venues along with some memorable musical highlights.

“I think we have pretty well covered most areas (of Bendigo) and most venues have been quite supportive of the band. It’s been a great experience,” McHugh said.

“It has been full of highlights for the band. One was playing support at the Bendigo Says Thanks concert which was for bushfire relief.

“We were one of four or five Bendigo bands. We had 10 minutes and three songs between Dragon and the Screaming Jets.

“After concert we were invited back for a few drinks and nibbles and got to talk to the lead singer Screaming Jets (Dave Gleeson). We had a good chat about music. It was fantastic.”

The Grinners formed in 2005 when most of the group was in their late 30s.

“I had spent 20 years away from music and pursued other interests but I always missed that connection with music,” McHugh said. 

“I got a phone call high school mate (Damien Jenkyn) who was moving back to Bendigo. I asked if he was doing anything musically and it started from that point.”

The original line-up consisted of McHugh on bass, Jenkyn on guitar and lead vocals, Andrew Garlick on vocals and guitar) and Craig Pearse on drums.

Sadly, Pearse died in 2011. McHugh said the band wasn’t sure if they could continue.

“He was a fantastic bloke and a really good drummer who fitted in to the mix. It was tragic when he died,” McHugh said.

“We didn't know if we would continue on or disband. Craig would have liked us to continue.

“We went through a stage of fill ins. Colin Thompson from the blues festival and Rod Bradbury from The Mockbells played with us until Greg Fawcett joined us 18 months ago.”

McHugh said The Grinners play music from the 1960s through to today.

“We play close to the originals and have a fantastic harmony, which is rare in cover bands. We covers a lot of genres and are fairly adaptable,” he said.

“The 1980s were a fantastic period in Australian rock with bands like AC/DC, The Angels, The Choirboys, Aussie Crawl, Cold Chisel and INXS.

“They were really pioneers in that classic stage of (Aussie) music. I grew up listening to them and love playing their music.”

The Grinners 10^th anniversary show is on at The Bridge Hotel on Saturday, August 1, from 9pm. Entry is free.