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Matt Ripsch and Eli Somlock both grew up in Kendall County, Illinois, developing a passion for the guitar and performing from a young age. Before forming their current project, they crossed paths at an open mic night in Plainfield, Illinois, where Ripsch hosted as part of the house band.The duo officially joined forces in August 2024. Almost immediately after partnering, they experienced an incredible stroke of early-career luck: they were asked to serve as the opening act for multi-platinum country star Riley Green at the 136th annual Sandwich Fair in September 2024.Because they had only been together for a matter of weeks, they didn't even have an official name finalized. Right before taking the stage in front of an estimated 8,000 fans, they merged their two last names—Ripsch and Somlock—to form Riplock. The performance was a resounding success, capturing a young demographic and instantly injecting momentum into their musical career.
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101 south 3rd street, Oregon, IL, United States
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