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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Caffeine addicts enjoyed a cool splash of citrus with their bitter beans last Wednesday afternoon at Javaroma.

The Grapefruits played a set in the downtown cafe as part of Oct. 1 International Music Day celebrations. Members of the six-piece combo served up an appetizing medley of funk-flavoured tunes.

The band is a blend of jazz and blues-inspired musicians who united forces to have fun while injecting a lively new sound into Yellowknife's music scene, which is dominated by other genres.

"Our name, The Grapefruits, represents something that is tasty, healthy and uncommon - kind of like funk," said keyboardist Andrew Jossa.

Jossa is joined by guitarist Matt Fournier, bassist Nick Hurst, drummer Steven Hussey, saxophonist Tyler Heal and Meghan Marchildon on trumpet.

"We learn by ear so there's no limit to what we can do," Jossa said. "Someone hears something they like on the radio and it's bound to be on YouTube so we just pick it up."

The musicians cover funk classics by Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, The Meters and Booker T and the MGs. They also funkify any jazz, rock or pop tunes they find interesting.

"What don't we cover?" Fournier said, adding the band keeps their covers fresh and fun by inserting a lot of improvisation into their performances.

The Grapefruits won this summer's Rock the Folks competition, earning them a spot on the beer garden stage during Folk on the Rocks.

They've also played at the Earth Week coffeehouse, a Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser at the Top Knight alongside the band Drunken Forests and at a few other public venues. On Friday they're performing at a private function put on by Skills Canada.

"We're trying to get out there and play more," Marchildon said. "If people have ideas for songs we could do that ... they can let us know."

The Grapefruits maintain a Facebook page where they will post upcoming gigs throughout the winter. They're also working on a demo CD featuring a menu of funky originals.