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From dance floors to concert halls, the Syncopaths bring a
fresh, contemporary spin to music and songs rooted in the Scottish, Irish, and
American folk traditions. Evolving beyond their contra dance origins, they are
creating a "chamber folk" sound characterized by the compelling,
rhythmic interplay of fiddle and mandolin, rich vocals, and unexpected colors
and rhythms from the piano and bodhrán. The exuberant joy they derive from the
music and each other is palpable and contagious.
"Though they may not have the international acclaim of the likes of
Solas or the Chieftains, make no mistake, the Syncopaths are nothing short of a
Celtic supergroup." — Irish Herald, July 2011
At the heart of the band's sound are the twin engines of Ryan McKasson's
dynamic, Scottish-based fiddling and the understated-but-monster picking of
mandolinist Ashley Broder. Jeff Spero provides wonderfully inventive and
surprising piano accompaniment, anchored by the driving power of Christa Burch's
non-traditional bodhrán. Christa also lends her singular voice — warm,
supple, expressive, and intimate — to the band's songs. All in all, the
Syncopaths are equally at home with pulsing, high-energy dance tunes and
beautiful, contemplative songs. They ably stretch melodic boundaries while
keeping a steady, compelling, danceable beat.
"The energy, joy, and spontaneity...rolls right off the stage. The
combination will make you feel like you're firewalking." — Portland
Country Dance Community Footnotes, May 2006
The Syncopaths tour nationally, and have released two CDs, Five Gears
(2010) and Rough Around the Edges (2005).