The McKassons
Tripping Maggie
A passionate contemporary Scottish fiddle band who bring a new exciting edge to an old treasured tradition.
"The bow drives across the strings, thick and throaty, creating a pulsing sound that feels more of muscle than tendon. The McKassons, a vibrant young Scottish band from Seattle, play like that. On their new CD, "Tripping Maggie," they thunder through jigs'n'reels one moment; then dazzle with a compositional sophistication that is cinematic, transporting, and tantalizingly modern."
-The Boston Globe
BIOGRAPHY:
Fiddles that pulse with electric energy; violas that hum like the plaintive croon of cicadas; banjos that sing like springtime incarnate: Seattle-based McKassons aren’t your average fiddle band. One of the genre’s fastest rising talents, the McKassons create evocative soundtracks for adventures in distant lands and stories yet untold, and their latest album, Tripping Maggie, is yet another enchanted effort. From the theatrical sweep of the title track, to the reflective piano of “The Gates,” to Brooke McKasson’s bittersweet vocals on “If I Should Fall Behind,” The McKassons bring a distinctly American sensibility to traditional Scottish folk, composing songs that have the feel of Celtic music blended with the spirit of folk rock and bluegrass.
United by their affection for Celtic folk, the McKassons are playing to packed houses and festival crowds all over the nation. Featuring Ryan McKasson (fiddle, viola), his sister Cali McKasson (piano), his brother-in-law Matt Jerrell (drums, percussion), and his wife Brooke McKasson (vocals), the McKassons are a family with impressive individual achievements. Ryan claimed the National Scottish Junior Fiddle Championship in 1995 and went on to become the youngest National Scottish Fiddle Open Champion in 1996. He has shared the stage with artists Elvis Costello, Beck, Bjork, Gavin Friday, and composer Phillip Glass, among others. Cali has performed with fiddle greats Alasdair Fraser, Andre Brunet, Laura Risk, and Hanneke Cassel, while Matthew has worked with renowned percussionist Johnny Rabb, who has drummed with Deana Carter, SheDaisy, and Tanya Tucker. With their energy, innovation and craftsmanship, as warm as a handshake and boisterous as an Irish pub, The McKassons offer something fresh and unique to both the Emerald City and the landscape of independent music.
More REVIEWS:
"The McKassons define magic... the wizardry these lads create do not involve any trickery. They are the real deal, blessed with abundant creativity, a heart full of soul, and fiddles, pianos, cellos, violas, banjos, and percussion that'll haunt your dreams."
-Whisperin and Hollerin
"Ryan and Cali McKasson have a rich, resonating sound..."
-Dirty Linen Magazine
"The McKassons are energetic players, and their unyielding enthusiasm leaps from their instruments...Never mind Nirvana; the McKassons just might be the new sound of the Pacific Northwest. "
-CD Reviews
Folk: Scottish Traditional