Sxip Shirey

Rhiannon Giddens and Sxip Shirey: SonicNewYork Feauturing Adam Matta and joebass BIO Rhiannon Giddens of the Grammy Award winning Carolina Chocolate Drops is a truly diverse vocalist. SonicNewYork is a new collaboration with adventurous and like-minded cross-genre musicians Sxip Shirey, Joseph "joebass" DeJarnette and Adam Matta. The music is an explosive melding of Brooklyn, the British Isles and North Carolina. You will hear musicians with a deep understanding of the past, but the music you will hear is decidedly new. Rhiannon is best know for her work with the CCDs, but she also sings and plays celtic music. She studied voice at Orberlin where she performed in five operas and three main roles. She will be singing and playing fiddle and banjo. Sxip Shirey is an eclectic composer, songwriter and performer from New York City who has been described as "Mesmerizing" by the New Yorker Magazine. He has written music for author Neil Gaimen, and toured with the Dresden Dolls, Luminescent Orchestrii and many others. He will be playing guitar, and a variety of "Sxipsounds" - bullhorn harmonicas, miniature hand bell choir, and maybe if you're lucky, the Obnoxiophone or the Sxipenspiel. Joseph DeJarnette will be playing the bass. He is a founding member of THE WIYOS and has toured with Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and is known internationally for his entertaining stage presence and distinctive percussive gut string bass playing. Human beat boxer and vocal percussionist wizard Adam Matta fills out the rhythm section. Adam is an extraordinary drummer, horn player and bassist, and he only uses his mouth. He has performed with everyone from Bobby McFerrin to Sufjan Stevans and is also a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Together these 4 unique musicians promise an evening of incredible and beautiful music.