Originally formed from an idea that concert impresario Peter Shapiro had about commissioning original set-break music at the Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary concerts (“Fare Thee Well”), Circles Around The Sun is a first-of-its-kind band that has continued to trail-blaze the instrumental cosmic disco space for nearly a decade, shapeshifting through several iterations. Not just spiritually but actually and tangibly linked to Grateful Dead history, the band’s music shares shelf space with post-rock, psych-rock, jazz-funk, and good old fashioned psychedelia, while their recorded output has included collaborations with such diverse luminaries as Joe Russo, Billy Strings and Mikaela Davis. Original instrumentals form the bedrock of CATS’ live show, taking fans on a whole different journey every time.

Mikaela Davis, Delivery

“This record is kind of about writing a record,” Mikaela Davis says. The 26-year-old is home in her native Rochester, New York, reflecting on Delivery, her highly anticipated full-length album, as well as the hard journey the classically trained, defiantly original harpist had to travel to become the writer, performer, and band leader she was meant to be. 

“A lot of these songs came from feeling stuck and also like people were pulling me in a bunch of different directions,” Mikaela says. “I wanted to say, ‘Just wait for me. I’ll figure it out.’”

Mikaela’s plea for patience - a little bit sweet, a little bit angry and raw - fed a fierce 10-song collection. A joyride that pulls from folk rock, 70s and 80s pop experimentation, and muscly funk, Delivery manages to be both daring and comfortable, full of not just risks, but hooks.