Not to be confused with the U.K. group of the same name (though that would be easy, since they're both based in Celtic music), the New York City-based Whirligig fuses Celtic sounds with other traditional folk and world musics (klezmer, medieval, etc.), as well as touches of jazz, rock, and contemporary dance music. The group formed in 1994 around co-leaders Greg Anderson (vocals, bass, keyboards, cittern, bouzouki) and Lisa Gutkin (fiddle, vocals), with other members including Lisa Moscatiello (lead vocals, guitar, mandolin, whistles), Paul Kovit (guitar, mandolin), Klezmatics member Matt Darriau (flute, clarinet, saxophones, kaval, gaida, whistles), Northern Ireland native Cillian Vallely (uilleann pipes, whistles), and Frenchman Yves Duboin (saxophones, flute, percussion). The group released its debut CD, Wheels, in 1996, and eventually began playing folk festivals throughout North America, including major ones like Newport and Philadelphia. Positive press followed, and Whirligig released its second album, Spin, in 2000, again with a large cast of even more supporting musicians. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi