In 2009, vocalist Carrie Fussell and guitarist Matt Roth began writing songs together. Soon, vibraphonist, Craig ("The Funk") Finklestein, joined and the trio quickly enveloped themselves in the community of the local Austin music scene.
By 2013, Calliope Musicals’ lineup of musicians doubled. With Josh Bickley on drums, Andrew Vizzone on bass and Chris Webb on guitar, the six-piece worked together to develop their sound as well as an artist collective, Circus on the Moon, to support their endeavors. With growing involvement in the Austin community —fundraising for the homeless; hosting intimate, secret shows for fans and friends; shooting off fireworks for headliners at local festivals—Calliope Musicals (and their collective) became fast favorites in local media.
This October, after years of extensive touring and acclaimed festival performances across North America, Calliope Musicals played Austin City Limits Music Festival for the first time. Despite being the first band to play during the first weekend of the festival, Calliope Musicals caught the attention of national media.
Billboard deemed their performance one of the, "Best Moments From the Fest's First Weekend. "A surprisingly large audience for such an early time slot," says Billboard, "the crowd swells significantly as passersby get sucked into the genuinely good vibes."
“To label Calliope Musicals a band might be selling them short...while the group’s primary medium is music, their live show is an auditory, visual, and genuinely transportive experience,“ says Tribeza in a recent “Music Pick” feature.
“This Austin six-piece channels youthful energy that shows how much enjoyment can be found in life...
Calliope Musicals wants to be the greatest show on Earth. It’s their effort to spread love and positivity," says KUTX.
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