"Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams is simply one of the finest American bands out there on the road."
All Music Guide
"Super and Natural... I love this band!"
Gene Shay
WXPN FM - Philadelphia
"Whenever I watch The Circus it reminds me to write and perform with my whole heart and soul."
Dar Williams
"A truly remarkable record. I couldn't believe how good it is. Had they made a single, it would be hailed as a classic."
Bruce Warren, PD
WXPN FM - Philadelphia
"Mightily impressive and hugely original... 'tis truly an epic soundtrack."
Maverick Magazine - UK
"Casting a wide net, their music energizes anyone who hears it."
Relix Magazine
"My biggest surprise of the weekend. I was instantly mesmerized. In a word, they are MAGNIFICENT!".
Fern MacDonald
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Review
"This band is at once completely original and entirely familiar. A truly magical experience even if you're just having a conversation with them. It's been a privilege to play their special brand of music on the air. All hail the Circus of Dreams!"
Spider Glenn
Vermont Radio Personality/ WNTI NJ
"Flapjacks from the Sky' abounds with personality, humor, honesty, goodness and grace, a human warmth brought on by connection to the larger whole and a higher spirit."
Mike Jurkovic
Chronogram
"(Flapjacks is) a sustained moment of revelation... A quest for the real gold, the kind that can't be bought or sold. Life changing... a real masterpiece."
Pete & Maura Kennedy
The Kennedys
"This band is a riveting, mesmerizing, crazy, amazing machine of music that gives you chills both through the playing of their eclectic musical devices, as well as through their spiritually evoking lyrical content."
Bottomline NYC Concert Review, Chronogram
"Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams kick some mean hillbilly butt beside Joziah's wry hangdog lead."
Mari McAvenia
Martha's Vineyard Times
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The Message
June, 2004
CHESTER, VT.
GANDALF RULES - and other thoughts on the Roots Festival
By ROBERT F. SMITH
If the feedback I've been getting from the dozens of people I've asked about what acts at the Roots on the River Festival most impressed them is any indication, Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams have done it again. Festival goers were raving about the Circus, and I have to agree. They were really impressive when they made their first appearance at last year's festival, and it was even more so this year. I'm not given to making "best of" statements, but I think this year was the best festival line-up Charlie Hunter has yet put together – which makes Gandalf Murphy's stand-out performances even more important. It was impossible to find a weak act.
It wasn't just Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams that people were talking about – The Green Cards with virtuoso mandolinist Kym Warner; Drunk Stuntmen, whose stage act had them acting at times like, well,drunk stuntmen; Slaid Cleaves, with his movie star good looks and great voice; the remarkable performance of Kristi Rose; and the simply amazing songwriter David Francey, whose stories about how he wrote each song were as fascinating as the songs themselves – all gained a lot of fans at the festival, ncluding me.
But what set Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams apart was that everyone I talked with, and it was a lot of people,mentioned them as the best act of the festival.
They have great positive energy and a huge sound from just a four piece band – due in large part to the guitar work of Sharkey McEwen. Lead singer Joziah Longo has an amazing positive energy and intimacy with the audience that is extremely appealing, and his songwriting is unlike anything else at the festival.
Formed in 1998 in Sleepy Hollow, NY, Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams is beginning to draw the kind of loyal following seen among Fred Eaglesmith's fans. It even amazed the band, when late Saturday night, after over 10 hours of music at the festival, over a 100 festival goers still had the energy to go to the indoor show at the Everyday Inn, where the Circus got two more standing ovations with a performance that easily matched the one they'd given at the festival just a few hours before.
The group is coming back to Bellows Falls for a show during Old Home Days, and I will hardily recommend that you see them. I'd be willing to say that anyone who saw them at the Roots Festival will tell you the same.
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"Lively songs that are imbued with mystical stirrings."
New York Times
"This band is a wonderful surprise - great songs and a whole lotta heart."
Meg Griffin
WFUV/Sirius Radio
"I have rarely seen new groups crash upon the scene with as much impact as this group has. This here record is one big winner in my book."
George Fletcher
Rhythm & News Magazine
"Joziah is an awesome songwriter."
Garth Hudson
The Band
"Like Colorado's Sixteen Horsepower, The Circus reaches back for elements of early American music and makes it rock."
Elisa Flynn
Fairfield County Weekly
"Gandalf Murphy and the SCOD is really something special. This is a band that has all the components necessary to be successful in music - (all that presentation stuff, image, etc.) with the most important ingredient nailed solid... sincere, fresh, accomplished, and memorable music."
EarBuzz.com
"This band is a knockout... they are as fascinating to watch as they are to hear."
Roger Straub
The Trumpeter
"One of the most charismatic talents to emerge from New York's creative community."
Guitar Magazine
"They're not just a band. That's something like saying the Bible is just a book."
Terri Lagerstedt
Westchester County Weekly
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