How long have Circuit Riders been together? How did you meet?

Circuit Riders first got together as part of a monthly seeker service and coffeehouse held at Mamaroneck United Methodist Church (NY), where they are all members. Over the past nine years, the group has evolved to the six-piece band they are today.

What does the band’s name mean?

Circuit riders were the itinerant horseback preachers of the past, who rode from town to town spreading the good news in taverns and town squares. We have way too much musical equipment to ride horses, but we love nothing more than loading up our vehicles and arriving in a new place to play our music for anyone who will listen!

Where do the ideas for the band’s original songs come from?

The songs written by the band come from our collective life experiences—the challenges, loves, losses, fears and concerns, and the moments that stamp us with change and make us a different person than we once were. We have each had our share of life’s tests: surviving and grieving September 11th facing health crises and family issues; the joys of welcoming a child into the world; the sorrow of saying goodbye to a beloved friend. What we don’t deliver in our music is a sugar-coated message of faith. What we do hope to share is faith tested in the fire, and a positive statement of hope for everyone who struggles—which, of course, is every person. One of our songs (Will You Take the Call?) was the result of a spiritual retreat with the theme of answering God’s calling in your life. Some of our songs, such as Bar None and Song 46, are inspired by a passage of scripture or a line from a sermon.

Do you perform any cover tunes?

Yes. Among our favorites are Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan), In the Presence of the Lord (Eric Clapton), One of Us (Joan Osborne), and reggae tunes such as Rivers of Babylon, Pressure Drop, and Bob Marley’s No Woman, No Cry.

What can I expect Circuit Riders to provide if I book the band?

You will have hired a seasoned, experienced rock band that works hard to meet your goals and works well to make an event that’s fun, memorable, and meaningful for all involved. With nine years’ experience working together, not to mention individual performance backgrounds, we are a practiced group with a high standard of professionalism. We bring our own sound equipment and our sound engineer. We leave a space as we found it and work with you to make your event run as smoothly as possible.