about
ravenswing is a band that plays like they're dancing, weaving together the brilliance of Scottish repertoire with the gritty drive of New England contra dance rhythms. While Abi Sandy and Crystal Zhu grew up playing music across New England and New York, the duo came together in Scotland while traveling with the Edinburgh University Folk and Traditional Music Society, bonding over their shared love for community through music and dance on both sides of the Atlantic. Since then, their joyful arrangements and compositions have energized concert halls and dance floors across New England, the Midwest, and the UK. Their love for the places they have been and the people they have played with shines through every set they play.
Abi Sandy
A musician all her life, Abi fell in love with traditional music after years of classical training. Studying under DADGAD master Dan Faiella and inspired by the playing of John Doyle and Alex Sturbaum, her music is rooted in the connections between music, dance, language, and identity. Abi's playing explores the nuances of Irish, Scottish, and New England music and dance styles on both banjo and guitar, developing a sound that is both grounded and vibrant. Abi holds a Masters by Research in Celtic Studies from the University of Edinburgh.
Crystal Zhu
(any pronouns)
Trained in classical violin until college, Crystal started playing traditional Irish and Scottish towards the end of that journey. They took inspiration from Irish bands like Lunasa and Flook, as well as Scottish and Cape Breton musicians such as Katie McNally, Hanneke Cassel, and Natalie MacMaster. Joining the contra dance community soon after, they became acquainted with the New England contra dance scene and the music that flourishes within. They separately joined a folk punk band during college and played in a Scottish ceilidh band while studying abroad at the University of Edinburgh. Since then, contra has been the focus of their musical career, but they have enjoyed playing concerts, teaching lessons, and holding workshops for various audiences.