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 The
Ditty Bops, aka Abby DeWald and Amanda Barrett, are two like-minded
women hailing from California. Abby and Amanda first met at
a party, but really connected when they just happened to sit
near each other at a showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture
Show" in New York City. Since then, they have combined
their talents (Amanda grew up singing harmony for her mother's
British Isles duo and Abby plays a mean guitar - they both
juggle) and created an act that is as much modern vaudeville
as it is contemporary pop music. The songs they write together
are clever harmonies that hearken back to a time of dancehalls
and nickelodeons. A Ditty Bops live show often includes costumes
and friends on stilts (their 2006 Bicycle and Bikini Calendar
is a visual take on both The Ditty Bops style and the duo's
love of bicycles and bikinis). Their debut album, The Ditty
Bops, is available on Warner Bros. and they are in the studio
now working on a follow-up CD.
Although The Ditty Bops are relatively new to the music scene,
they are already drawing attention from fans, critics and
industry professionals. Their music uses tight harmonies and
acoustic arrangements to create a sound that seems like a
memory while remaining California-fresh. Talking with Jim
Blum, they offer only insight to go along with wonderful selections
from their debut CD, The Ditty Bops, and something special
off their upcoming Warner release, due this spring. Along
with Abby and Amanda, Folk Alley's live recordings also feature
Greg Rutledge on accordion, Kaveh Rastegar on bass and Michael
"Tuba" Heatherton on strange noise-making things.
How many singer/songwriters eat fire, juggle and appear onstage in a bikini? Not many we're guessing, but The Ditty Bops fit all these criteria - and more! Their infectious harmonies have won them fans hither and yon, including the folks at Warner Bros. who signed the band after only 6 public performances.
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