Celebration

Celebration is a rock group from Baltimore, United States, active since 2004. The group is a Baltimore psychedelic soul band, and its line-up centres on singer Katrina Ford, multi-instrumentalist Sean Antanaitis and drummer David Bergander.

Line-up and sound

Celebration’s core trio is Ford, Antanaitis and Bergander, with additional rotating members including Walker Teret, who plays bass, sometimes guitar, percussion and backing vocals, Tony Drummond, who plays keys, percussion and backing vocals, and Tommy Rouse, who plays guitar and percussion. In the band’s early years as a three-piece, its sound is shaped by Antanaitis’s studio and live use of organ, Moog bass pedals, guitorgan and electric keys, alongside Ford’s vocals and Bergander’s drumming.

Recordings and production

The group’s first two records are produced by David Sitek of TV on the Radio. Sitek also contributes guitar and synth parts, while other album contributors include Martin Perna and Stewart Bogle, who add flute and saxophone. Celebration’s self-produced Electric Tarot: Hello Paradise is recorded at home and in their hometown with additional members, and the music is organised around a tarot theme running through its meanings and content.

Performance style

Celebration describe their live shows as ritual music, with performances intended to blur the line between audience and performer. Their stated imagery and themes include full moon rites, fire jumping, crystal geode worlds, futuristic tribal living, Dionysian mysteries, trance induction, freedom, green energy, mountain magic, Malian drumming, cave dwelling, time travel, power animals, underground lakes, bird calls, shamanic journeying, astrology, reiki, black light art and self-hypnosis, among many others.

Name in other contexts

Celebration is also the name of several unrelated acts, including a Beach Boys side project, a Polish death metal band from Białystok, and a 1970s American soul/funk band.