Siúcra is pronounced 'shoo-kruh', and it means 'sugar' in Irish.

Siúcra is Beth Leachman (lead vocals, bodhran), Shannon Heaton (Irish flute, whistles, vocals), and Matthew Heaton (guitar, vocals).

Formed in 1998, they play a sweet mix of Irish traditional songs and tunes. Danny Carnahan from Acoustic Guitar wrote, "Siucra is full of hot musicianship, confidence, and unstoppable energy. A five-piece band would be hard-pressed to match the amount of music these three musicians produce.."

Siúcra ('sugar' in Irish Gaelic) formed in Colorado, with initial tours taking them through the midwestern and western United States. When Matthew and Shannon moved to Boston in 2001, the trio expanded their touring scope to the East Coast. And in May 2002, the group launched its second cd "Here Among Strangers," a kickin' follow up to their first release, "a place i know." Sing-Out magazine called this "solid album sweet and satisfying... disarmingly infectious!"

Both Shannon and Matthew have music roots in Chicago. Shannon learned to play Irish flute at sessions on the North Side of the city, with yearly trips to Clare, Galway and Boston. Matthew was exposed to a wide range of musical styles early on - his father is noted organist/composer Charles Heaton. From garage band beginnings, through university degrees in classical guitar he has developed a powerfully rhythmic and resonant style of guitar playing. Shannon & Matthew also perform as a duo, with George Keith (fiddle), and with traditional singer Aoife Clancy.

Beth grew up in western Colorado. She learned about sean nos singing and about the Irish language in the West of Ireland. Her clear and tonally inventive bodhran playing have developed over years of sessions and pub gigs; and she has more recently added the harp to her line of talents, which she performs with harpist Margot Krimmel in WesterSnow.

With a very Siúcra spin on old and new traditional tunes -- gorgeous melodies, great backing, strong arrangements and exhuberant performances -- Siúcra's future looks sweet indeed.