Robert Tincher and Art Mize have been musical compatriots since 1987, when, pieced together out of the burning wreckage of former bands, there arose a new ensemble that endured through a single concert venue. Yet a trio known as Defying Gravitty did remain for a time which included the noteworthy balladeer Margaret Lyle Gravitt. For a few years we appeared as a trio with David Atcher and at that time acquired the name Pale, Stout & Amber. Robert and Art have endured throughout, continually offering the essence of Celtic music from the vivacious storehouse of light and bubbly dance tunes, the dark and meditative laments and ballads and the resonant and highly distilled classical traditions of the harp tunes and airs.

Robert Tincher sings the lead vocals and plays cittern, bodhran, and guitar. He was trained in classical piano until his interest was overtaken by Appalachian music and by the popular folk music of the 1960's. Robert's first contact with English and Scottish traditional music occurred as a university student working overseas in 1973. During the next two years, he worked for a Boston music publisher, and, as a spare-time folksinger, began to explore the city's rich heritage of Irish music. Returning to Kentucky, for many years he juggled careers as a performer, an anthropologist, and a musical events producer, and was significant in developing a regional audience for Celtic music. For a number of years Robert was heard in the region with Mad Catherine and the Moon-Dog Pirates. ...

Art Mize was born in Hyden, Kentucky, grew up near London, Kentucky, high schooled in Versailles and has lived since in Lexington, Kentucky. His earliest musical influence was that of a capella church singing from shape notes with which he grew up. His father started him first on baritone ukelele at 6. He acquired his first fiddle from a barber in London at the age of 10. By the time he left high school he was deep in Bluegrass music. It was during his college years in Lexington that he fell in with a small, tight Celtic music scene that was just beginning to emerge in Lexington. Over the years he has warmed up for such visiting acts as the Tannahil Weavers, Battlefield Band, Andy M. Stewart, and Patrick Street. Art plays fiddle, viola, mandolin, guitar, and whistle.