Karen Stackpole is a Bay Area percussionist and improviser who performs and records using gongs, scrap metal, and a range of ethnic instruments. With Aidan McIntyre, she is one half of the duo Euphonics. Stackpole also performs and records with the improvising quartet Vorticella (with Brenda Hutchinson, Krys Bobrowski, and Erin Espeland), and the Left Coast Improv group, Ghost in the House (with David Michalak, Kyle Bruckman, and Tom Nunn). She is the drummer for Cactus Motel and has played with Malcolm Mooney and The Tenth Planet, Moxie, Bolshoi Rodeo, and Rare Thing; as well as collaborating with Gino Robair, Jack Wright, Myles Boisen, John Shiurba, Chris Heenan, Steve Roden, Rod Poole, Tucker Dulin, and John Schott. Stackpole also operates Stray Dog Recording Services and works as a freelance writer for DRUM! and Electronic Musician magazines.