Over the years, playing together has lead to a refinement of their technique and a mutual understanding that enables them to change their repertoire even as they play. The play list may be agreed in advance, but that does not always constrain the show. Any one of them can set them off jamming, changing a piece spontaneously. The band has an inexhaustible treasury of songs, both well-known and more rarely-heard, found in their extensive researches into Irish folk music.
The things that make Sirkusband different to many other Irish music bands are its distinctive sound, which is created by their choice of instruments, and the personalities of the players with their different musical backgrounds. There are elements from soul, jazz and country music mixed with their interpretation of Irish folk tunes. The repertoire can change depending on the audience and the nature of the performance. It can be totally made up of traditional melodies such as reel-jigs, horn pipes, polkas, slip-jigs and airs, or it can incorporate Van Morrison, the Waterboys and Mary Black.