Gaelic Storm
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Gaelic Storm is a highly-acclaimed Celtic band.
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[edit] History
Gaelic Storm's origins can be traced back to 1996, when Patrick Murphy and Steve Wehmeyer joined with Steve Twigger to perform at O'Brien's Irish Pub and Restaurant in Santa Monica, California, of which Murphy was the manager. This led to a number of pub performances for the next year.
In 1997, Gaelic Storm appeared in the film Titanic as the steerage band. This catapulted them into touring, where they were met with extreme success and popularity. In addition to musical events, they have offered workshops that explore topics of Celtic spirituality, at events such as the Starwood Festival. They have toured throughout the United States and Canada, in the United Kingdom, France, and Japan.
To this date, Gaelic Storm tours aggressively, and plays over 125 dates a year. It has also put out six albums since its inception, including the compilation album Special Reserve. The band is notable for its energetic rendering of traditional Irish music, and for its albums which repeatedly top the Billboard world music charts.[citation needed]
Over its history, the band has replaced its fiddle player a few times, its drummer once, and added Highland, Uilleann, and Deger (electronic) bagpipes to its instrumentation.
In January 2006 the band released its first DVD titled "Gaelic Storm: Live In Chicago". The show was filmed live at the House of Blues in Chicago.
The band's latest CD, Bring Yer Wellies, was released on July 25, 2006 and made it to #2 on The Billboard World Music Chart in its first week.
[edit] Band members
- Patrick Murphy (accordion, spoons, bodhrán, lead vocals)
- Steve Twigger (guitar, bouzouki, lead vocals)
- Ryan Lacey (djembe, doumbek, surdo, and various other percussion)
- Ellery Klein (fiddle, vocals)
- Peter Purvis (Highland bagpipes, Uillean pipes, DegerPipes, whistle)
Former members:
- Steve Wehmeyer (bodhrán, didgeridoo, vocals)
- Tom Brown (Highland bagpipes & DegerPipes)
- Bob Banerjee (fiddle)
- Kathleen Keane (fiddle, whistle, vocals)
- Samantha Hunt (fiddle)
- Shep Lonsdale (djembe, doumbek, surdo and various other percussion)
Guest musicians by album:
- Herding Cats
- John Whelan (button accordion)
- Eric Rigler (Uillean Pipes, Low D Whistle)
- Marie Reilly (fiddle)
- Tree
- Mike Porcaro (bass)
- Special Reserve
- Deborah Clark Colón (fiddle on Tracks 1,3 & 8)
- How Are We Getting Home?
- Dave Pomeroy (bass guitars)
- Nanci Griffith (special guest vocals on Track 5)
- Bring Yer Wellies
- Jeff May (bass guitar)
- Rob Forkner (bodhran)
- Michael Ramos (accordion)
- Lauren Dilbert (didgeridoo)
[edit] Discography
- Gaelic Storm (July 28, 1998)
- Herding Cats (September 20, 1999)
- Tree (June 19, 2001)
- Special Reserve (August 19, 2003)
- How Are We Getting Home? (August 3, 2004)
- Bring Yer Wellies (July 25, 2006)
