Gaelic Storm

Gaelic Storm is a Celtic band founded in Santa Monica, California in 1996. Their musical output includes pieces from traditional Irish music, Scottish music, and original tunes in both the Celtic and Celtic rock genres. The band had its first big break in 1997, appearing in the film Titanic and recording songs on the movie's soundtrack album.[1] Their most recent album, One For The Road, was released on March 17, 2021.

Gaelic Storm
Patrick Murphy (2015)
Patrick Murphy (2015)
Background information
OriginSanta Monica, California, United States
GenresCeltic, Celtic rock
Years active1996–present
LabelsLost Again Records
OmTown Music
MembersPatrick Murphy
Steve Twigger
Ryan Lacey
Peter Purvis
Natalya Kay
Past membersKatie Grennan
Kiana Weber
Jessie Burns
Shasha Zhang
Bob Banerjee
Tom Brown
Samantha Hunt
Kathleen Keane
Ellery Klein
Shep Lonsdale
Steve Wehmeyer
Brian Walsh
Websitegaelicstorm.com

History

Gaelic Storm's origins can be traced back to 1996, when Patrick Murphy and Steve Wehmeyer joined with Steve Twigger, drummer Shep Lonsdale, fiddler Samantha Hunt, and Uillean piper Brian Walsh 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.

Steve Twigger (2015)

In 1997, Gaelic Storm appeared in the film Titanic as the steerage band, performing "Blarney Pilgrim" (Jig), "John Ryan's Polka", "Kesh Jig" and "Drowsy Maggie" (Reel).[N 1] The first two were published on the second soundtrack album as "An Irish Party in Third Class", while the band's second album, Herding Cats, featured "Blarney Pilgrim" and "Drowsy Maggie" as "Titanic Set (Medley)".

After this film appearance, Gaelic Storm started touring, and have performed in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Japan. Brian Walsh left the band before the first album was recorded in 1998. Samantha Hunt left sometime in 2000 after the group's second album.

The group has released 13 albums since its inception, including the compilation album Special Reserve. The band is known for their energetic renditions of traditional Irish music and Scottish traditional music, and for their albums which consistently top the Billboard world music charts.[2]

From 2002 to 2006, the band's membership underwent a transition period. The second fiddler, Kathleen Keane, left the band after their third album, "Tree," and drummer Shep Lonsdale left leaving only Murphy, Wehmeyer, and Twigger as the original members. Their soundman at the time, Tom Brown, was also a bagpiper and whistle player and began playing at periods in their show. Ryan Lacey was recruited on drums. This quintet recorded three new tracks for their fourth album, Special Reserve, also a compilation album of their previous three albums. Deborah Clark Colon was the fiddler on the three new tracks, "Courting in the Kitchen," "Schooner Lake Set," and "Nancy Whiskey." Chinese-born Shasha Zhang toured with them on fiddle for several months in 2002. For a brief time in approximately 2003, the band recruited their, to date, only male fiddler, Bob Banerjee. Teresa Gowan was also the group's fiddler during this transitional period. Finally by 2004, Ellery Klein was hired as full time fiddler.

Gaelic Storm's fifth album, How Are We Getting Home?, was released in August 2004 and debuted at #3 on the Billboard World Music Charts, #10 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart, and re-entered the September 2005 World Albums Chart at #3.[3]

By 2005 Tom Brown had left the band and Peter Purvis was brought in to play bagpipes, uilleann pipes, deger pipes, and whistle.

In January 2006, the band released their first DVD, Gaelic Storm: Live In Chicago, filmed live at the House of Blues in Chicago. In early 2006, founding member Steve Wehmeyer retired full time from the band and became a college professor. As of 2022, he still co-writes the music with Murphy and Twigger, and makes occasional appearances with the band. He is the only member that has not been replaced.

After Wehmeyer's full time departure, the band's membership stabilized and remains largely unchanged with the exception of the fiddler which has since changed hands numerous times.

The band's sixth album, Bring Yer Wellies, was released on July 25, 2006 and debuted at #2 on the Billboard World Chart, #16 on the Internet Sales Chart, and #31 on the Independent Album Chart. Gaelic Storm's next album, What's the Rumpus? was released on July 8, 2008 on the band's own label, Lost Again Records. It reached #1 on the Billboard World Chart.

A Simlish version of the song "Scalliwag", from the album Bring Yer Wellies, was recorded and featured on the World music channel in the expansion pack, The Sims 2: Bon Voyage, for the PC Game, The Sims 2.

As of June 2022, original members Murphy and Twigger are still in the band, joined by Ryan Lacey (since 2003), Pete Purvis (since 2005) of Merrickville, Ontario, and Natalya Kay (since 2022).

Band members

Guest musicians by album

Discography

Filmography
  • Titanic (1997)
  • Gaelic Storm Live in Chicago (2006)

Interviews

References
  1. "Gaelic Storm | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  2. "Gaelic Storm - Chart history". billboard. Retrieved 2013-07-31.
  3. "Gaelic Storm". Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2007-11-13.

Notes
  1. The announcement of "Drowsy Maggy" as next title can be heard in the film
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