From jam sessions in a small pub, to performing in a blockbuster film and touring more than 200 days every year, Gaelic Storm is well into their 20-year career and is nowhere near slowing down. The Irish rock juggernaut has 13 celebrated albums to their name, more than 3,000 shows under their belt and massive success on the Billboard charts.
Gaelic Storm kicked off their career in 1996 as a pub band in Santa Monica, California. The band’s first exposure arrived before they had even recorded their first album, appearing as the “steerage band” entertaining passengers in the massive 1997 blockbuster Titanic. Their original song, “Irish Party in Third Class,” featured on the Titanic Motion Picture Soundtrack is RIAA Diamond® Certified. They were widely embraced by the time they released their self-named album a year later.
In the 20 years that followed, they have topped the Billboard World Music chart six times. They proved to be a popular touring act and quickly followed up with a pair of albums: 1999's Herding Cats and 2001's Tree. By the time they released their fourth studio album, How Are We Getting Home? in 2004, they became a chart success as well, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard World Music chart. Gaelic Storm's next two releases, Bring Yer Wellies in 2006 and What's the Rumpus? in 2008, fared even better, reaching No. 2 and No. 1, respectively.
Gaelic Storm has headlined at some of the world’s largest Celtic and Irish festivals in America and Europe including Milwaukee Irish fest, Dublin Irish Fest in Ohio, Festival Interceltique De Lorient in France and Festival Ortigueira in Spain. Other notable major performances include Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado, Summer Camp Music Festival in Illinois, Wakarusa right here in Arkansas. Gaelic storm also recorded “Scallywag” in “simlish” for the EA Game Sims2.
The band attributes their success to their dedicated audiences, who come from any and all music genres. Country music lovers, bluegrass fans and Celtic traditionalists can all find an unexpected home in Gaelic Storm. The innovative group seamlessly blends Irish and Scottish traditional fare, drinking songs, beautiful folk songs and playful originals, resulting in more than 250 million streams on all platforms.
On Go Climb a Tree, co-founders Steve Twigger and Patrick Murphy, along with longtime friend and co-writer Steve Wehmever, are again at the helm of song-writing duties. The album has everything – party drinking songs (“The Beer Song”), patriotic anthems (“Green, White and Orange”), beautiful folk songs (“Monday Morning Girl”), spritely instrumentals (“The Night of Tomfoolery”), perfectly poppy songs (“Shine On”), and even a raucous pirate song (“Shanghai Kelly”). When speaking of the overall concept of the album, Murphy gives some insight, “With all the craziness and division in the world, we wanted to make an album about ‘contemplative escapism.’ Go Climb a Tree certainly isn’t about dropping out of the conversation, it’s just about taking a short hiatus to recharge the batteries before you take on the world again.”
Now comprised of Murphy, Twigger, Ryan Lacey, Peter Purvis and Natalya Kay, the group is thrilled to tour again after a few years of worldwide challenges. The affectionately named We Missed You Tour is set to stop in Northwest Arkansas in just two weeks.
Gaelic storm is 20 years into its successful career, yet in their own words, they “grow stronger after each performance.” Click here to listen to Gaelic Storm on Spotify and don’t miss it when the Irish rock juggernaut takes the stage at Walton Arts Center on Thursday, Nov. 15. Tickets start at under $20 and are on sale now at waltonartscenter.org.