Seven Nations
Encyclopedia
Seven Nations is a Celtic rock
band
that formed in New York City
in 1993. The name comes from the seven Celtic nations
, including Scotland
, Ireland
, Wales
, Brittany
, Cornwall
, the Isle of Man
and Galicia. The band tours extensively and has played in many diverse venues, from small bars to prestigious concert halls.
Seven Nations got its start in New York City in 1993 as the part-time project of then-bartender McLeod, under the name Clan Na Gael. Lead singer Kirk McLeod states that late 1993 "was the first time we added bagpipes to the show," and therefore the origin of the band as it is today http://www.sevennations.com.
During summers, when McLeod was a kid, his folks sent him off to Scottish music camp to learn traditional bagpipe technique. Eventually, McLeod assembled a band from friends in Florida and recruits from Canada to play his songs.
The band's original members were Kirk McLeod (vocals, keyboard, guitars and Great Highland Bagpipes), Neil Anderson (vocals, highland and Uilleann bagpipes, Scottish smallpipes
, tin whistles and mandolin
), Jim "Struby" Struble (vocals, acoustic and bass guitars) and Nick Watson (vocals, drums and percussion). The band changed its name in 1997 because a Nevada folk music group was already operating under the same name http://aroundthehearth.com/clannagael/.
Watson left the band in 1997 and was replaced by Ashton Geoghagan. Anderson left the band in 1998, and in 1999 Dan Stacey (fiddle
, Canadian step dancing) and Scott Long (highland bagpipes) joined Seven Nations's lineup. Geoghagan left in August 2001 to pursue other interests(he is currently a Paramedic/Engineer with Jacksonville Fire Rescue), and was replaced by Christian "Crisco" Miceli, who rounds out the band's current membership. Watson and Anderson currently play together with former "The Bolshoi
" frontman Trevor Tanner in a new Celtic rock group called "Rathkeltair" which has done extensive touring up and down the east coast. Dan Stacey left in December 2007 to pursue a solo career, and was on tour with the New York City area band "Cherish the Ladies
", as well as "The Step Crew". In 2005, the original members reunited to produce an album where, in addition to tracks from earlier albums Rain and Thunder, Old Ground and Big Dog, there are six new tracks and two completely original songs recorded in December, 2004. "Clan Na Gael: 10 Years On
"http://www.sevennations.com.They also played four shows live in New York, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina.
The band's current line-up includes Kirk McLeod, Jim "Struby" Struble, Christian "Crisco" Miceli, Victor Gagnon (fiddle), and Will MacMorran (guitar, bagpipes.) The band regularly tours across the US, has appeared on ESPN
, CNN World Beat, PBS and CBS
, and has sold over 140,000 albums since 1996, without signing to a major label . The band's most successful release to date was And Now It's Come to This, released on Razor & Tie
Records in 2002. The album's mainstream rock sound was considered to be a drastic change from the band's traditional style. A recent album, Thanks for Waiting
, returns to the acoustic style and does not feature an electric guitar. The band also released a Celtic Rock Tribute to the Cure. Seven Nations latest release is Time as the Enemy.
The band is currently based out of Middleburg, Florida
.
Scotch
campaign ads, which featured a print campaign in over 20 major magazines, as well as use of the Dewar's tour bus during late 1999 to 2002. Also in the media was use of the song "Big Yellow Bus" off their 2002 album And Now It's Come to This in an episode of a CBS
drama, but the episode never aired.
PBS also did a feature titled "An Evening with Seven Nations", which was aired sometime in the late 1990s and is available on VHS
.
In the early 2000s, ESPN
approached them to create the theme for their Extreme Sports show, which airs internationally.
Perhaps the most successful media exposure, short of the Dewar's Campaign, was during the XIX Winter Olympic Games
in Salt Lake City, Utah
where they played in the Torch Lighting Ceremony.
Celtic rock
Celtic rock is a genre of folk rock and a form of Celtic fusion which incorporates Celtic music, instrumentation and themes into a rock music context...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
that formed in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1993. The name comes from the seven Celtic nations
Celtic nations
The Celtic nations are territories in North-West Europe in which that area's own Celtic languages and some cultural traits have survived.The term "nation" is used in its original sense to mean a people who share a common traditional identity and culture and are identified with a traditional...
, including Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
and Galicia. The band tours extensively and has played in many diverse venues, from small bars to prestigious concert halls.
Band history
Seven Nations started to form in Middleburg High, located in Florida. They would joke around about forming a band in the halls. Eventually they did and named it "Seven Nations".Seven Nations got its start in New York City in 1993 as the part-time project of then-bartender McLeod, under the name Clan Na Gael. Lead singer Kirk McLeod states that late 1993 "was the first time we added bagpipes to the show," and therefore the origin of the band as it is today http://www.sevennations.com.
During summers, when McLeod was a kid, his folks sent him off to Scottish music camp to learn traditional bagpipe technique. Eventually, McLeod assembled a band from friends in Florida and recruits from Canada to play his songs.
The band's original members were Kirk McLeod (vocals, keyboard, guitars and Great Highland Bagpipes), Neil Anderson (vocals, highland and Uilleann bagpipes, Scottish smallpipes
Scottish smallpipes
The Scottish smallpipe, in its modern form, is a bellows-blown bagpipe developed by Colin Ross and others, to be playable according to the Great Highland Bagpipe fingering system. There are surviving examples of similar historical instruments such as the mouth-blown Montgomery smallpipes in E,...
, tin whistles and mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
), Jim "Struby" Struble (vocals, acoustic and bass guitars) and Nick Watson (vocals, drums and percussion). The band changed its name in 1997 because a Nevada folk music group was already operating under the same name http://aroundthehearth.com/clannagael/.
Watson left the band in 1997 and was replaced by Ashton Geoghagan. Anderson left the band in 1998, and in 1999 Dan Stacey (fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, Canadian step dancing) and Scott Long (highland bagpipes) joined Seven Nations's lineup. Geoghagan left in August 2001 to pursue other interests(he is currently a Paramedic/Engineer with Jacksonville Fire Rescue), and was replaced by Christian "Crisco" Miceli, who rounds out the band's current membership. Watson and Anderson currently play together with former "The Bolshoi
The Bolshoi
The Bolshoi were a London-based music group prominent mostly in the mid-late 1980s. They are best known for the hits "Sunday Morning" and "A way" or "Away" .-History:...
" frontman Trevor Tanner in a new Celtic rock group called "Rathkeltair" which has done extensive touring up and down the east coast. Dan Stacey left in December 2007 to pursue a solo career, and was on tour with the New York City area band "Cherish the Ladies
Cherish the Ladies
Cherish the Ladies is an American all-female Irish-American super group. The band began as a concert series in New York in January 1985, the brainchild of Mick Moloney who wanted to showcase the brightest female musicians in America in what had been a male-dominated scene...
", as well as "The Step Crew". In 2005, the original members reunited to produce an album where, in addition to tracks from earlier albums Rain and Thunder, Old Ground and Big Dog, there are six new tracks and two completely original songs recorded in December, 2004. "Clan Na Gael: 10 Years On
Clan Na Gael: 10 Years On
Clan Na Gael: 10 Years On is a reunion album for the original line up of Seven Nations. It features the return of Nick Watson and Neil Anderson Clan Na Gael: 10 Years On is a reunion album for the original line up of Seven Nations. It features the return of Nick Watson and Neil Anderson Clan Na...
"http://www.sevennations.com.They also played four shows live in New York, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina.
The band's current line-up includes Kirk McLeod, Jim "Struby" Struble, Christian "Crisco" Miceli, Victor Gagnon (fiddle), and Will MacMorran (guitar, bagpipes.) The band regularly tours across the US, has appeared on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, CNN World Beat, PBS and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, and has sold over 140,000 albums since 1996, without signing to a major label . The band's most successful release to date was And Now It's Come to This, released on Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie is a New York-based corporation founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam. The company encompasses a record label with major label distribution , a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a marketing, promotion and sales team, and a direct...
Records in 2002. The album's mainstream rock sound was considered to be a drastic change from the band's traditional style. A recent album, Thanks for Waiting
Thanks For Waiting
Thanks for Waiting is an album by Seven Nations released in 2005 on Moriath Records.-Track listing:#Intro#One Foot#Ordinary#Miracle#Tradition#Waltz for Crystele#Somthin Somthin#Drive#Instrumental#It's Alright#Like Running Away#Reno#Slow Aire...
, returns to the acoustic style and does not feature an electric guitar. The band also released a Celtic Rock Tribute to the Cure. Seven Nations latest release is Time as the Enemy.
The band is currently based out of Middleburg, Florida
Middleburg, Florida
Middleburg is a census-designated place in Clay County, Florida, United States, located 29 miles southwest of downtown Jacksonville, Florida, 16 miles northwest of Green Cove Springs, Florida, and home to Middleburg High School...
.
Media
The band has been in the media numerous times, most notably during the Dewar'sDewar's
Dewar's is a brand of blended Scotch whisky.-History:The Dewar's whisky brand was created by John Dewar, Sr. in 1846. Under the control of his two sons, John A. Dewar Jr. and Thomas "Tommy" Dewar , the brand expanded to become a global market by 1896...
Scotch
Scotch whisky
Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland.Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories: Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky , Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, and Blended Scotch Whisky.All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three...
campaign ads, which featured a print campaign in over 20 major magazines, as well as use of the Dewar's tour bus during late 1999 to 2002. Also in the media was use of the song "Big Yellow Bus" off their 2002 album And Now It's Come to This in an episode of a CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
drama, but the episode never aired.
PBS also did a feature titled "An Evening with Seven Nations", which was aired sometime in the late 1990s and is available on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
.
In the early 2000s, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
approached them to create the theme for their Extreme Sports show, which airs internationally.
Perhaps the most successful media exposure, short of the Dewar's Campaign, was during the XIX Winter Olympic Games
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
where they played in the Torch Lighting Ceremony.
Albums
- Rain and ThunderRain and ThunderRain and Thunder is the first album released by Seven Nations, then known as Clan na Gael.-Track listing:#4th Part of Clumsy Lover#Back Home in Derry#Whistle Set #From Clare to Here...
(1994) - Old GroundOld GroundOld Ground is an album released by Seven Nations, at that time known as Clan na Gael, in 1995.-Track listing:#Colonel Fraser/The Big Parcel/Elzik's Farewell #No Reason #The Pound a Week Rise #Scream...
(1995) - Big DogBig Dog (album)Big Dog is an album by Seven Nations, released in 1996 on their own label.-Track listing:#Under the Milky Way #Crooked Jack#The Mountains of Pomeroy/Garrett Barry's/Snug in a Blanket/Iain's Jig/Clumsy Lover/Itchy Fingers...
(1996) - Road Kill (Two Volume Live Set) (1998)
- The FactoryThe Factory (album)The Factory is an album by Seven Nations, self-released in 1999.-Track listing:# The Factory Song# This Season# Soft Gator Girl# The Ballad of Calvin Crozier# Twelve# The Paddy Set# N.O.T. # Heroes in Tennis Shoes...
(1999) - The Pictou SessionsThe Pictou SessionsThe Pictou Sessions is an album released by Seven Nations in 2000. Many of its tracks would be re-released on their follow-up self-titled album.-Track listing:The Pictou Sessions is an album released by Seven Nations in 2000...
(2000) - Seven NationsSeven Nations (album)Seven Nations is an album released by Celtic rock band Seven Nations in 2000. It shares many of the same tracks as the band's previous release, The Pictou Sessions, and can be seen as an update of that album. It also functions as a greatest hits package, as it includes many of singer Kirk McLeod's...
(2000) - Live at the Palace TheaterLive at the Palace TheaterLive at the Palace Theatre is a live album by Seven Nations, released in 2001.-Track listing:#Piper's Wedding#God#King of Oblivion#This Season#Iain's Jig/West Mabou Reel/Itchy Fingers/Clumsy Lover#All You People#Under the Milky Way...
(2001) - And Now It's Come to This (2002)
- Christmas EPChristmas EP (Seven Nations album)Christmas EP is an album by Seven Nations.# "2000 Miles"# "Carol of the Bells"# "Away in a Manger"# "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"# "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"# "The Rebel Jesus"# "Hark the Harold Angels Sing"...
(2003) - Christmas EP 2004Christmas EP 2004Christmas EP 2004 is an album by Seven Nations.# "2000 Miles"# "Carol of the Bells"# "Away in a Manger"# "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"# "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"# "The Rebel Jesus"# "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"...
(2004) - Clan Na Gael: 10 Years OnClan Na Gael: 10 Years OnClan Na Gael: 10 Years On is a reunion album for the original line up of Seven Nations. It features the return of Nick Watson and Neil Anderson Clan Na Gael: 10 Years On is a reunion album for the original line up of Seven Nations. It features the return of Nick Watson and Neil Anderson Clan Na...
(2005) - Thanks For WaitingThanks For WaitingThanks for Waiting is an album by Seven Nations released in 2005 on Moriath Records.-Track listing:#Intro#One Foot#Ordinary#Miracle#Tradition#Waltz for Crystele#Somthin Somthin#Drive#Instrumental#It's Alright#Like Running Away#Reno#Slow Aire...
(2005) - A Celtic Rock Tribute to the Cure (2007)
- Time As The Enemy (2008)
- Another Ten Years (2010)
Solo albums
- Kirk McLeod - So Piano (2003)
- Dan Stacey - Crank It (2003)
- Scott Long - In and Out the Harbour (2003)
Awards and achievements
- Performed at the Torch Lighting ceremony at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City
- Subject of PBS Special “An Evening with Seven Nations”
- Chosen by Extreme Sports to create the music theme for their theme, which airs internationally
- Featured on CNN in a Worldbeat special airing internationally
- Selected by Dewar’s Scotch for a multi-million dollar profile campaign and sponsorship, which included a national print campaign with exposure in over 20 major magazines
- Seven Nations CD flown on the Space Shuttle Endeavour by Canadian astronaut, Chris Hadfield
- First American band to be asked by the National Trust of Scotland to do a return engagement
- Rolling Stone Presents Showcase and VIP party in San Francisco in 2001
- Performed for the televised opening ceremony of the New York Marathon in late 2001
- National Major-market Hard Rock Café tour in 2001 http://www.sevennations.com
- Concert series with the South Carolina Symphony Orchestra
- Annual performance(s) at Irish 2000 Music and Arts Festival, Altamont, NY. One of the largest Irish fests on the East Coast
External links
- Official Site
- [ Seven Nations at allmusic.com]
- Seven Nations Fan Site
- Seven Nations MySpace page