At long last, Blackstone River Theatre hosts the return of Tempest, celebrating 38 years of Celtic Rock music and bringing a new ACOUSTIC format to Blackstone River Theatre. So if you like Celtic rock music but don’t like it too loud, this concert is for you! Since forming in 1988, Tempest has delivered a globally-renowned hybrid of high-energy Folk Rock, fusing Irish reels, Scottish ballads, Norwegian influences and other world music elements. The last 37 years have seen the San Francisco Bay Area-based act release 18 critically acclaimed albums, and play more than 2,500 gigs. The current line-up of the band features all original members, performing a variety of selections from the band’s extensive repertoire, sparking with vitality and energy. Hailing from Oslo, Norway, founder and lead singer/electric mandolinist, Lief Sorbye, is recognized as a driving force in the modern folk-rock movement. He started Tempest after years of touring and recording on the folk circuit. He is joined by San Diego’s Ian Butler on bass and Vermont-born fiddler Jon Berger who first joined the band in 1993. He is now back, showcasing his passion for Celtic and British Isles traditional music. Audience favorite, Cuban-born drummer Adolfo Lazo thickens the band’s sound with inventive rhythms, and rock-steady drumming. Tempest is regularly featured at prestigious festivals such as The Philadelphia Folk Festival, and has also appeared at Denmark’s Skagen Festival, Britain’s Cropredy Festival and The Winnipeg Folk Festival in Canada. The band is also a mainstay at countless American Celtic festivals.
