Tempest

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 30 plus years have seen the San Francisco Bay Area based act release eighteen critically acclaimed CDs and play more than 2,500 gigs. It's also enjoyed an evolving line-up that's enabled musicianship and creativity to progress in delightful ways with each new member.

Hailing from Oslo, Norway, founding member 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.
San Francisco native fiddler Lee Corbie-Wells, comes to the band with a special passion for Celtic and Scandinavian music and Gaelic language traditions. A touring and performing child of a musical family, she plays fiery traditional fiddle tunes, and is also known to keep a bit of Blues and folk improvisation up her sleeve.
Nikolay Georgiev, studied modern rock guitar under Martin Goulding at the Guitar Institute of Technology in London, U.K. and classical guitar performance in his native Bulgaria. He also attended Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA, while remaining active in a number of bands. Nikolay brings a fresh and global flavor to Tempest's brand of Rock-driven World Music.
The latest addition to the band is the seasoned Bass Player Hugh Caley. He is a Michigan transplant, who brings energy, genuine enthusiasm and a damn fine kilt to this frisky iteration of Celtic and roots music.
Cuban-born drummer Adolfo Lazo, an original Tempest member, 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 a mainstay at countless American Celtic festivals, as well.

Tempest is busting out of a two years' pandemic-enforced hiatus from extensive touring with a new, powerful release. "Going Home" is the band's first studio album of new material in four years, and one of their best to date!