★★★★ Songlines ★★★★ RnR
“as good an album of top-drawer Irish tradition as is imaginable” RnR
“fabulous flute playing… a masterclass in Irish flute” FolkWorld
“effortless… a peach of a record that demands your attention” Living Tradition
“flawless… a must have for your collection” Irish Music Magazine
Steph Geremia is an Irish flute player and singer from Galway, Ireland. Touring internationally since 2007, she is a consummate performer who embodies flair, sensitivity and tradition. Drawing on an eclectic musical background she delivers a unique voice to the Irish instrumental and folk song traditions. Performing as a soloist or as a founding member of critically acclaimed Irish group, Alan Kelly Gang, also in collaboration with Scottish songstress, Eddi Reader, Steph is widely renowned for her vibrant and versatile Irish flute playing, as displayed on her sparkling 2018 release Up She Flew: “Exceptional skill and musicality. . . a masterclass in Irish flute” Folkworld. It was perhaps her 2023 vocal album If Tomorrow, selected as Marty Whelan’s Album Of The Week on RTE Lyric FM and first single, Blue Is The Colour Of Lonesome receiving an RTE Radio One Recommends, that further solidified her dynamic musical breadth. Irish Music Magazine confirms “Her version of Dougie McClean’s Garden Valley is outstanding, time transcendent”.
Over the past 20 years, in addition to her long standing collaboration with Ireland’s piano accordion hero, Alan Kelly, Steph notably toured with Grammy award winning, The Chieftains on their 2007 tour of America in partnership with all female group, Líadan. She was a member of Eddi Reader’s band from 2018 – 2020 where she was featured on flutes, whistles, soprano sax and vocals and a special performance highlight was stepping in for renowned Irish flutist, Kevin Crawford, to perform with Lúnasa, Ireland’s “hottest acoustic Irish band on the planet” in August 2022. She has joined forces with prestigious theatre companies including Galway’s An Taibhearc and performed with New York based, award winning & avant-garde, Mabou Mines in their production of Peter and Wendy, on the original score composed by the late Scottish fiddle player, Johnny Cunningham at the Arena stage in Washington DC in 2007, Royal Lyceum at Edinburgh International Festival 2009 and Off-Broadway at the New Victory Theatre, NYC in 2011.
Steph has toured, performed and recorded with critically acclaimed artists including a recent collaboration with Shetland fiddler, Chris Stout, Kris Drever (Lau), Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh (De Dannan), Steve Wall (The Stunning), Ian Carr, John McCusker & Heidi Talbot, Manus Lunny (Capercaillie), Seamie O’Dowd, Donogh Hennessey (Lúnasa), Martin Brunsden (Hot House Flowers), Sea Road Sessions, Sean Smyth (Lúnasa), Aaron Jones (Old Blind Dogs) John Joe Kelly (Flook), Connla, Sweden’s West of Eden and more.
Steph has been teaching flute since 2005 and is a highly sought-after teacher who continues to lead masterclasses at many international festivals, Royal Conservatory of Scotland, University of Limerick and has developed both a wooden and silver flute course for the Online Academy of Irish Music. She regularly works with international students online as well as teaching locally in Galway, Ireland.
Highlighted Festival Performances:
Australia:
- WOMADelaide (2011) w/ Alan Kelly Quartet,
- Port Fairy Folk Festival (2009) w/ Alan Kelly Quartet
- The National Folk Festival (2009) w/ Alan Kelly Quartet
- The National Folk Festival (2011) w/ Alan Kelly Quartet
- The National Folk Festival (2012) w/ Alan Kelly Gang
- Blue Mountains Folk & Blues Festival (2009) w/ Alan Kelly Quartet
- Blue Mountains Folk & Blues Festival (2011) w/ Alan Kelly Quartet
- Apollo Bay (2009) w/ Alan Kelly Quartet
Canada:
- Edmonton Folk Festival (2013) w/ Eddi Reader & Alan Kelly Gang
- Winnipeg Folk Festival (2013) w/ Alan Kelly Gang
- Vancouver Folk Festival (2013) w/ Alan Kelly Gang
- Celtic Colours (2011) w/ Alan Kelly Gang
- Celtic Colours (2012) w/ Alan Kelly Gang
- Celtic Colours (2014) w/ Alan Kelly Gang
Europe:
- Guiness Irish Festival Sion, Switzerland (2011) w/ Alan Kelly Quartet
- Festival Le Cornouaille, France (2012) w/ Alan Kelly Gang
- Festival Les Traversees Tatihou (2015) w/ Eddi Reader & Alan Kelly Gang
- Festival Babieca Folk Burgos, Spain (2021) w/ Steph Geremia Band
- Irish Nights Kammgarn, Switzerland (2010) w/ Alan Kelly Quartet
- Irish Nights Kammgarn, Switzerland (2015) w/ Alan Kelly Gang & Eddi Reader
- Brittany Winter School, France (2017) solo artist
- Brittany Winter School, France (2018) solo artist
- Brittany Winter School, France (2019) solo artist
- Brittany Winter School, France (2025) w/ Steph Geremia & Chris Stout
- Fáilte, Konstanz, Germany (2025) solo artist
- TradMusic Workshop, Austria (2023) solo artist
- TradMusic Workshop, Austria (2024) solo artist
- Summer School for Irish Music, Germany (2016) Steph Geremia & Alan Kelly
- Etno Festival, Poland (2010) w/ Alan Kelly Quartet
- Viljandi Folk Festival, Estonia (2007) w/ Líadan
Ireland:
- Doolin Folk Festival (2018) w/ Steph Geremia Band
- Ballyshannon Folk Festival (2012) w/ Eddi Reader & Alan Kelly Gang
- Ballyshannon Folk Festival (2018) w/ Eddi Reader & Alan Kelly Gang
- Ballyshannon Folk Festival (2019) w/ Eddi Reader & Alan Kelly Gang
- Cork Folk Festival (2023) w/ Steph Geremia Band
- Cork Folk Festival (2010) w/ Alan Kelly Quartet & Eddi Reader
- Cork Folk Festival (2014) w/ Alan Kelly Gang & Eddi Reader
- Galway International Arts Festival (2019) w/ Steph Geremia Band
- Galway International Arts Festival (2023) w/ Steph Geremia Band
- Galway International Arts Festival (2010) w/ Eddi Reader & Alan Kelly Quartet
- The Garden Party Summer Series at TSEAC (2023) w/ Steph Geremia Band
- Out To Lunch Arts Festival (2015) w/ Sea Road Sessions
- Clifden Arts Festival (2013) w/ Eddi Reader & Alan Kelly Gang
- Sligo Live (2010) w/ Eddi Reader & Alan Kelly Quartet
- Dun Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures, Ireland (2010) w/ Alan Kelly Quartet
- Blas International Summer School (2025) Steph Geremia & Chris Stout
- Blas International Summer School (2026) solo artist
- Meitheal Summer School (2011) solo artist
- Meitheal Summer School (2019) solo artist
- Meitheal Summer School (2026) solo artist
- Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair (2021) solo artist
- Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair (2022) solo artist
UK:
- Shrewsbury Folk Festival (2019) Eddi Reader Band
- Shetland Folk Festival (2016) w/ Alan Kelly Gang
- Celtic Connections (2010) w/ Alan Kelly Quartet
- Celtic Connections (2012) w/ Alan Kelly Gang & Eddi Reader
- Celtic Connections (2015) w/ Alan Kelly Gang
- Celtic Connections (2019) w/ Steph Geremia Band
- Celtic Connections (2024) w/ Steph Geremia Band
- Celtic Connections (2025) w/ Steph Geremia & Chris Stout
- Stonehaven Folk Festival (2019) w/ Steph Geremia Band
- Newton Stewart and Minnigaff Festival (2019) w/ Steph Geremia Band
- Blas Festival (2015) Eddi Reader & Alan Kelly Gang
USA:
- Dublin Ohio Festival (2022) w/ Connla
- Michigan Irish Music Festival (2022) w/ Connla
- Syracuse Irish Festival (2022) w/ Connla
- New World Festival (2022) w/ Connla
- Baltimore Irish Music Festival (2025) solo artist
- Portal Irish Music Week (2023) solo artist
- O’Flaherty Irish Music Week (2017) solo artist
- Milwaukee Irish Fest (2007) w/ Líadan
Other:
- Barbados Celtic Festival (2012) w/ Alan Kelly Gang
- Barbados Celtic Festival (2013) w/ Alan Kelly Gang
Highlighted TV appearances include:
- Doolin Folk Festival (2018) – Steph Geremia Band
- Geantraí (2025) – Steph Geremia, Alan Kelly & Brian McGrath
- Geantraí (2011) – Steph Geremia w/ Meabh O’Hare & Johnny McDonagh
- Geantraí (2011) – Steph Geremia w/ Johnny McDonagh & Matt Griffin
- Geantraí (2012) – Alan Kelly Gang
- Geantraí (2009) – Steph Geremia w/ Alan Kelly, Tola Custy & Donagh Hennesey
- Geantraí (2009) – Alan Kelly Quartet
- Highlights from Celtic Connections (2015) – Alan Kelly Gang
- Highlights from Celtic Connections (2011) – Alan Kelly Quartet
- Bosca Ceoil (2014) – Alan Kelly Gang
- Bosca Ceoil (2014) – with Steve Wall & Alan Kelly
- Fleadh TV (2017) – Eddi Reader & Alan Kelly Gang
- Fleadh TV (2019) – Steph Geremia Band
- Blas Ceoil (2010) – Alan Kelly Quartet
- Féilte (2008) – Steph Geremia Band
Discography:
- Steph Geremia: The Open Road (2009)
- Alan Kelly Gang: Small Town and Famous Nights (2011)
- Alan Kelly Gang: The Last Bell (2014)
- Sea Road Sessions EP (2015)
- Steph Geremia: Up She Flew (2018)
- Steph Geremia: Blue Is The Colour of Lonesome – If Tomorrow Album Single (2023)
- Steph Geremia: If Tomorrow (2023)
- Steph Geremia: Inis Díomáin – If Tomorrow Album Single (2023)
To date, Steph has released two critically acclaimed solo flute albums, The Open Road (2009) and Up She Flew (2018) in addition to collaborative albums with the Alan Kelly Gang: Small Towns and Famous Nights (2011), The Last Bell (2014) and an EP with the Irish, Scottish, Swedish collaboration, Sea Road Sessions (2015). After nearly a decade since the release of her debut solo album, The Open Road, which was described by Irish Music Magazine as “an unexpected treasure” June 2018 welcomed the release of Steph’s second solo release, Up She Flew, which features music from Irelands own rich Sligo, Leitrim & North Connaught tradition. Up She Flew has been described as “a masterclass in Irish flute”, “as good an album of top-drawer Irish tradition as is imaginable”and “a vivid blending of New World energy with Old World vibrancy”, demonstrating once again Steph’s lyrical and technical prowess, breath control and ability to bring an innovative approach without losing the heart of the tradition to which she is intrinsically connected.
2023 welcomed an exciting new chapter with the release of her first solo album fully dedicated to song, If Tomorrow. Produced by renowned Scottish multi-instrumentalist, John McCusker (Mark Knopfler Band) and recorded on the idyllic grounds of a castle outside of Edinburgh, the album features an A-list gathering of friends and guest musicians including: Eddi Reader, Kris Drever, Phil Cunningham, Alan Kelly, Michael McGoldrick, Ian Carr, John Doyle, Donald Shaw and more. If Tomorrow was selected as Marty Whelan’s Album Of The Week on RTE Lyric FM and the first single, Blue Is The Colour Of Lonesome received an RTE Radio One Recommends.
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“a vivid blending of New World energy with Old World vibrancy” Songlines
“she proves a formidable ensemble player, providing passages of silvery, lyrical brilliance lifted by superb breath control and dexterous, dancing fingerwork” Songlines
Top Ten Trad Albums of 2009 [The Open Road] Folk World
“Geremia’s spark is undeniable” The Irish Times
“the first voice on the album belongs to Steph Geremia, proving as nuanced and talented a singer as she is a flautist…one of the album’s highlights” Bright Young Folk (UK)
“Her sprightly, breathy style pays homage to the great Peter Horan and that buoyant Sligo flute style to which she has been inexorably drawn.” The Irish Times
“an unexpected treasure…an outstanding recording” Irish Music Magazine
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Early Music Background:
Heavily involved in music from a young age, Steph began playing piano at age 5 and soon after started learning the flute. Though having spent the majority of her life in the West of Ireland, she was born in New York where she first began playing traditional and classical music and was introduced to a wide scope of musical influences, including American folk and blues, Irish traditional and folk, classical and jazz. During her early years in America, she studied World Music at the prestigious, Wesleyan University at which time she worked with people including the legendary experimental jazz hero, Anthony Braxton. After a brief stint living in India, studying the Bansuri (North Indian Flute) under PT Ginde, disciple of the legendary Panal al Gosh, Steph moved to Co. Sligo, Ireland and further immersed herself in the North Connaught flute style and repertoire. She spent many years surrounded by great traditional stalwarts including Peter Horan and holds a Master’s Degree in Traditional Irish Music Performance, which she completed at the University of Limerick.
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