Even before releasing an LP, the Santa Monica, California-based Celtic group Gaelic Storm -- vocalist/accordionist Patrick Murphy, bodhran player Steve Wehmeyer, guitarist/mandolinist Steve Twigger, fiddler Samantha Hunt and djembe player Shep Lonsdale -- left an impression on audiences worldwide through their appearance as the "steerage band" entertaining immigrant third-class passengers in James Cameron's blockbuster film epic Titanic. The unprecedented success of the movie brought Gaelic Storm to the attention of the Higher Octave label, which in 1998 issued the group's self-titled LP. Herding Cats followed a year later and Tree appeared in spring 2001.