Gasta has become western Michigan’s premier Celtic duo

Tonight at Scottville Clown Band Shell.

SCOTTVILLE – This week’s Tuesday night Scottville Clown Band Shell Concert Series will feature Gasta. Formed in 2009 and hailing from Oceana County, Nathan Wright and Jonathan Misner have been playing music around the area and are excited for this special performance at 7 p.m., tonight. MCP Senior Correspondent, Kate Krieger met up with band member, Nathan Wright to discuss the group’s musical journey thus far and where they hope to go in the future.

MCP: How did the band get its start and where did the groups’ name come from?

NW: “Jon and I had been playing bluegrass, folk and Celtic on a casual basis for a number of years, but in 2009 we decided to form as an official band and record an album of traditional Irish/Celtic tunes. It all started when Jon began getting interested in Celtic style drumming and bought his first Bodhran, a traditional Irish drum in 2008. We paired my fiddling with his drumming and began arranging traditional Irish/Celtic music. We released our first self-produced album in January 2010. We also started playing shows on a regular basis in 2010 and have been since. We’ve also released another album and one EP.”

MCP: What style of music do you consider yourself? Any musical influences that are present in your music?

NW: “We have moved from being strictly traditional Irish/Celtic to a fusion of bluegrass, jazz, Celtic, rock and Americana. We’re heavily influenced by bands and musicians like Gaelic Storm, Slide, Nickel Creek, Jeremy Kittel Band and The Elders.”

MCP: How often do you play out and where can people check you out at besides this Tuesday’s show at the Scottville Clown Band Shell?

NW: “This summer we’ve been playing a variety of venues every week. We play regularly at the Book Nook in Montague, The Curragh Irish Pub in Holland, Fiddlers Hearth in South Bend, IN and 9 Irish Brothers Pub in Lafayette, IN. As far as upcoming gigs this year we will be at the Shagway Arts Barn in Ludington on August 15, Our Brewing Company in Holland on September 5 and The Michigan Irish Music Festival in Muskegon, on September 15. You can check out our Facebook page for more dates, www.facebook.com/gastamusic.”

MCP: How did the Scottville gig come to you and what should people look forward to when they come out to hear you play?

NW: “The show was offered to us by Jeremy Verstraete, we met him earlier in our career as a band at a battle of the band at West Shore Community College. He was running sound for the show. Our show is filled with high-energy music, both vocal and instrumental. A fusion of Celtic, Bluegrass, Rock, Jazz and Americana.”

MCP: In your spare time, when not playing music, what are the members of the group doing?

NW: “Jon works as a quality control supervisor at Oceana Foods in Shelby. I work for Liberty Family Farm and Bakery as a sales representative and manager at the Pentwater Yacht Club part time as a server.”

The band shell is owned and operated as a joint venture between the Scottville Optimist Club and Scottville Clown Band. The committee operates as a separate entity and includes representatives from both organizations and from the community. Tax deductible donations may be sent to Scottville Clown Band, PO Box 278, Scottville, MI 49454.