Jelmer Wiersma

The Gathering
Budapest concert, 31 January 2010
Background information
Origin	Oss, the Netherlands
Genres	Progressive rock, alternative rock, trip hop, shoegaze, doom metal (early), gothic metal (early), death-doom (originally)
Years active	1989–2014 (currently on hiatus)
Labels	Century Media, Psychonaut, Hammerheart, Sanctuary, The End, Foundation 2000, Season of Mist
Associated acts	Agua de Annique
Website	www.gathering.nl
Members	René Rutten Hans Rutten Frank Boeijen Silje Wergeland
Past members	Hugo Prinsen Geerligs Jelmer Wiersma Bart Smits Marike Groot Niels Duffhues Martine van Loon Anneke van Giersbergen Marjolein Kooijman

The Gathering is a Dutch alternative rock band, founded in 1989 by brothers Hans and René Rutten and vocalist Bart Smits in the small city of Oss, North Brabant.

The Gathering earliest releases were categorized as atmospheric doom metal with influences from death metal acts like Celtic Frost and Hellhammer. In 1998 with the release of their 5th studio album, How to measure a planet?, they had a major shift in musical style, with the group acknowledging the growing influence of shoegaze, post rock, experimental rock and the more ethereal sounds of 4AD bands, such as Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, as well as Pink Floyd and Massive Attack; they expanded their sound, which acquired characteristics of progressive, alternative, and trip rock and gained success and recognition beyond the European borders. The group continue to expand upon the experimental nature of their music.

In August 2007 Anneke van Giersbergen left the group to focus on her solo project Agua de Annique. On 12 March 2009, The Gathering announced that their replacement vocalist was Silje Wergeland (Octavia Sperati). Their most recent album, Disclosure, was released on 12 September 2012.