Stafford Wells is the combination of uilleann piper Brian Stafford and husband and wife duo Gary and Ruth Wells. They originally met as members of the folk band Gaelforce Acoustic, each forming their own duos when Gaelforce split up.
Brian and Ruth met up again when Brian was booked to play for the 2000 Nuit de la Saint-Patrick in Saint-Quentin, France. As Brian's usual guitarist was unable to play the gig, he contacted Ruth. A new repertoire was put together for what was to be a debut gig where they shared the stage with Irish supergroup Danu.
Their performance was received with great enthusiasm by an appreciative French audience and on their return home, Brian and Ruth decided that the St. Patrick's gig should not be a one-off. With the addition of Ruth's husband, bassist Gary Wells, Stafford Wells was formed.