Celtic Thunder
is a Celtic music group, composed of five Celtic male soloists who perform both solo and ensemble numbers. Celtic Thunder debuted in August 2007 at the Dublin City University in Dublin, Ireland. [1]
Since the group's formation, Celtic Thunder has released three albums: Celtic Thunder
, Act Two
and Take Me Home
, as well as two live performances on DVD entitled Celtic Thunder: The Show
and Take Me Home
, released on July 14, 2009.
Celtic Thunder is known for its eclectic style with songs ranging from a soloist to an ensemble focus. The group is backed by the Celtic Concert Orchestra, and their live shows are known for the use of dramatic effects via lighting and choreography as well as a stage set resembling an ancient stone pathway suggestive of those referenced in Celtic lore. [2]
In March 2009, Celtic Thunder opened the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in New York City, and later that day performed for President Obama, Mrs. Obama and Taoiseach Brian Cowen (or Irish Prime Minister) at the White House. [3]
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CELTIC THUNDER TICKETS
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Members
The members of Celtic Thunder are (in alphabetical order of family name):
Paul Michael Byrom
(born
April 11,
1979) is from
Dublin,
Ireland.
[4] In addition to Celtic Thunder, he has also performed at major sporting events in Ireland and abroad, including singing at the All Ireland Finals in Dublin's
Croke Park and at
Heinz Field for a
Pittsburgh Steelers game in the USA. He has also performed for Ireland's President,
Mary McAleese, and for
Emperor Akihito of
Japan. Paul has released two albums:
Velvet
and
I'll Be Home For Christmas
.
[5]
George Donaldson
(born
February 1,
1968) is the oldest member of the group and is a well-known balladeer, guitarist and flutist from
Glasgow,
Scotland. At Scotland's
Celtic Park, Donaldson played to 65,000 fans at the opening match of the 2000-2001 season.
, (born
June 10,
1986), like Damian, is from
Derry,
Northern Ireland. He plays the
guitar and has written one of the songs for Celtic Thunder: "Lauren and I".
[6] In 2008, a new solo album by Keith was rumoured to be in the working stages but has not yet been released as of mid 2009. Keith enjoys surfing and has written a song called Chasing Dreams that articulates his love for it. Keith has now recorded more original songs apart from Celtic Thunder, some titles include:
Vanity, Don't Lose the Feeling, and
What I Like.
Ryan John Kelly
(born
November 6,
1978) is from
The Moy,
County Tyrone,
Northern Ireland.
[7] He holds two degrees from the
Queen's University Belfast, having earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and also a Graduate Diploma in Advanced Accounting, qualifying Ryan to be a chartered accountant.
(born
September 9,
1992) is the youngest member of the group and is from Derry, Northern Ireland. He recorded the first Celtic Thunder album when he was only fourteen years old. It is rumoured that Mc Ginty will begin work on a solo album in the next 6 months.
Television appearances
Beginning in March 2008, the group has been featured throughout the US on the
PBS television network more than 1200 times, and during May and June 2008, members of the group were interviewed on dozens of local PBS stations during performances of their show.
[8] Following is a list of songs performed on
Celtic Thunder: The Show
and the member(s) of the group performing them:
1. "Heartland" - Ensemble
2. "The Mountains of Mourne" - Keith
3. "Raggle Taggle Gypsy" - Ensemble
4. "Ride On" - Ryan
5. "Come By The Hills" - Damian
6. "The Old Man" - George
7. "Love Thee Dearest" - Paul
8. "Heartbreaker" - Ryan
9. "Nights in White Satin" - Paul
10. "A Bird Without Wings" - Damian and George
11. "The Voyage" - George
12. "The Island" - Keith
13. "Brothers in Arms " - Ryan
14. "Mull of Kintyre" - Ensemble
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15. "Puppy Love" - Damian
16. "Lauren and I" - Keith
17. "Steal Away" - Ensemble
18. "Remember Me (Recuerdame)" - Paul
19. "My Boy" - George
20. "Desperado" - Ryan
21. "Ireland's Call" - Ensemble
22. "That's a Woman" - Ryan and Paul
23. "She" - Paul
24. "Young Love" - Damian
25. "I Want to Know What Love Is" - Keith
26. "Cal/Local Hero" - Instrumental
27. "Caledonia" - Ensemble
28. "Yesterday's Men" - George
29. "Christmas 1915" -Ensemble (PBS DVD only)
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The tracks on their newest concert
Take Me Home
are as follows:
1. "Heartland" - Ensemble
2. "Castles in the Air" - Keith
3. "Yesterday's Men" - George
4. "Belfast Polka/Pennsylvania Railroad" - Instrumental
5. "Ride On" - Ryan
6. "Come By The Hills" - Damian
7. "Love Thee Dearest" - Paul
8. "Raggle Taggle Gypsy" - Ensemble
9. "Desperado" - Ryan
10. "Working Man" - Ensemble
11. "Danny Boy" - Ensemble
12. "The Island" - Keith
13. "A Bird Without Wings" - Damian and George
14. "Remember Me (Recuerdame)" - Paul
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15. "Take Me Home" - Ensemble
16. "Heartbreaker" - Ryan
17. "Nights in White Satin" - Paul
18. "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" - Damian
19. "Lauren and I" - Keith
20. "Every Breath You Take" - Ryan
21. "Steal Away" - Ensemble
22. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" - George
23. "I Want to Know What Love Is" - Keith
24. "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" - Damian
25. "That's a Woman" - Ryan and Paul
26. "You Raise Me Up" - Paul
27. "Ireland's Call" - Ensemble
28. "Appalachian Round Up" - Instrumental
29. "Caledonia" - Ensemble
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Concerts and tours
On December 17, 2008, Celtic Thunder completed their 2008
US tour of fifty cities to rave reviews, standing ovations and sell-out crowds.
[9] Celtic Thunder is currently on its Spring 2009 tour, and is planning Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 tours. Their main focus will be
Canada for Spring 2009, but they will do some tour dates in the Northeast in the United States also. They are planning a fifty-date concert tour of the US as part of their Fall 2009 tour.
During their 2008 fall tour, Celtic Thunder sold over 125,000 tickets in forty-nine shows and placed twentieth in the poll
Star Tour Poll
. Celtic Thunder have announced song changes for March 2009 and fall 2009, to keep the concerts fresh.
A new DVD and CD, both called
Take Me Home
, were released July 14, 2009. A fourth CD and third DVD called
Storm
are being made and will be available in spring 2010.
Notes
- ''Celtic Thunder'' in Dublin
- ''The Show'' in
- Celtic Thunder Storms America
- ''Celtic Thunder - Biographies''
- ''Biographies''
- ''Celtic Thunder - Keith's Responses''
- ''Celtic Thunder - Biographies''
- ''Celtic Thunder On TV'' in
- ''Celtic Thunder Tour Dates'' in