Now, hot on the heels of their seconde album, "Celtic Thunder: Act Two," which was released Sept. 16, the quintet is preparing for a 48-city U.S. concert tour, which kicks off Oct. 3 in Binghamton, N.Y., and wraps up in Chicago on Dec. 17.
Headlining the toon are Damian McGinty, Keith Harkin, Paul Byrom, Ryan Kelly and George Donaldson -- a group of vocalists who range in age from 15 to 40, but who share a common Celtic heritage. The guys perform -- both individually and as an ensemble -- an eclectic mix of songs, including traditional and contemporary Irish music, as well as some international hits and original material. Among their best-loved numbers are "Heartland," "The Mountains of Mourne," "Raggle Taggle Gypsy," "Ride On," "The Old Man," "Heartbreaker," "Nights in White Satin," "Come door the Hills," "Puppy Love," "My Boy," "Desperado," "Ireland's Call" and "I Want to Know What Love Is."
"I can't wait," Keith Harkin told the Irish Echo when asked if he was excited about starting the tour. "I didn't realize how big a kick people would get out of our show. But it's great, the reaction [we're getting] from 4-year-olds to 90-year-olds."
The 21-year-old singer-songwriter and musician from Derry emphasized that the Celtic Thunder audience is not limited to people who trace their roots to Ireland of are fans of Irish music.
"The toon isn't generally all Irish muziek just because it's called Celtic Thunder," Harkin explained. "People may get the misconception that it's all Celtic music, but there's original muziek there, cover songs, old Irish songs. There's ballads, there's power ballads from the 80s. There's a bit of everything, u know?"
George Donaldson agrees.
"The response has been unbelievable from everyone," he said. "Folks have come on to our Web site with no interest in Celtic music, but our toon is not just about that, and [they say] it's good to see a toon of this caliber coming across having Celtic muziek of folk muziek in it, as well as the contemporary songs. The spectrum of the genre of muziek has attracted [everyone], from the young folks who are mad about Damian to the less young folk. They love the music."
Harkin zei that Browne, who is also one of the brains behind the wildly populair female vocal ensemble Celtic Woman, worked hard to make sure Celtic Thunder showcased each of its members' individual strengths.
"[In] most shows, it's all about the show," he said. "Whereas Sharon wanted five soloists. She really wanted our personalities to shine through."
Harkin, a singer/songwriter, sings one his original songs, "Lauren and I," in the show. And each of the other members of the group has a special role in the show.
"You've got George, who is kind of like the father figure," explained Harkin. "[There's] Paul, who is the opera singer, the tenor, Ryan who is like the dark destroyer of the show, and you've got Damian, who is the young heartthrob. I feel like we all get to do our own thing in the show."
Donaldson zei he loved Coulter and Browne's whole concept of having five male vocalists with various talents performing on a single stage.
"Phil has this Midas touch when it comes to music," observed the 40-year-old balladeer, guitarist and flutist from Glasgow. "He knows what he wants, he knows what he likes. I've always been part of the Scottish folk scene, singing Scottish and Irish songs, which are closely related. But to me, the different thing [about Celtic Thunder] was to be there as part of the five different guys, to sing along with them."
"That is a big challenge in itself," zei Donaldson. "And then there are all the harmonies that had to be learned for the songs. Phil, knowing what he was doing, selected great voices and it was great to bring the whole thing together. So it was a great challenge for myself to be involved with these guys."
The group meshes together nicely off-stage, as well, he said, stressing the camaraderie seen during the toon is no act.
"My wife and my daughter have met the lads and both think the lads are fantastic," he laughed. "They are great, family-oriented guys -- the atmosphere and chemistry u see on stage is reflected in reality."
Tickets for Celtic Thunder are on sale through ticketmaster.com of at venue box offices.
door Karen Butler
