MUSIC

Verizon Wireless Theater  presents Celtic Thunder.

In 2009, Celtic Thunder is officially on TV, on CD, on DVD and on TOUR. The group features five Celtic male vocalists from Ireland and Scotland, ranging in age from 16 to 40: Paul Byrom, George Donaldson, Keith Harkin, Ryan Kelly and Damian McGinty. From rousing ensemble numbers to solos showcasing each members’ vocal style and personality, Celtic Thunder performs powerful ballads, popular hits, and heartwarming songs of love and loss from across the Celtic music spectrum—Irish, Scottish, traditional and contemporary.

Celtic Thunder creator/producer Sharon Browne teamed up with legendary Irish composer and musical director Phil Coulter (Elvis Presley’s “My Boy,” Sandie Shaw’s “Puppet on a String,” the now-classic Irish ballad “The Town I Loved So Well”) to craft an eclectic set list of music including traditional songs, pop classics by the Eagles and the Moody Blues, and Coulter originals such as the Irish Rugby Football Union anthem. Celtic Thunder also features a full band including piano, string quartet and bagpipes, as well as expert choreography, dramatic lighting and other visual effects that enhance the musical production.

Celtic Thunder made their U.S. television debut in March 2008 and audiences across the US have embraced them. Their breakout success made Celtic Thunder the 1 music program on the US public television network in 2008. Filmed at the Helix in Dublin in August 2007, the TV special features a diverse selection of songs that showcase the wide ranging musical style of five highly accomplished soloists, while the show’s ensemble numbers reflect their shared Celtic heritage. The self-titled CD from the show debuted at 1 on the Billboard World Music chart in March 2008, and went on to dominate that chart until it was knocked off its perch by the second Celtic Thunder release, Act II, in September.

This debut CD has spent a total of 44 weeks in the top 5 ranks on the Billboard World Music Chart, and was named World Music album of the year for 2008, while the group’s Fall 2008 debut U.S. tour earned the 20 spot on Pollstar’s top tours of that year, drawing more than 125,000 fans hungry for the unique Celtic Thunder sound