Seeing Irish musical phenomenon Celtic Thunder in person offers more than you might expect from a typical concert. The settings and showmanship are akin to a Broadway theatrical production, with a wealth of musical talent at the center of it. The five singers who make up Celtic Thunder are all enormously gifted vocalists, and their blend of Irish folk flavors with pop is a carefully concocted brew. But you get something extra when you see them live in concert. The elaborate stage visuals that accompany Celtic Thunder's performances are an essential part of the proceedings, leading the group to capture many past productions on CD and DVD. The combination of musicality and theatricality has made the group an international sensation since their start in the late 2000s. Every tour is a unique production unto itself: from 2008's The Show to 2012's Voyage, 2013's Mythology, and now their 2018 tour, X.

Celtic Thunder Background

The foresight of producer Sharon Browne first brought Celtic Thunder together. Browne’s vision combines the talents of five young, world-class Irish vocalists for a project that is as much about live performance as recordings, and creating a sound that keeps traditional Irish music at its core, while opening itself up to other influences—including contemporary pop/rock, spirituals, and holiday music. Ryan Kelly, Damian McGinty, Paul Byron, George Donaldson, and Keith Harkin made up the original quintet that formed in Ireland in 2007. On early albums like ‘Celtic Thunder: The Show’ and ‘Celtic Thunder: Act Two,’ they established an approach that appealed to a broad cross section of music fans, and they performed concerts that brought elaborate visuals and bold theatricality into the mix. Today only Kelly and McGinty remain from the original lineup, but Celtic Thunder continues to be an international sensation, and the group's peerless vocals and unbridled showmanship remain on point.