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The Thunder rolls

Celtic crooners bring their show to Save on Foods Memorial Centre Sunday, Sept. 8
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Celtic Thunder rolls into Victoria Sept. 8 at the Save on Foods Memorial Centre



by Don Descoteau

ddescoteau@vicnews.com

 

 

The past few days have been all about digging up memories for the members of Celtic Thunder.

The musical ensemble group from Ireland spent several days in Abbotsford this week, rehearsing the material from their Mythology album, recorded last year but yet to be taken on the road.

“Mythology is the tour and we’re so excited to finally be rolling this out,” said Ryan Kelly, one of several principal singers in the six-member group and an original member from 2007.

The accompanying DVD for the album was filmed last August in Dublin and two days later the artists and crew flew out to start their 2012 fall North American tour.

“We’ve spent the last few days remembering what we did last year in Dublin,” Kelly says. “We’ve sang hundreds of songs since we recorded it, so it’s taking a bit of time to relearn it. But they’re songs that we love and songs that we’ve performed (individually) over the years.”

Celtic Thunder brings its multi-genre stage show to Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre on Sunday (Sept. 8), a day after kicking off the 2013 edition of their Canada-U.S. tour in Abbotsford.

For people unfamiliar with the act, Kelly says the goal is to transport audience members back to a show pub in Ireland, where they might hear everything from traditional Irish and Celtic folk tunes to rock and country foot stompers.

“What has always been a plus point of our show is that it really is trying to bring people in and give them a good time, give them a good night,” he says.

“It’s pretty much an eclectic mix, but that’s always been the way with Celtic Thunder.”

With choreographed moves accompanying the music and the singers thrust into loose character roles, the scene plays out much like a Las Vegas musical.

“One thing about Irish music and Celtic music in general, it really is about storytelling, and the best way of portraying that music is doing it on stage. Often, I suppose, people don’t get a chance to travel to Broadway or Vegas or the big city to see shows like this.”

Show time in Victoria is 7 p.m. Tickets, $55 and $75 plus tax, are available at the arena box office or at selectyourtickets.com.