Celtic Thunder’s ‘Odyssey’ Showcases the Rich Legacy & Heritage of Irish Music

Formed in Dublin back in 2007, the Irish group Celtic Thunder is a multi-dimensional musical and theatrical ensemble celebrated around the world for emotionally powerful performances and state-of-the-art production. The foundation of the group is based upon an exploration of Irish music, history, and culture that is firmly grounded in the ensembles history while ambitiously forging new paths into the future.

The group will be debuting their newest work Odyssey as they embark upon a new 30-city tour of America & Canada, performing at Midland Center for the Arts on Tuesday, October 17^th at 7:30 PM. With Odyssey, Celtic Thunder invites audiences on a sweeping voyage through the heartlands of traditional Irish music, the rhythmic pulse of contemporary Irish music, and the innovative original arrangements that are emblematic of the ensemble’s unique sound.  

The core impetus behind the group Is the shared musical chemistry of Celtic Thunder’s lead vocalists Ryan Kelly, Damian McGinty, Neil Byrne, and Emmet Cahill, which gives the show its compelling power. While each singer adds their distinctive voice and charm to this musical journey in a harmonious blend appealing to a broad spectrum of sensibilities,  the Odyssey songbook is steeped in their collective Irish heritage and weaves a rich tapestry of emotional and musical stones.

Strong examples of their approach are revealed through traditional Irish folk songs such as Go Lassie Go, which is given a new lease on life through Celtic Thunder’s energetic rendition replete with vibrant harmonies and fresh musical interpretation; while the poignant song City of Chicago serves as a moving tribute to the Irish diaspora, resonating deeply with its heartfelt lyrics and evocative melodies. And the iconic classic The Parting Class, is delivered with such deep and profound emotion one can feel the voices reverberate through the soul. 

These types of memorable musical moments take place on a stage that brilliantly embodies the ethereal mystique of Celtic folklore spliced together with the grounded reality of contemporary Irish life, while the talented musical instrumentalists in the group provide an authentic and sonically rich backdrop to these vocal performances. Factor in a world-class production quality and stunning lighting design that paints an atmospheric picture enhancing the emotive resonance of the songs, along with detailed and elegant costumes striking a balance between traditional Celtic attire and modern aesthetics, and the audience is left with a successful fusion of the old with the new.  

The origins of the group go back to 2007, when producer Sharon Browne embarked on an innovative project by filming the inaugural Celtic Thunder show at the Helix in Dublin, Ireland. The concept behind this groundbreaking endeavor was to assemble a group of talented men from Ireland and Scotland, spanning ages from 21 to 42, and curate a performance that celebrated their shared Celtic heritage. 

The resulting show presented a captivating blend of musical genres, ranging from traditional Celtic tunes to international chart-toppers, interwoven with original compositions. Indeed, each member of Celtic Thunder is a formidable talent, both in solo and ensemble performances. 

Since 2008, Celtic Thunder has released a remarkable total of 17 shows on CD and DVD. By the end of 2023, they will have completed 15 coast-to-coast tours of the United States and Canada, as well as four tours of Australia, performing over 1000 shows and captivating millions of fans. Additionally, the impact of Celtic Thunder’s music has earned them impressive recognition, including being named Billboard’s  Top World Music Artist five times, while their YouTube channel Thunder Tube has garnered over 300 million views since its inception in 2008, with over a million followers on their official Facebook page. 

One of the principal vocalists, singer Damian McGinty is a multi-genre singer/songwriter from Derry, Northern Ireland, who now calls Nashville his home. He currently splits his time as an independent solo artist and a principal performer for Celtic Thunder, sprinkled in with occasional acting jobs and other pursuits. He is a featured performer in eight Celtic Thunder PBS specials, a highlighted performer in two additional PBS specials, and appears on eight Celtic Thunder DVDs and a dozen Celtic Thunder CDs. Meanwhile, in his solo work, Damian's Irish roots blend with pop, folk, adult alternative contemporary, and country influences and a lyrical storytelling style to create a sound that is both familiar and unique.  

“Celtic music has always been a part of my life,” he explains. “Coming from Ireland, this is something we’re very proud of because it represents our heritage very well by telling stories that have been handed down for generations that we keep alive through this music. It’s become very relatable to people. I can’t tell you how many people tell us they have a bit of the Irish in them, so it seems most people have some sort of connection to Ireland in general in many different ways.”

‘I was fortunate to get my first opportunity to perform with Celtic Thunder back in 2007, when I was able to make their first record and PBS special,” notes Damian, and as one of the original members I’ve spent more than half my life at this point performing with them.”

Given that Celtic music has been around for centuries, dating back as far as the 1600s, yet to this day is still one of the world's most popular genres, as a defined niche of music what does Darian feel distinguishes Celtic music from other styles of music out there?  “The magic comes from the layers and depths that it carries,” he reflects. “Many forms of music be it Classical or Country tell stories, but in terms of story telling nothing carries the depth and layers of meaning in the story telling as Celtic music does. And so many of the personal stories Celtic music tells are based upon true stories dating back centuries ago. These deep layers of storytelling separates it from every other genre”

When asked what he feels distinguishes Celtic Thunder from other similar groups performing Celtic music, Damian references the scope and spectacle of their vision. “Celtic Thunder has always been this incredibly interesting show for people to come to because while we are very much individual performers, we happen to come together as a group that brings a very different kind of sound than you hear at most concerts. I started writing when I was young and my vocal range was that of a tenor, but as I got older that changed and now we have a tenor that will all the other voices, blends together in an ensemble piece that we wrote, which also reflects our own personalities and careers as solo artists. So the difference is really how the separate parts make this truly unique ‘whole ensemble’ come together on an entirely different level than many other groups.”

Dealing with material and many songs that date back centuries, how does the group keep their sound fresh? “That’s a good question and kind of goes in line with the age of the music in the sense that the more experienced we become, the more stories we have to tell and the more we are able to bring to the table, and not the other way around. Music is one of those things that allows you to grow and learn a lot in terms of performance and storytelling. Over 16-years we’ve evolved and gotten a lot better and know what we want to sound like. Sometimes we experiment, but always come around full-circle.”

“This show we’re taking on the road is a very heavy Irish Celtic show, which might sound obvious, but in past years we’ve done a lot more crossover material, and with this show we feature a lot of original music along with Irish classics, and with our experience and blend we came up with the name Odyssey for this show because it also chronicles the journey of the band over the past 16-years.”

Darian says they group usually travels with a tour of 30 to 40 people and features between 10 to 15 vocalists and musicians on the stage. “We always carry a pretty big entourage, which helps with the layers and nuance of the songs by bringing a lot of different sounds into play.”

When asked what the biggest challenge is with performing Celtic music and evolving the legacy of Celtic Thunder, Darian points to the importance of the lyrical legacy each song is built upon. “With Celtic the challenge is to get the story across, because it’s what the song is built around. You don’t want to go out and aimlessly deliver it, but you want to feel the emotion in the lyrics and make eye contact and convey the meaning of the song as if you’re in a living room. Doing that day-in and day-out on tour is the biggest challenge, plus general discipline is very important. As we get older we don’t want to spend as much time on the road, so we condense more shows within a shorter tour timeframe, so we can spend more time with our families as priorities shift as we get older.”

“This is about our journey and the general of Celtic music,” he concludes. “We’ll be coming out with a new album of 13 new songs in November, which we’re excited for people to hear, so this is going to be a great night of Celtic Music and forgetting your troubles for a couple hours. The world is hard enough for people these days, so it’s important for us as entertainers to take people deep into these stories and transport them away.”.

Odyssey is not simply a concert; it's a powerful theatrical experience that honors Celtic Thunder's rich musical legacy and simultaneously blazes new trails. An evocative journey through time, sound, and culture, as educational as it is entertaining. The captivating blend of music, storytelling, and atmospheric stagecraft makes "Odyssey" a must-see spectacle for fans of Celtic Thunder and Irish music in general.

Tickets are available online at www.midlandcenter.org, by calling (989) 631-8250, or by visiting the box office at 1801 W. St. Andrews Rd., Midland. Celtic Thunder is sponsored by WCMU Public Media.