By Sophie Pappas
On Nov. 26, the Ireland-based group Celtic Thunder will perform at The Palladium. Current in Carmel spoke with singer Ryan Kelly prior to his arrival in the U.S.
What are your favorite songs to play from the new holiday album?
One thing I loved about recording the album is that we got to cover some of the most beautiful, classic Christmas songs with real meaning behind the words. Amongst those, I felt fortunate to record a song that has always been a favorite of mine, “In the Bleak Midwinter,” as a solo.
How do your individual personalities lend to benefit the whole group?
Being one of the original members of “Celtic Thunder,” I’ve seen the composition of individuals within the group change over the years, but one thing that has always been the backbone of our group has been the different personalities and singing styles and voices that have made up the lead vocalists.
What are your hopes for the upcoming 20-city tour, and what are you most looking forward to?
Basically to enjoy it! It’s definitely not lost on me that me, a singer from a small village in the North of Ireland, is being given the opportunity to sing with the amazing musicians with 20 of the most talented symphony orchestras in the United States.
Where are you based when you aren’t on tour?
Well, when I’m not on tour with Celtic Thunder or touring with Neil Byrne with our acoustic gigs, “Byrne and Kelly,” I’m delighted to get to spend some time in my home village of The Moy in county Tyrone in the North of Ireland.
Do all of you have a background in this style of music?
Whilst we do come from various backgrounds musically, with some of the guys having more experience in the study of classical music and orchestral pieces, whilst some of us have more folk or singer/songwriter backgrounds, I know that I, personally, have always aspired to sing with a symphony orchestra and I know a lot of the other lads are the exact same.
