NEW YORK, NY. & WASHINGTON, DC. (Top40 Charts/ Scoop Marketing) - Celtic Thunder, the acclaimed pop vocal quintet from Ireland and Scotland, took
America by storm yesterday as they brought the holiday cheer of their homeland on a whirlwind St. Patrick's Day trip to two U.S. cities in one day. The group started off the morning by opening New York City's famed St. Patrick's Day
Parade on 5th Avenue with a stirring performance, televised on NBC, of national rugby anthem 'Ireland's Call' and a heartwarming a cappella version of 'Danny Boy.' Immediately following their set,
Celtic Thunder rushed off on a train to the nation's capital, where they performed at the official White House St. Patrick's Day Party for an audience that included President Obama, Irish Taoiseach (or Prime Minister) Brian Cowen, and a host of dignitaries and other distinguished guests.
'We were truly honored and incredibly excited to accept the invitation to perform for President Obama and the First Lady at the White House last night,' said Celtic Thunder. 'With the festivities that morning in New York, which are unlike any other, St. Patrick's Day 2009 has been the highlight of our career to date, and we will treasure these amazing memories forever.'
Celtic Thunder's St. Patrick's Day performances in New York and Washington were the perfect preparation for the group's upcoming North American tour with AEG Live, which begins March 21st at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, NY. Tickets are on sale now for all of the group's 30 dates across the U.S. and Canada, including shows in Boston, Washington D.C., New York City, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary and more, before finishing May 7th in Vancouver, BC. Check www.celticthunder.com, www.aeglive.com or the venue's website for local on sale ticket information.
The group's appearance at the White House St. Patrick's Day Party marked yet another memorable milestone, as the event has been revitalized by the Obama Administration for a more lavish production than has been seen in recent years. Celtic Thunder performed two sets of music, including brand new songs such as 'Take Me Home' and 'You Raise Me Up' that have never been performed before. One particularly poignant moment occurred when the quintet-featuring Irishmen from both the North and South of Ireland-sang 'Ireland's Call,' a tune originally written by Musical Director Phil Coulter to promote a spirit of cooperation in their country's rugby league. The group issued a personal invitation for the Obama family to attend Celtic Thunder's show when they return to Washington D.C. at DAR Constitution Hall on March 25.
Yesterday's exciting events also show just how far the quintet has come in the 12 short months since they debuted in America with a smash appearance on NBC's Today Show during the 2008 St. Patrick's Day Parade in the Big Apple. Since then, Celtic Thunder has captured the hearts of American fans, touring 48 cities across North America last fall to earn the No 20 spot on Pollstar's top tours of 2008; and meriting not one, but two, No 1 albums on Billboard's World Music charts on the Decca label.