Celtic Thunder: Hear the thunder!

The five Irish lads from musical ensemble Celtic Thunder have a very impressive resume.

Not only have they been voted Billboard’s Number One world artist but they’ve also sold over two million CDS/DVDs, half a million concert tickets, performed for Barack Obama and are Universal Music Australia’s highest selling artist on DVD for 2012! Phew.

On the eve of their Australia tour, New Idea sat down with band member, and resident heartthrob, Keith Harkin, 26, to chat about the band’s success and his own blossoming solo career.

Celtic Thunder toured Australia last year and now you’re back by popular demand. How does it feel?

It’s great to be back. It’s great to feel the heat in the bones! I’ve been touring with Celtic Thunder since it started and we’ve all said that the last tour we did in Australia was the most fun we’ve had on the road. We are really looking forward to the first gig kicking off again.

Why was it so fun?

We always have fun no matter where we go but for some reason we just had a ball. Everyone welcomed us with open arms and all the tickets to nearly every show sold out. For the first tour to be doing that was pretty special.

What’s different about this tour?

There is amount of new material we’re probably going to be doing throughout the shows over the next month. We will basically playing for the crowd too so whatever songs they want to hear we will try our best to play. For everyone coming along to the shows we are really excited to get out there and play for you.

Taking the world by storm! The boys of Celtic Thunder.

What was it like performing for Obama in 2009?

It was crazy! We met his wife Michelle and the kids were there. I just remember standing in the room with [band mate] Ryan and Obama came up to us shouting ‘Yo, Celtic Thunder!’ I was thinking ‘What are we doing? How did we end up here?’ My Mum has a photograph of me with Michelle and Obama in her hallway and they’ve autographed it. So it’s pretty cool to say the least.
What is it like when you boys go on tour?

When we work we work and when we play we play. We are professionals in what we do. We tour so much during the year and I’ve never missed or been late for one show in my life but at the same time no one can knock back a beer like myself! On our days off, we do head to the bars and have a good time. We are all normal Irish lads. And sometime we knock back too many on days off, but we’re only human.

Do you enjoy the attention you get from the ladies?

It’s great! (Laughs!) What can I say really? I’m a single guy.

So you are single?

Yes, I’m single. I’m available to any rich, good looking female with a really great personality. I’m not being too picky am I? (laughs!)

Last year you made a solo album for Verve Records, who’s CEO David Foster is a music legend and the man who discovered Michael Buble. How exciting is that for you?

David Foster is basically the guy who produced works for the likes of Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Michael Buble, Earth Wind Fire, Michael Bolton, Chicago. His nickname is The Hitman and I’m the first person he signed to the label since he took over. I released an album in September with 12 songs on the album- six originals and six covers. The album was released in September in Canada and it went straight to No.1 and then went to No.1 on the charts in America. So for a self-titled album, I was pretty happy.

What is it like working with someone like David?

It’s crazy. I’m from Derry, Northern Ireland and just last week I was in David’s house playing a piano that has 16 Grammy’s sitting on top.

Then after I was there, Stevie Wonder was doing demos. To just be doing that stuff is incredible. I mean, I’m still a normal guy and I don’t take any of it for granted. But every year so far, it just keeps getting better and better.

Celtic Thunder 2013 kicks of in January and will feature the band’s popular playlist; their own take on rock ballads and modern pop classics, plus plenty of stirring Irish tunes.

For tickets, head to www.ticketek.com.au