Visiting Celtic Thunder’s loyal Australian fanbase is an added bonus, but Neil Byrne is really looking forward to basking in our country’s weather.
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“It hasn’t stopped raining for the past three months,” Byrne says from wet Dublin.
“I’m very envious of where you’re sitting right now.”
Byrne is one of six vocalists in Celtic Thunder, a vibrant arena-sized celebration of Ireland’s music and culture.
The group, which tours the globe on a regular basis, has sold over two million records and 700,000 tickets.
When their latest tour, Mythology, kicked off in September last year the production embarked on 60 dates and then followed with the five-day Celtic Thunder cruise through the Bahamas.
Then Byrne embarked on seven acoustic shows with fellow Celtic Thunder member Ryan Kelly.
“We did 72 consecutive shows,” Byrne says.
“We’re gluttons for punishment.”
Such a heavy touring schedule calls for discipline.
“You learn through experience [of touring] what your boundaries are,” Byrne says.
“If you’re doing matinees, you might have four or five days of singing consistently.
“Plus there’s meet and greets and signing autographs after shows.
“You’re using your voice constantly, so when you start to feel it getting a bit raw it tells you to stop talking.”
Celtic Thunder are regulars to Australia and this year will bring their largest production yet.
“When it comes to the production, we left no stone unturned,” Byrne says.
“Our stage is made of a huge Celtic cross.
“Even down to our lighting [design] – we have the likes of Peter Barnes who has designed for Queen and Peter Gabriel.
“So you’re getting six guys standing on the frontline singing, and a string quartet, guitar player, bass player, drummer, piano player, dancer and a piper.”
Mythology is a dynamic tour, which shifts from high-energy songs featuring every Celtic Thunder musician on stage, toa soloist.
“There’s a lot of contrast in our show, which I think keeps the energy up for two hours,” Byrne explains.
“It has that diversity where you can pull the whole show down to hearing a pin drop and then to a huge, big energy that gets the whole crowd going.
“That’s the beauty of the show and what makes it memorable.”
Byrne has worked his way through the ranks of Celtic Thunder, having started in the group as a backing vocalist and guitarist.
His musical journey started as a six-year-old, when he would watch his father’s trio perform at weddings and other events.
Byrne pursued music as a career.
A mutual friend invited the singer and guitarist to perform at a function for award-winning Irish songwriter and producer, Phil Coulter.
Byrne was then asked to play bass in Coulter’s band.
When Coulter was invited to help create a male version of the hugely successful group, all-female Celtic Woman, Byrne recorded backing vocals for Celtic Thunder’s DVDs.
Now he’s one of the star attractions.
“On some of our nights off we’d take the guitars out and sing – the usual Irish craic,” Byrne recalls of his entry to Celtic Thunder.
“Sharon [Browne, Celtic Thunder producer] said to me, ‘I really like your voice, would you be interested in singing on the frontlines?’
“And I said ‘Absolutely, I’d love to.’
“On our DVD It’s Entertainment, I sang Hallejulah with Keith [Harkin] and Ryan.
“The year after that, Phil Coulter wrote this original song for me called Noreen and since then I’ve been singing more and more.”
Celtic Thunder plays Newcastle Entertainment Centre on Tuesday, May 27.
Alive has five Celtic Thunder prize packs to give away.
Each pack contains a copy of Celtic Thunder’s album Mythology, plus a double pass to their Newcastle show.
For your chance to win fill out the coupon in today's Mercury and return it to our office by noon on Wednesday.
