Celtic Thunder tour plots next round U.S. concert dates for fall

The latest Celtic music sensation, vocal quintet Celtic Thunder has announced plans for a fall 2009 tour of the United States to follow the release of their latest record. The 27-date tour begins October 8 at Tilles Center Concert Hall in Greenvale, NY, and ends November 17 at the Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX.

The quintet will stop along the way for performances on October 10 at the Citi Performing Arts Center in Boston, MA; October 17 at the Hippodrome in Batlimore, MD; October 24 at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, GA; November 5 at Paramount Theater in Denver, CO, and November 10-11 at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle, WA.

The coast-to-coast trek currently spans six weeks, but more dates are expected in the future. Published reports have stated that the complete U.S. fall tour itinerary will be about 50 dates.

The first round of public onsales start today, June 19, for select dates on the fall U.S. tour, including the October 8 opening and November 17 closing performances. More information on specific onsale dates and ticketing outlets can be found on the official Celtic Thunder Web site.

Celtic Thunder will be touring behind the release of its third album, “Take Me Home,” scheduled for a July 14 release and currently available for presale on Amazon.com. The effort is a follow-up to 2008’s “Act Two,” which peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top World Albums chart.

The fall outing will be their second visit to North America this year, following a spring 2009 tour that primarily visited cities across Canada and the Northeast U.S. Only shortly before that venture launched in March, Celtic Thunder made its national debut on the fall 2008 tour that included more than 50 performance dates from October through December.

Comprised of Damien McGinty, Keith Harkin, Ryan Kelly, Paul Byrom and George Donaldson, the group blends traditional Irish and Scottish songs with contemporary covers. Celtic Thunder was created in 2007 and enjoys widespread popularity in the U.S. thanks to frequent spotlights on national and regional PBS broadcasts.

Celtic Thunder itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)