Lightning strikes twice as Celtic Thunder storms CN Centre Thursday night.
Their first visit was in 2009 and they're back again on their Mythology tour, featuring traditional and contemporary music, showcasing new versions of old favourites, original compositions and well-known hits.
The all-male group includes soloists Emmet Cahill, Keith Harkin, Ryan Kelly, George Donaldson, Neil Byrne and Colm Keegan, who often come together for ensemble numbers.
"We've got a 62-city tour coming up and we start in Abbotsford," said Cahill, a classically trained singer who joined the group late in 2010. "We're starting the tour in Canada because it's a good kick start to any tour because there's always such amazing support up here."
Cahill still does his classical performances when he goes back home to Ireland and he feels the Celtic Thunder tours have helped him on stage.
"With Celtic Thunder we can go from Danny Boy to a rock song like the Boys Are Back In Town so you learn to be very diverse and learn to adapt to all sorts of music and it's been a bit of music education for me, too."
He also sings Danny Boy during the show.
"I don't know what it is about that song, it's one of those great Irish songs that has traveled the world and back again and everyone knows it," said Cahill. "This year I'm doing it as a solo. I found a very, very different version of Danny Boy that none of the fans will have heard before so I'm really excited to see the reaction. There's actually an extra verse before the main part of the song that I discovered a few years ago and that's the version I perform in my concerts."
Mythology is Celtic Thunders tenth full length album, released in February, along with a companion DVD. It's the seventh Celtic Thunder album to debut at No. 1 on Billboard's World Music Chart and the group's fifth consecutive release to debut at No. 1.
"If people want a good night out they should come out to the show with the family and be transported to Ireland for a couple of hours," said Cahill.
Tickets for Celtic Thunder at CN Centre on Thursday are available at all Ticketmaster outlets.
