Obama favourites: Celtic Thunder plays Geelong next week.
MICHELLE HERBISON
HEART-throb is a label that Celtic Thunder vocalist Ryan Kelly has yet to fully accept.
After leaving behind a promising accounting career, the Northern Irish singer is still pinching himself at the group’s rising fame.
“Every day I think ‘What am I doing here and how am I still bluffing my way through it’,” Kelly joked.
“I was just a part-time singer working as an accountant and went for the auditions. Within a year we were singing at the White House for the President of the United States.”
Kelly said he was amazed to discover that Obama’s girls were Celtic Thunder fans.
“Michelle and their daughters came into the room and they were like ‘Oh my god, it’s Celtic Thunder’,” he laughed.
The five-piece boy-band is enjoying multi-platinum success from its unique style.
“It’s basically a mixture of Irish and Scottish music and we also do contemporary covers you don’t expect to hear in a Celtic music show, like The Eagles’ Desperado,” Kelly said.
Celtic Thunder will storm into Australia for the first time after debuting at number one on the ARIA charts with the band’s second DVD, It’s Entertainment.
On top of accounting, Kelly also has a background in sport, having played football and basketball at national level before joining the band.
“I’d love to go for a run in Geelong, it’s a good way of seeing some of the place,” he said.
“And I’m sure there’ll be a few Irish bars around Geelong that will take us in.”
Celtic Thunder plays Geelong Arena on Tuesday.
