The Irish Phenomenon That Is Celtic Woman Continues to Surprise

The Irish Phenomenon That Is Celtic Woman Continues to Surprise

U.S. Tour Slated for the Summer; #1 World Music Album for Five Weeks Running; Top 10 on Amazon.com Chart and Sales Continue to Swell

NEW YORK, April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The five-member group known as Celtic Woman have arrived and in the short time since their debut release (March 1st on EMI/Manhattan) they have seemingly captured the hearts of new fans across the country.

First introduced to the U.S. public through multiple highly watched PBS airings of their spectacular hour and a half show; Celtic Woman followed that up with a live performance of their music on NBC's Today Show on St. Patrick's Day. Since that point they seem to have developed somewhat of an inexplicable phenomenon. And now, as their album continues its run atop Billboard Magazine's World Music Album Chart comes word of a summer tour scheduled to kick off on July 20th in Cleveland at The Palace Theatre.

Celtic Woman will bring their electrifying show to Detroit, Boston, Buffalo, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Atlanta, San Francisco and Sacramento among other cities. The first leg of the Celtic Woman tour currently contains fifteen dates, but with the buzz growing on an almost daily basis, more dates are sure to be added.

"Celtic Woman has been gathering momentum ever since its release last month," said Bruce Lundvall, President & CEO, EMI Jazz & Classics, of which Manhattan Records is an imprint label. "We are absolutely thrilled with the response that they have received from American audiences. But what is most impressive is the direct reaction that we are receiving from their new fans. We're getting calls and emails from all over the country asking when they can see the girls perform and wanting more information. We're pleased to report that fans are going to get their chance to see them this summer."

The women are lead by the talents of David Downes (Musical Director, Conductor, Composer and Arranger). Downes, who is a prodigious young Irish star, had previously worked as musical director of Riverdance. The show is the realisation of a dream for Sharon Browne, Managing Director of Celtic Collections -- One of Ireland's most successful independent record labels.

Celtic Woman portrays the unique voices and styles of each of the Girls as Soloists along with fantastic Ensemble numbers. Performing the most beautiful and best-loved songs in the musical repertoire, Celtic Woman's singers unique renditions of Irish songs such as: "Danny Boy," timeless classics like "Ave Maria," contemporary songs such as Enya's "Orinoco Flow" and Clannad's "Harry's Game," to a host of spellbinding original songs all with the new and exciting arrangements created by David Downes.

Celtic Woman Tour Dates July 20th Cleveland, OH The Palace Theatre July 22nd Detroit, MI Meadowbrook Amphitheatre July 23rd Pittsburgh, PA Byham Theatre July 25th Binghamton, NY Forum Theatre July 26th Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion July 27th Buffalo, NY Shea's PAC July 28th Rochester, NY Auditorium Theatre July 29th Westbury, NY North Fork Theatre July 30th Philadelphia, PA Merriam Theatre August 1st Vienna, VA Wolf Trap Farm Park August 3rd Peoria, IL Peoria Civic Center August 5th St. Louis, MO Fox Theatre August 6th Atlanta, GA Chastain Park August 13th San Francisco, CA Nob Hill Masonic Center August 14th Sacramento, CA Sacramento City Auditorium

Source: Manhattan Records/EMI

CONTACT: Keith Hagan, +1-212-334-6116, Khagan@pfamedia.net, or Paul Freundlich, +1-212-334-6116, paulf@pfamedia.net, both of PFA (Paul Freundlich Associates); or Maria C. Malta of Manhattan Records, +1-212-786-8637, maria.malta@emimusic.com

------- Profile: Ent