Celtic Tenors set to prep Springfield for St. Patrick’s Day

You can take all the green beer, shamrocks and “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” buttons and it can’t shake a shillelagh at what’s coming to the Clark State Performing Arts Center on St. Patrick’s Day eve.

The Celtic Tenors, one of the Emerald Isle’s most successful international groups, will perform everything from traditional Irish tunes such as “Danny Boy” to songs from Bob Dylan at 8 p.m. Friday, March 16.

The show is presented by the Springfield Arts Council and is appropriate for all audiences.

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With multiple platinum albums and world tours behind them over 20 years, the Celtic Tenors have been met with enthusiastic receptions.

Tenor Matthew Gilsenan, a third of the group along with James Nelson and Daryl Simpson, can’t offer a specific reason as to why.

“It just works,” Gilsenan said in his distinct Irish accent. “It’s a simple show in its ingredients with three different types of singers with a huge variety of songs. We make it very naturally suited to us.”

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While the Tenors naturally perform songs from their homeland such as “The Town I Loved So Well” and the folk tune “Remember Me,” dedicated to veterans, the group is not classical nor fully folk.

“We’re singing songs we truly believe in,” Gilsenan said. You can hear a folk song followed by Dylan’s “Forever Young” and a broad selection of tunes in which the audience is encouraged to sing along.

Although Irish by birth, Gilsenan loves being on tour in the U.S. during the St. Patrick’s Day season, which gets more attention here than in his homeland.

“It’s usually very wet and cold in Ireland at this time and it’s lovely to see people smiling and loving it,” he said. “It’s nice to see it celebrated this way.

“Ohio is a great state. We love it; some of our best friends are from there.”

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Gilsenan could’ve easily had a comfortable living as an engineer before his love of singing won out. He’s never looked back.

While the ladies are drawn to tenor voices, he said not to be surprised if the guys are also won over and become fans.

“A journey is had at our concerts, a fun night where we deliver a quality show, quite simple with a piano, guitar and ourselves. By the end of the night, you will get to know each of us as individuals.”

The show will include complimentary traditional St. Patrick’s Day Eve desserts and treats in the PAC lobby from 6:30 to 8 p.m.


WANT TO GO?

What: The Celtic Tenors

Where: Clark State Performing Arts Center, Kuss Auditorium, 300 South Fountain Ave. Springfield

When: Friday, March 16, 8 p.m.

Admission: $52, $47, $42, $32 (plus facility and ticket fees)

More info: 937-324-2712 or go to www.springfieldartscouncil.org/event/celtic-tenors

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