Which are your favourite original and cover tracks to perform live?
Chloë Agnew: "One of my favourite original tracks to perform is the opening song of our new show Believe called "Awakening", written by David Downes. It is so powerful and really sets up an amazing atmosphere and energy for the rest of the show. And, of course, one of my favourite covers to perform is one of my solo songs in the show, "Ave Maria". It's a very still and beautiful moment in the show, it seems to connect with a lot of people and it's so inspiring to see people moved by my interpretation of it."
Chloë Agnew: "I think there are many reasons Celtic Woman has had such a wonderful success, but I think the most important of them all is the power of the music we perform. It comes from a very special place...our hearts. I think people can relate to the music we sing and play each night. The songs are stories of love, loss, hope and belief. We've been honoured to hear it has helped people find strength and hope in times that they need it. In these difficult times we live in we all need something to help us escape for a little while, and if we can do that for people all over the world through our music, it is the greatest feeling you can imagine."
Chloë Agnew: "We have been so lucky to perform all over the world in some of the most incredible theatres and arenas. In particular Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York city, the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo Japan, the O2 arena in Berlin...the list is endless. One of my favourite performances was for President Obama and his family in front of the White House in Washington at the National Tree Lighting ceremony for his first Christmas as president in the White House. It was such an honour to perform alongside other artists in the show like Sheryl Crow, Jordan Sparks and Ray LaMontagne. Needless to say, meeting the first family was pretty cool too!"
Chloë Agnew: The toughest part over the last eight years has been having to say goodbye to our loved ones at home in Ireland so many times. The homesickness can be really hard! I miss my family and friends and all my dogs (I have seven!) so much during the long months touring away from home. But at the same time we are so grateful to get to see so many amazing places all over the world and sometimes our families come visit us on the road and we get to share what we do with them so that makes it a lot easier."
Chloë Agnew: "I first started working with David Downes when I was very young. I was 11 years old when I did my first single with him, then we recorded my first album at 12, and my second when I was 14 years old. So we've developed a wonderful personal and working relationship having known each other and worked together for so many years now. He is so easy to work with in the studio and he never ceases to amaze me with his ability to choose music that not only compliments us, but challenges us as singers and performers so we are constantly upping our game! It's a great feeling!"
Chloë Agnew: There are so many songs I'd love to cover... I'm a bit of a rock chick at heart so it would probably be an classic Queen or U2 song! So it's probably much safer that David chooses the music for us! Ha!"
Chloë Agnew: "Well Celtic Woman have been to South Africa twice before on promotional trips but we are very excited to be bringing our live show here for the first time. We've been so busy over the last eight years, it's been hard to find the time to come down to SA, but now that we're finally here it has definitely been worth the wait! It's been incredible to hear there are so many of our South African fans who have waited nearly eight years for us to bring our show here so we're glad to hear they are as excited as we are!"
Chloë Agnew: The beauty of Celtic Woman is that it is a feast for the eyes and the ears. We have beautiful costumes and lights, a world class band and choir, a bagpiper, an Irish dancer and a few surprises along the way. It really is a feel-good show, and we just have a lot of fun onstage, and the audience definitely joins in on the fun! There is something for everyone and I think that's one of the reasons Celtic Woman has become such a family show. We have children come along with their parents and their grandparents. The music can span generations and cultures and allows everyone in the family to have a good time!
Chloë Agnew: "Well, we're doing two shows in Johannesburg on the 28th and 29th of September and then a show in Cape Town on the 2nd of October, and then once we finish the tour I'm planning to stay on for a couple of days to do all the touristy things I have always wanted to do here in South Africa - Safari's, Table Mountain... you name it, it's on my list of things to do! I can't wait!"
Chloë Agnew: "Well, we have just recorded a brand new Christmas album so we're getting ready to release that in the next few months. Then we have a Symphony tour in the USA at Christmas, a little break over the holidays and then straight back out on the road with our Believe tour next year. So we are busy girls! But we are hoping that the South African people will enjoy our live show this time round so we can come back and spend more time in your beautiful country. We love it here and hope to pay many more visits to South Africa!"
