Bands & Activities

Barra MacNeils

Saturday, June 18th - OLG Stage - 9:45pm

Throughout 2007 and 2008, the Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island based family group, the Barra MacNeils, celebrated over 20 years in an outstanding recording and touring career. This was accented with a two CD special 20th Anniversary package covering the span of their entire career to that point, as well as live concerts reflecting the musical course of their career, from humble family beginnings to world wide acclaim. The concert touring in support of that project took the group to theatre and festival stages coast to coast across Canada, had them jetting across America from festival stage to theatre stage and beyond, as well as sending them to Ireland and Scotland for prestigious events across the Atlantic.

Now, in 2009 and soon enough moving into 2010, the group has released two new live recordings intended to represent both sides of what the Barra MacNeils bring to stages the world over. The two live CD’s, In Concert and In Session, together cover the instrumental and vocal material the group performs in concerts regularly while also touching on lesser known material from their more formative years and more informal musical gatherings.

As a group, the six MacNeil siblings are widely regarded as one of the greatest live concert acts in the Celtic world. Hailing from Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, the family group is deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture, dance, language and history. Their numerous critically acclaimed recordings have included their own original songs as well as tried and true standards, both instrumental and vocal. These two new live recordings are no exception and are a must have for any fan of their live shows.

In Concert was recorded live over two consecutive nights at sold out concerts in Truro, Nova Scotia at the Marigold Cultural Centre. It features a sampling of the Barra MacNeils’ popular theatre and festival main stage show material; from the high energy of Clumsy Lover Set right into some Stepdance with Lucy down to the longing of A Thousand Miles and the stellar beauty of Caledonia sung by Lucy, the CD touches on all the energies and emotions of the Barra MacNeils live concert experience. Other highlights include: the rousing anthem-like Coal Town Road, the fun-filled sing along spirit of Don’t Call Me Early and Nancy-O to the ripping intense instrumental prowess displayed on Dougie Mac and The Longest Day and perhaps where it all comes together on the free and easy Haven’t Got a Care.

In Session was recorded over a marathon afternoon and evening pub session at Bunkers in Sydney, Nova Scotia. The by invitation only event was attended by close friends, immediate and extended family members as well as select fans and media. People can be heard singing and clapping along, raising a glass of good cheer while keeping their energy up for dancing with a sampling of the pub’s food menu. It was a magical event as the MacNeils gathered in a circle in the middle of the room around the upright piano, stand up bass and microphones; playing what seemed to be effortlessly for hours on end. Only some of the highlights could be captured by the recording crew (who had to set up in the dining room downstairs) and translated to this CD release but some special moments are certainly represented. Causeway Crossing is as stirring a representation of the Barra MacNeils roots and beginnings as could ever be heard or found. The song tells of the cost of progress and the toll the ever-growing economic demands of a modern world take on the smaller communities and a vanishing more traditional way of life. It was indeed, “built for going away”. The weight of the Causeway Crossing, however, is deftly lifted with the easy spirit of Dancing We Would Go and the beauty and innocence of Aimless Love and Every Time. The instrumental selections are outstanding; including: Highland Village Day, That 70’s Set, the appropriate Welcome to Bunkers and the relentless fifteen minute plus energy of So You Think You Can Stepdance. Turn this CD up, close your eyes and you are there!

The Barra MacNeils live concert experience brings so much more to the stage than most live acts ever can. Multiple lead vocalists, beautiful sibling harmonies, top drawer instrumental prowess on a wide variety of acoustic, stringed, percussion and wind instruments blended with dancing, storytelling, Gaelic songs and a journey through an ancient culture; it is family entertainment at its highest level.

Steeped in Cape Breton tradition with strong Celtic roots and musical artistry, this diverse and talented family group continues to wow audiences around the world with their captivating vocals, harmonies and extraordinary musicianship.