December 17, 2009
The sounds of a Celtic Christmas will echo through St. John's United Church this Saturday as the Barra MacNeils take the stage.

Celtic group The Barra MacNeils take the stage for two shows Saturday at St. John’s United Church.

It has been a little over 20 years since the group released its first CD. In that time, they have become one of the most famous Celtic bands in the world, releasing 13 CDs, winning 5 ECMA awards and being nominated for a Juno award along the way.

This year's Christmas Tour has taken them along the Eastern seaboard, from New Hampshire to Newfoundland, and all points in between.

"It has been a really nice tour," says Stewart MacNeil. "We have had two Christmas albums that were really popular. There are some great arrangements, some of them Gaelic, and others instrumentals. We have stories and family harmonies. We have been doing it for 10 years now and it is a very popular show."

The MacNeil family loves what they do and, as you watch them on stage, you can tell.

"The thing about this show is that it is fun!" says Aaron Billard of St. John's United Church. "It's fun! From the moment they hit the stage, toes were tapping and hands were clapping. They have a great sense of humour, and sing some songs in Gaelic. When they jumped to the front of the stage and started step dancing, the church filled with cheers and applause!"

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, the family group is deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture, dance, language and history.

"I grew up two streets away from the MacNeil family home, and I was their paperboy. I went to school with two of the younger MacNeils, Ryan and Boyd," remembers Aaron. "Whether it was children taking music lessons, or step dancing lessons, there was always music coming from that house."

The Barra MacNeils offer multiple lead vocalists, beautiful sibling harmonies, top drawer instrumental prowess on a wide variety of acoustic, stringed, percussion and wind instruments, all blended with dancing, storytelling and singing.

"A lot of times people are taken aback by the sheer number of instruments we play," says Stewart, "but it really ads a special character, from Celtic harps to various mandolins and wooden flutes, Irish pipes. You come to this show and you are getting everything."

St. John's made a decision in the last couple of years to offer quality musical shows, partly as a way to raise funds, but mostly as a way to share good music and create community.

"We heat this huge space, and only use it for a couple of hours a week," says Owen Fraser, events committee chairman for St. John's. "With very little effort we changed it into a performance space, because it is a great space, it is beautiful, and it has great acoustics."

In fact, the Irish Tenors who performed there a few weeks ago decided on the spur of the moment to put down their microphones and sing a piece a cappella.

"The one thing artists always tell us, everyone from the Celtic Tenors to Marshall Button, is that the acoustics within St. John's are amazing," Aaron says. "Hearing the music of Christmas performed live, or any music for that matter, in an historic church building is really a wonderful opportunity."

And the Barra MacNeils can use this space to its fullest extent.

"We had a sold out Christmas show last year on the 19th of December," says Owen. "There were so many people who wanted tickets and never got them that we figured we should see if two shows would go, so we are adding a matinee."

As Stewart tells it, this show is first and foremost about celebrating what Christmas in the Maritimes means.

"There are so many songs I really like. I really like that everybody gets featured," he says. "But it is also the range of the show. There are parts that are just like you are sitting in our kitchen, and parts of it seem like a midnight mass. It is a whole mix of what the season brings."

"Last year's concert got me so in the Christmas spirit; it was that perfect dose of Christmas" says Becky Campbell. "Their voices for Christmas songs are so classic!"

"They are excellent performers. They know how to play to an audience," Owen recalls of last year's show. "They had everyone stomping their feet and clapping their hands, it was really something."

Perhaps the clearest memory from last year was the performance of O Holy Night.

"When Lucy sang O Holy Night, as her brothers joined in on harmony, there wasn't a dry eye in the place," says Aaron. "Near the end of the show, Lucy took a few moments to talk with the audience about this time of year not always being joyful, then she invited people to think about someone, or to hold the hand of someone, as she sang Auld Lang Syne and invited everyone to sing with her; it was very moving."

"I would go just to hear their voices live, to hear them blend together," says Becky. "And if you walk out of there in a bad mood, there is something really wrong.

"It shakes all that shopping out of you and you forget everything else when you hear them sing. It is that good!"

"All we really want to do is get people into the Christmas spirit," says Stewart. "That is what it is all about."

December 6, 2009

The traditional family group Barra MacNeils bring their annual Christmas show to St. John’s for the first time....
Read Part 1 (PDF)  Read Part 2 (PDF)  Read Part 3 (PDF)

December 2009
Upcoming Barra MacNeils TV Specials

All times Eastern (Check your local listings)

Bravo TV Canada
December 14 -- 8:00 pm ET
December 15 -- 9:00 am ET

Christmas Together with the Barra MacNeil's (E) 2007. The Barra MacNeils perform a selection of songs from their Christmas albums in front of a live
audience.

VisionTV
December 9 --  11:00 pm ET

Christmas Together With the Barra MacNeils. Canada’s leading Celtic artists, the Barra MacNeils, perform music from their best-selling Christmas Album II in this holiday concert special filmed in Dartmouth, N.S.

THE BARRA MACNEILS CHRISTMAS TOUR ADDS ANOTHER SHOW! ... Friday December 11th!

(ST. JOHNS, NL) – Due to popular demand, the Barra MacNeil's have added an additional show Friday, December 11th at 8pm at George Street United Church. The festive season is fast upon us and we are proud to announce that, for the first time ever, the Barra MacNeils will bring their annual seasonal musical celebration to St. John’s! The Barra MacNeil’s will bring their annual Christmas show featuring a skillfully performed collection of seasonal favourites complete with captivating vocals, harmonies and extraordinary musicianship to George Street United Church for two beautiful evening performances December 11th and 12th, 2009.

The Barra MacNeils will be performing selections from both of their popular Christmas CD's as well as a variety of vocal and instrumental favourites. The tour has fast become a holiday tradition for many and they are so pleased to bring it to St. John’s, NL and hope that this can become a Newfoundland tradition. Please see the attached Media Release for additional information. For Media inquiries, please contact Chelsey MacNeil at 709-765-7594 or at this email.

BARRA MACNEILS – CHRISTMAS CONCERT
GEORGE STREET UNITED CHURCH
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY DECEMBER 11 AND 12/ 8 PM SHOWTIME
TICKETS: AVAILABLE AT HOLY HEART BOX OFFICE 709-579-4424

November 27, 2009
Christmas Family Entertainment
The Current, Newfoundland

Barra MacNeils take on a winter tour... Read More (JPG)

November 18, 2009
The Barra MacNeils Christmas tour coming to St. John’s
The Telegram

The Barra MacNeils will bring their annual seasonal musical celebration to St. John’s this year. The show will take place at George Street United Church at 8 p.m. Dec. 12.

The event will feature a skillfully performed collection of seasonal favourites complete with captivating vocals, harmonies and extraordinary musicianship.
Multi-award winners, The Barra MacNeils have released numerous recordings, including Racket In the Attic (2002), Christmas Album (1999), Until Now (1997), The Question (1995), The Traditional Album (1994), Closer to Paradise (1993), Timeframe (1990), Rock in the Stream (1989), The Barra MacNeils (1986). In 2001, they released a DVD titled Cape Breton Christmas incorporating music from their live Christmas Concert Special (as seen on television), plus a visit to Cape Breton, interviews with the Barra MacNeils home at Christmas and music videos.

During the Dec. 12 show, the Barra MacNeils will perform selections from both of their popular Christmas CD's as well as a variety of vocal and instrumental favourites.

According to the George Street United Church website, tickets are $30 each and available at the Holy Heart box office 579-4424. For more information on the group and each show, visit: www.barramacneils.com

For Immediate Release
BARRAS CHRISTMAS CONCERT ADDS 2ND SHOW AT REBECCA COHN!
November 3, 2009 -- Halifax

Due to high demand, a second show has been added for the Barra MacNeils
Christmas concert at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium on Sunday December 20. The new show will be at 4 pm.

The Barra MacNeils Christmas concert will include selections from both of
their popular seasonal CD's as well as a variety of vocal and instrumental
favourites. A family favourite, the Christmas show has become an annual
tradition in Atlantic Canada.

Multi-award winners, The Barra MacNeils have released numerous recordings in their prolific 20-plus year career including their latest In Concert and In
Session live albums.

The six siblings from Sydney Mines, along with long-time bass player, Jamie
Gatti are widely regarded as one of the most accomplished concert acts in
the Celtic world. The family is deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture,
dance, language, and history. Their
seasonal show reflects their Celtic traditions while bringing a sense of fun
and warmth which engages audiences of all ages.

The Barra MacNeils will also perform at the Savoy Theatre for one show only
to end off their tour on Monday December 21 at 8 pm. Tickets for that show
are now on sale at the Savoy Box Office at 1(902)842-1577 or 564-6668 or
on-line www.savoytheatre.com

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Thursday, October 21st, 2009

THE BARRA MACNEILS CHRISTMAS TOUR TAKES
THEM TO ST. JOHN’S, NL!

(ST. JOHNS, NL) – The festive season is fast upon us and we are proud to announce that, for the first time in many years, the Barra MacNeils will bring their annual seasonal musical celebration to St. John’s!

The Barra MacNeil’s will bring their annual Christmas show featuring a skillfully performed collection of seasonal favourites complete with captivating vocals, harmonies and extraordinary musicianship to George Street United Church for one beautiful evening performance December 12th,
2009.

Multi-award winners, The Barra MacNeils have released numerous recordings, including Racket In the Attic (2002), Christmas Album (1999), Until Now (1997), The Question (1995), The Traditional Album (1994), Closer to Paradise (1993), Timeframe (1990), Rock in the Stream (1989), The Barra MacNeils (1986). In 2001, they released a DVD titled Cape Breton Christmas
incorporating music from their live Christmas Concert Special (as seen on television), plus a visit to Cape Breton, interviews with the Barra MacNeils   home at Christmas and music videos.

The Barra MacNeils continue to perform to sold-out audiences throughout Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and the United Kingdom. They have headlined major festivals and concerts, made guest appearances on television specials (Rita MacNeil’s CTV Christmas Special, performing
with The Chieftains), and been featured on film and television soundtracks (Men with Brooms Soundtrack; Racket in the Attic). The Barra MacNeils one-hour Christmas Television Special (2000) continues to be broadcast on Country Music Television (CMT) and on the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) network in the United States. As one critic noted "the six madly talented siblings, with bass player Jamie Gatti, produce a balanced
sound that varies from wild Celtic party music to original tunes and mellow ballads, always infused with joy." (S. Pena, Reading, PA).

The Barra MacNeils will be performing selections from both of their popular Christmas CD's as well as a variety of vocal and instrumental favourites. The tour has fast become a holiday tradition for many and they are so pleased to bring it to St. John’s, NL and hope that this can become a Newfoundland tradition.

BARRA MACNEILS – CHRISTMAS CONCERT
GEORGE STREET UNITED CHURCH
SATURDAY DECEMBER 12 8 PM SHOWTIME
TICKETS: AVAILABLE AT HOLY HEART BOX OFFICE 709-579-4424
For more information the group and each show, visit:

September 2009
The Barra MacNeils: In Concert & In Session Reviews
The Barra MacNeils have released to CD's in the atmosphere that it is the best way to here them or any other performer, "live". In Session was recorded last fall at Bunker's Pub in Sydney and In Concert was recorded at the Marigold Centre in Truro in June 2008... read more

September 24, 2009
Free concert in the park with The Barra MacNeils from Cape Breton When: Thursday, September 24, 2009 -10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon)
Where: Major’s Hill Park, Ottawa... read more

September 14, 2009
Sydney, NS -- On Saturday the 19th of September Governors Pub & Eatery is proud to present the Barra MacNeils dual CD Release Party as part of the establishment’s grand re-opening celebration... read more

September 3, 2009
Celebrating the culture of the Highlands
From Ceilidhs to cathedral concerts, foot-stomping shows
to haunting Gaelic songs, the Blas festival has it all
BLAS, a music and cultural festival, said to be the UK’s fastest growing and one of the flagship events in this year’s national Homecoming celebrations, gets under way tomorrow... read more

July 21, 2009
Airplanes on course for Cape Breton
SYDNEY — What is believed to be the largest rally of airplanes to fly coast-to-coast in Canada is nearing its final destination at the birthplace of Canadian aviation. As part of the country’s centennial year of flight, more than 100 non-military airplanes and approximately 200 pilots will land in Cape Breton Monday, ending their two-week journey... read more

July 2009
Barra MacNeils will headline Festival of the Tartans
The Barra MacNeils will be the headline performers at the Festival of the Tartan’s Concert Under the Stars in New Glasgow Saturday, August 8. Pictou County’s own Fleur Mainville and Friends will open for the Barras for what promises to be a spectacular evening of Celtic entertainment... read more

January 31, 2009
The music rises again for flood relief fundraiser
He may hang his hat in Alberta, but when Tom Jackson heard the Red River was rising to dangerous levels, it was deja vu all over again. So, as he did in 1997, the former Winnipeg actor and singer-songwriter rose to the occasion by rallying some friends to lend a musical helping hand...  read more

January 31, 2009
The Barra MacNeils: 20th Anniversary Collection
Few groups in the Celtic music world can boast the kind of storied career that Cape Breton's world famous family group, the Barra MacNeils, can. Six siblings of almost preternatural skill on all manner of Celtic instruments, with strong, beautiful voices that blend as only sibling voices can, the MacNeils present an award-winning breadth of music, both original and traditional, that is unmatched elsewhere within Celtic music...  read more

December 20, 2008
Christmas with the Barras
Closing out another successful Christmas tour Monday at Savoy
The Barra MacNeils will close out another successful Christmas tour with a performance at home. The popular Cape Breton Celtic group — consisting of siblings Sheumas, Kyle, Stewart, Lucy, Boyd and Ryan — will take to the stage for the last time this year with a sold-out show, Monday at 8 p.m. the Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay... read more

December 19, 2008
Barras home for the holidays - Month-long Christmas tour wraps
up with four shows in Nova Scotia this week
The Barra MacNeils , from left, Sheumas, Ryan, Boyd, Lucy, Kyle and Stewart, bring their Christmas tour home with shows at St. F.X. Auditorium, Antigonish at 8 p.m. on Saturday; at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax, 4 and 8 p.m. on Sunday, and Glace Bay’s Savoy Theatre on Monday night... read more

December 18, 2008
The BARRA MACNEILS Salute the Season at Scotia Plaza
Juno-nominated singers perform a free concert, promoting Christmas Tour.
The Scotiabank Barra MacNeils Christmas Tour made an additional stop at Scotia Plaza at noon today, spreading their East Coast holiday cheer. The Juno-nominated band will be performing at the Music Hall on the Danforth later this evening, as they cross the country with their annual holiday tour...  read more

December 15, 2008
Celtic group still loves performing
Barra MacNeils bring 'kitchen party' to two new live albums
Now two decades in, the East Coast group/family are in the homestretch of a cross-Canada Christmas tour to coincide with some long-awaited live material in two live albums: the recently released In Concert and the forthcoming In Session...  read more

December 15, 2008
MacNeils spread Christmas joy
Barra MacNeils bring 'kitchen party' to two new live albums
While Cape Breton musical act The Rankin Family staged a reunion tour earlier this year, fellow islanders and Celtic group Barra MacNeils have no notions about mounting a similar trek. You see, they would have to disband first for that to happen...  read more

December 6, 2008
Celtic Christmas. Cape Breton's Barra MacNeils perform in Orillia
The Barra MacNeils bring a Celtic Christmas to Orillia this weekend. The tour is becoming an annual tradition for the Nova Scotia family. "It's definitely one of the fan favourite shows," said Stewart Mac- Neil, the middle of six siblings who have a 20-year age span from youngest to oldest... read more

December 1, 2008
Barra MacNeils finally release live album
Member 'not really sure' why it took this long. Talk about making up for lost time. The Barra MacNeils will soon release two live albums after a 20-plus recording career without a single concert disc...  read more

November 27, 2008
Celtic Christmas tour visits Port Hope
An east-coast Celtic Christmas is coming to the Cameco Capitol Arts Centre as the Barra MacNeils sweep through Ontario on their cross-Canada tour. The Barra MacNeils annual seasonal tour is becoming a popular festive tradition in theatres across Canada, said Stewart MacNeil, in a phone interview from just outside Banff....  read more

November 25, 2008
Coupon Code for The Barra MacNeils Christmas Tour concert tickets.

The ticketmaster discount code for Winnipeg The Barra MacNeils Christmas Tour tickets has just been posted! This is your chance to save on tickets to see The Barra MacNeils Christmas Tour at the upcoming concert in Winnipeg. Here are the details you will need, and the coupon code to save when you buy tickets at ticketmaster.com

Use the The Barra MacNeils Christmas Tour discount code at Ticketmaster in the box labeled Ticket Deals Partner Offer or Special Offer Code. Please remember that offers do expire, check back often for new codes, or use the search box at the top of the page to find what you are looking for.

The Barra MacNeils Christmas Tour Discount Code:
Click here to view the code and order tickets

Want tickets early? ** You can get presale passwords for The Barra MacNeils Christmas Tour tickets tickets at our other blog: Presale Passwords by WiseGuy.

November 20, 2008
A tuneful Celtic Christmas
The Barra MacNeils bring their lively sounds to Victoria on annual tour
Stewart MacNeil's music career was launched almost 40 years ago with the gift of a wee harmonica. MacNeil, 44, is a member of the Barra MacNeils, the popular Celtic band from Sydney Mines, N.S. Tomorrow, the sextet plays its annual Christmas concert in Victoria. Two other Vancouver Island dates are already sold out... read more

November 21, 2008
The BARRA MACNEILS CHRISTMAS TOUR TAKES THEM FROM SEA TO SEA
Scotiabank Barra MacNeils Christmas!
The festive season is fast upon us and so the Barra MacNeils will bring their annual seasonal musical celebration to theatres across Canada starting Thursday, Nov. 20 in Maple Ridge, BC and wrapping up closer to their home on Dec. 22, at The Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay...  read more

November 18, 2008
Christmas at the ACT
The Barra MacNeils make the first stop of their Christmas national tour at the ACT on Thursday, 8 p.m. Featuring a skillfully performed collection of seasonal favorites, The Christmas Album II was recorded at Kyle and Anita MacNeils’ home on the Mira and Soundpark Studio in Sydney, Cape Breton... read more

November 18, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: BARRA MACNEILS CHRISTMAS TOUR BRINGS THEM HOME TO NOVA SCOTIA
The Christmas season is fast upon us and so the Barra MacNeils will bring their annual seasonal musical celebration to Halifax and Glace Bay – completing a month-long tour that has taken them to Victoria B.C. and back....  read more

October 24, 2008
Connect the Scots
SYDNEY — A group of Cape Breton artists will highlight the opening night show of the Celtic Connections international festival in Scotland early next year. The Barra MacNeils, J.P. Cormier, Ashley MacIsaac, Mary Jane Lamond and Jerry Holland will share the stage at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Jan. 15, to kick off the 16th annual event with a show entitled The Cape Breton Connection... read more

September 15, 2008
Review: Barra MacNeils deserve an encore
The Barra MacNeils perform live in the Bob and Bernie' Pub Tent at the Irish Music Festival Sunday afternoon. For the second consecutive day, rain forced the Michigan Irish Music Festival to rearrange their schedule, and festival first-timers, the Barra MacNeils, were relocated from the County Kerry Stage to the dry confines of Bob and Bernie's Pub, where they proceeded to play... read more

September 15, 2008
Barra MacNeils Celtic music to Pinellas Park
The Barra MacNeils will perform on Saturday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m., at the Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center, 4951 78th Ave. N. The family group from Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, includes six MacNeil siblings. This year, the band is celebrating 20 years in the industry with an extensive tour and an anniversary CD collection which spans the career of this powerhouse in the field of Celtic music...  read more

August 1, 2008
RTÉ Radio Ireland Broadcast
Tune in to RTE Radio Ireland on Monday August 18 for a broadcast of the Barra MacNeils  concert from the National Concert Hall, Dublin. Recorded on August 11, 2007.

LISTEN ONLINE on Monday August 18 at 9.00pm Irish Time).

July 12, 2008
MacNeils balance tradition, originality in Reading show
On a perfect summer evening, a large crowd in City Park was thoroughly entertained by the Barra MacNeils, presented by the Berks Arts Council as part of the free Bandshell Concert series...  read more

June 4, 2008
Barra MacNeils headline Toronto's Luminato Festival
of Arts and Creativity
Cape Breton’s Barra MacNeils are headlining a huge outdoor performance focused on Scottish Music at Toronto’s Luminato Festival on Saturday, June 7... read more

May 19, 2008
Barra MacNeils Live Recording
Sunday afternoon I was privileged to be among a small group of people, mostly family, close friends and fellow musicians, present at Bunker’s in Sydney as The Barra MacNeils did a live recording as part of an upcoming CD... read more

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