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REVIEWS: September 2009
The Barra MacNeils: In Concert & In Session
John Ferguson, CelticLife

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. This isn't a double CD package but a double hit of the Barras at their best in different live settings. You'll hear a few favourite songs from the six Sydney Mines siblings as well as a couple that are new, at least to me. You also get plenty of their trademark tune sets at which they excell so wonderfully.

The Bunker's session is a little more informal with invited guests cheering the band on. Engineer, Jamie Foulds has done a great job of producing exceptional sound quality from the pub surroundings and the audience is respectful of the performers even though the pub's bar is open during the session. The whole album is so much fun to listen to and makes you want to be there. I was actually invited but had to return to Halifax on the day of the recording. Highlights for me are the big, long set of reels at the end and Lucy's rendition of John Prine's "Aimless Love".

The concert CD from the Marigold Centre just continues with more great music. The recording really encompasses the career of the band with cuts from early albums like the Clumsy Lover Set and Our Highland Queen Medley. Some their well-known songs, Coal Town Road, Don't Call Me Early and Caledonia are also included. You will catch some Gaelic in song and puirt a beul (mouth music). On both recordings there are some compositions from the band members; Stewart has some of his own songs and tunes while Lucy and Boyd contribute some original tunes.

For those who don't know, the Barra MacNeils are Sheumas, Kyle, Stewart, Lucy, Ryan and Boyd MacNeil. Bass player Jamie Gatti is often the "seventh Barra" and he joins them on the In Concert CD. The Barra MacNeils play an embarrassingly long list of musical instruments, all extremely well. Listening to these live recordings just cements them in my list of my three favourite bands in the Celtic music world; the Bothy Band from Ireland, Ossian from Scotalnd and the Barra MacNeils from Cape Breton. The first two bands sadly, don't exist now, but, you can happily find the Barras travelling extensively across Canada and to many places around the world bringing their infectious brand of music to their many fans. These CD's are a tempting taste of what it's like to catch them "live".

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

Inspiring short speeches by cancer leaders from around the world - including survivor and advocate Elizabeth Edwards.

For information: www.controlcancer.ca/gopublic
or call 1-450-292-3456 ext 228.

Come and support Canada’s first Global Rally for Cancer Control!

If you know someone who has cancer, if you want something to be done about cancer, show up at Major’s Hill Park at 10:30 am! Take an early lunch hour in a beautiful park and voice your concern by your presence, join the hundreds of cancer professionals, patients, providers, advocates, volunteers and concerned citizens from around the world.

Why a Global Rally for Cancer Control?

More people die from cancer than from HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria combined. By 2030, it is estimated that more than 12 million people will die of cancer every year, and countless more will be touched by this disease.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We can control cancer, and cut the rate of cancer deaths by as much as half over the next generation, because we know how to prevent, find and treat cancer.

But we’re not doing enough, fast enough. It is time for a call to action and a concerted effort to start leveraging public concern and commitment in order to shape and support new programs, policies and principles for cancer control. with The Barra MacNeils from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia – one of Canada’s most popular Celtic groups.
Inspiring short speeches by cancer leaders from around the world - including survivor and advocate Elizabeth Edwards.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We can control cancer, and cut the rate of cancer deaths by as much as half over the next generation, because we know how to prevent, find and treat cancer.

September 14, 2009
Press Release

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.

Governors Pub & Eatery has over gone extensive renovations over the past 6 months. Cape Breton’s Celtic spirit has found itself a new hearth at which to enjoy the sea salt air. Upon setting foot in the newly renovated Governor’s one finds oneself in a warm, welcoming traditional style pub decorated in warm tones and hard woods. A distinctively Celtic ambiance provides a unique and unforgettable experience like that of no other on the island.

The Barra MacNeils are celebrating the release of 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. The CD touches on all the energies and emotions of the Barra MacNeils live concert experience.

In Session was recorded over a marathon afternoon and evening pub session at Govenors Pub & Eatery in Sydney, Nova Scotia. 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 entertained the crowd while playing what seemed to be effortlessly for hours on end.

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
Susan Welsh, Press & Journal

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.

The festival, now in its fifth year, celebrates Scottish culture in the Highlands through the Gaelic language and music in traditional and modern forms and, according to organisers, it’s going to be the best yet.

The programme features more than 300 musicians playing in all sorts of venues across Inverness and the Highlands, from boats and distilleries to churches and theatres, and has something to suit all tastes.

Highlights include a pipers gala concert, a celebration of the music, song and history of the Clan Fraser of Lovat featuring Eilidh Mackenzie, Duncan MacGillivray, Gordon Gunn and Brian MacAlpine, and a Celtic Cousins concert at Inverness airport at which the talents of the Calum Stewart Trio and Kirsteen Macdonald will join with the dancers and musicians of Tread.

Some of the big names taking part in the festival which runs until Saturday, September 12 include, Dougie MacLean, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain, Blazin’ Fiddles, The Barra MacNeils, and Karen Matheson.

Festival Director Donna MacRae said: “This year’s festival has a tremendous variety of events in and around Inverness.

“We think this is our best programme yet and we believe locals and visitors right across the Highlands will agree.”

Marie Christie, director of Homecoming Scotland, added: “The Blas Festival provides a fantastic platform to experience many elements of contemporary and traditional Scottish culture in the outstanding setting of the Scottish Highlands.

“We are delighted to be supporting such an extensive and entertaining programme which will bring enjoyment to locals and international visitors alike.”

The Homecoming theme features strongly throughout the festival, which is rather appropriate for one of the stars, Karen Matheson, as she has experienced far more “homecomings” than your average singer.

Whether singing with Celtic super-group Capercaillie, her own band or as a solo artist, she’s in great demand and much of her time is spent performing overseas.

Karen, along with her own band plus Dundee troubadour Michael Marra and James Graham, a former winner of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, are in concert at the Aviemore MacDonald Highland Resort on Sunday.

It’s a show she’s looking forward to as she has spent much of the summer abroad, as she explained: “Virtually every weekend of the summer has been spent performing at European festivals, which has been good fun.

“We have always had a good following abroad, particularly in France and Spain, but it is lovely to do shows at home, particularly in the Highlands.

“I like doing the Blas gigs and am really looking forward to this one as I’m playing with the core band which features James Grant on guitars, Ewen Vernal on double bass and Donald Shaw on piano, but we are also bringing in Annie Massie and Brendan Power, an amazing harmonica player based in London, as they add different layers and textures to the overall sound.

“Much of the material for the show will be drawn from my last album, Downriver, but there will also be traditional and more-contemporary songs.

“The show is being filmed for Gaelic television, so it will have a higher Gaelic content than usual.

“I know it sounds like a cliche, but I don’t really have a preference for singing in English or Gaelic – some songs just carry me away and I get lost in the music, no matter which language I’m singing in.”

One new addition to Blas this year is the introduction of two new commissioned works: An Aifreann gaidhlig le Blar Dubhglas – Blair Douglas’s new Gaelic Mass which will be premiered at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Inverness tomorrow with performances in Fort William and Portree.

The second is Uisge Beatha – a multimedia show, presented in five distilleries, by renowned fiddler Iain MacFarlane which explores the history of whisky making in the Highlands and includes archive footage and new music from Iain.

Inverness Airport plays host to a special evening show in its restaurant on September 8 when Tread, Calum Stewart and his Scandinavian Ensemble and Gaelic singer Kirsteen MacDonald get together for a night to remember.

The festival closes with a grand finale in Eden Court Theatre on Saturday, September 12, with a show featuring Blazin’ Fiddles, The Barra MacNeils, Tread and Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail.

The full programme and information about tickets is available from the website www.blas-festival.co.uk or by calling the hotline on 01463 783447.

July 21, 2009
Airplanes on course for Cape Breton
ERIN POTTIE, The Cape Breton Post

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 which began July 16, in Boundary Bay, B.C.
Destined to be near Baddeck, where Canada’s first manned powered flight occurred on Feb. 23, 1909, the event includes stops across the country as the fleet of small planes makes its way to the Sydney airport.

Members of the public will be invited to watch outside the airport gate as the planes land one-by-one in Sydney, with the first plane expected to arrive at 9:30 a.m.

Once the entire group has landed, both pilots and the public will be invited to attend a reception to rename Sydney airport in honour of Silver Dart pilot J.A.D. McCurdy. A concert will also be held featuring Cape Breton music group The Barra MacNeils.

“There’s just a huge amount of press on this flight and it’s picking up momentum for sure,” said Eleanor Anderson, project manager, Silver Dart Centennial Association. “We’re planning a big welcome for them.”
Anderson said most pilots will stay at a Sydney hotel and later be bused by motor coach to the Alexander Graham Bell museum July 28.
Eight to 10 planes will fly into Baddeck for the occasion, landing at the Crown Jewel Resort airstrip.

Anthony Nalli, media co-ordinator for John Lovelace’s Cross Canada Century Flight, said Tuesday the group was currently stationed in Dryden, Ont.
Nalli, who is a pilot himself, said each plane flies according to its own flight plan — not as a squadron.

John Lovelace, the flight marshal, had originally planned to complete the cross-Canada trip himself after discussing the idea in Baddeck with a grandson of Alexander Graham Bell. After sharing his plans, more and more pilots had requested to join, leading him to organize a group of 100 planes to represent 100 years of flight.

“To tell you the truth if we didn’t stop registration a few months ago we could have had double or triple that,” said Nalli. “The interest has been absolutely phenomenal.”

July 2009
Barra MacNeils will headline Festival of the Tartans
Pictou Advocate

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.
The multi-award winning Barra MacNeils hail from Sydney Mines and have celebrated over 20 years of recording and touring. Their critically acclaimed recordings have included their own original songs as well as tried and true Celtic standards, both instrumental and vocal.

“It’s been a long time since we performed at the Festival of the Tartans” Kyle MacNeil said in a release. “We are all looking forward to our return and having the chance to play in front of a great crowd at a great event.”

Fleur Mainville said she is excited to be part of the festival. This year marks the 53rd year for the Festival of the Tartans, which received the 2008 Star of the Festivals Award from the Pictou County Tourist Association. Celebrations this year include a kilted golf tournament, massed pipe bands, highland dancing, Scottish heavy weight events and the Mayor’s tea. Troy MacCulloch, president of the Festival of the Tartans, said he is exceptionally pleased with this year’s concert line-up.

Tickets to the Concert Under the Stars are $15 and will be available at Big Al’s Convenience Store at a later date. The concert will start at 7 p.m.

January 31, 2009
The music rises again for flood relief fundraiser
Carolin Vesely

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.

Wednesday night, Jackson will host Rise Again 2009: The Red Cross Manitoba Flood Relief Concert at the MTS Centre.

The lineup includes: Lynn Lake native Tom Cochrane, former INXS frontman JD Fortune, R&B songstress Deborah Cox, country duo One More Girl, Celtic band The Barra MacNeils, Montreal chanteuse Bet.e and Irish-Canadian country singer Beverley Mahood. Local flavour will be provided by funk collective Moses Mayes, roots quartet Nathan and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 each at Ticketmaster outlets.

Jackson, who lives outside of Calgary and was recently appointed chancellor of Trent University in Peterborough, Ont., says although his career path has taken him away from his hometown, his history and his heart lie in Manitoba.

"I live in the country so I have a satellite dish and often, just for warm fuzzies, I'll watch Winnipeg news. It's like watching a movie where you know all the stars," says the 60-year-old former lead character on the CBC-TV series North of 60.

When he learned some of the Manitobans hit hardest by the flood were those in First Nations communities, the Métis social activist and philanthropist says he got on the horn, starting with Tomali Pictures and Studios, his Calgary-based production company, which also has an office in Winnipeg.

"We've been producing variety television of this nature for more than a decade (his long-running Huron Carole Christmas concert series has raised millions for the Canadian Association of Foodbanks) so I have a team of folks I can call on," he says.

"The bottom line is there was a need and there was a willingness. Everybody that I needed to engage and to say 'yes' -- bless their hearts -- agreed to do this."

In the wake of the Flood of the Century in 1997, Jackson and cohorts organized a massive outdoor concert at The Forks, which drew 50,000 people (just shy of the 50,815 spectators who saw the Rolling Stones at Winnipeg Stadium in 1994) and raised nearly $2 million for Manitoba flood victims.

Jackson says that while the province was better prepared for this year's flood than in 1997, the long-term effects and needs of those affected are still an unknown and resources need to be set aside to deal with them.

"I've had some experience in stress management," says the 2007 recipient of a Humanitarian Award from the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), who has run workshops for aboriginal communities affected by suicide.

"We cannot tell at this point what kind of devastation this (flood) does to the soul and we have to be prepared to react. Those who are capable of doing that need our support, and in this case it's the folks who work at the Red Cross."

CBC Manitoba will broadcast concert highlights on The (204) on CBC Radio One at 5 p.m. this Saturday and on Canada Live at 8 p.m. on May 21. Rise Again will also air on the Aboriginal People's Television Network (APTN). Dates to be announced.

Concert preview
Rise Again 2009
The Red Cross Manitoba Flood Relief Concert
MTS Centre
Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Tickets $20 at Ticketmaster

January 31, 2009
The Barra MacNeils: 20th Anniversary Collection
Rambles.net

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.

In 2007, they decided to release a 20th Anniversary Collection of their music, drawn both from their many albums over the years as well as some new recordings. This is a collection for every celtophile's library. This handsome two-disc set is tastefully packaged, but even more delicious are the riches within. If you are a lover of traditional jigs and reels, then instrumental pieces like "The Clumsy Lover Set" or "Our Highland Queen/Sweeps Hornpipe" will suit you perfectly. While many, many Celtic bands might record jigs and reels, it is important to note here the absolute instrumental virtuosity that this remarkable band demonstrates. Lucy and Kyle play their dueting violins so seamlessly that there is no daylight between bowstrokes, while Boyd's clean, rhythmic bouzouki is backed by Sheumas's piano stylings so indicative of the Cape Breton approach to Celtic music. Despite their direct nod to traditional stylings, the MacNeils understand the original purpose of this music: dancing!

But their music has so much more breadth than mere instrumental virtuosity. As you move to the second track of the first CD, a whole new soundscape opens up as the plaintive Robert Burns song, "My Heart's in the Highland," sweeps you away with an emotion and nuance that leaves you breathless. Many bands have recorded Andy M. Stewart's "Queen of Argyle," but the interpretation you'll find on disc two of this collection is nothing short of stunning. This has become a standard and many groups such as Silly Wizard, Hunting McLeod, Greenwich Meantime, Coyote Run and others have taken admirable swing at it. This rendition easily lives among the very best.

There are so many, many riches here, one could wax poetic on virtually every track. This is a virtually flawless collection by master musicians at the height of their craft. Standout tracks include, "Coaltown Road," "Caledonia" and "The Longest Day."

One can read more about the band, and this remarkable album on their website. If you are a newcomer to this remarkable group, this is the album to pick up -- an absolute "best of."

December 20, 2008
Christmas with the Barras
Closing out another successful Christmas tour Monday at Savoy
By Laura Jean Grant, Cape Breton Post

GLACE BAY — 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.
Stewart said the MacNeil family has great holiday memories and thoroughly enjoy the Christmas season.

“I guess that’s translated into what the Barra MacNeils Christmas show is about,” he said. “It’s a mix of stuff. There’s some party holiday-type classics that people have come to expect from the Barra MacNeils but there’s also stuff in the show that features some of the big carols with Lucy singing and some instrumental sections that are featured. It really showcases the harmonies and the range of vocals in the band and the versatility. Some sections are like you’re in a kitchen and others are like you’re at midnight mass.”

And the six siblings have been taking that show on the road from Winnipeg, Man., to Thunder Bay, Ont., to Antigonish, and home again.

“We’ve been very fortunate with the weather. We’ve just been staying a step ahead of the serious cold fronts and storms,” said Stewart. “It’s hectic. We’re doing pretty well a show a day. It’s been a great tour. For the most part people seem to be in pretty good cheer. They enjoy the show. A lot of people who can’t go home for Christmas, this is their fix I suppose in a way. Last night in Ottawa afterwards when were doing the meet and greet and somebody said ‘You make the people of Ottawa feel good’ and that’s quite a compliment.”

And while they’ve had a great month on the road, Stewart said it’s always great to get home and perform for a local audience. They’re particularly excited to be coming to the Savoy Theatre.

“The Savoy is one of the great old theatres and it’s great to do the Christmas show there,” he said.

The multi award-winning Barra MacNeils have released 10 albums, including two holiday CDs titled “Christmas Album I”, released in 1999, and “Christmas Album II” released in 2006, along with Cape Breton Christmas on DVD. They also released a special double CD set “20th Anniversary Celebration Collection” to mark their 20 years together.

The Barra MacNeils on tour this week:

December 18
Imperial Theatre -- Saint John, NB
SOLD OUT IN ADVANCE!

December 19
St. John’s United Church -- Moncton , NB
75 Alma St., Moncton, NB
Tel: 506-858-8289
SOLD OUT IN ADVANCE!

December 20
St. F. X auditorium -- Antigonish, NS
Tickets: 867-3304 or 867-3361
Box Office hours 6am-12 midnight
SOLD OUT IN ADVANCE!

December 21
Rebecca Cohn -- Halifax, NS (4:00pm)

December 21
Rebecca Cohn -- Halifax, NS (8:00pm)
SOLD OUT IN ADVANCE!

December 22
Savoy Theatre -- Glace Bay, NS
SOLD OUT IN ADVANCE!

December 19, 2008
Barras home for the holidays
Month-long Christmas tour wraps up with four shows
in Nova Scotia this week
By ANDREA NEMETZ Entertainment Reporter

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.

IT’S NEVER TOO early for Christmas could be the Barra MacNeils’ motto.

In order to fulfil all the requests for their popular holiday show, the Sydney Mines, Cape Breton family had to start its annual holiday tour earlier each year.

This year, the tour began Nov. 20 in Maple Ridge, B.C., and it wraps up at home in Nova Scotia with four shows this weekend, Saturday at 8 p.m. at St. F.X. Auditorium in Antigonish, Sunday at 4 and 8 p.m. at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax, and a sold-out show Monday at Glace Bay’s Savoy Theatre.

"It helps us to get in the mood," says an upbeat Kyle MacNeil, by phone from Toronto.

"The reaction from the audience helps put you in the spirit. Once you get onstage, and hear the reaction the adrenaline gets going, especially the reaction to Lucy singing Auld Lang Syne at the end of the show. There’s never a dry eye in the house. It makes it all worthwhile if you can brighten up someone’s day."

The Barras were making Christmas special for their fans even before they released their first Christmas album in 1999. A second disc of seasonal tunes followed in 2006. In addition to Kyle, who plays guitar, violin, and mandolin, the group includes siblings Lucy on bodhran, Celtic harp, and fiddle, Sheumas on keyboards, piano, bodhran, fiddle, and bouzouki, Stewart on accordion, tin whistle, flute, bouzouki, and guitar and the newest and youngest additions Boyd on mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo, percussion and Ryan on keyboards, percussion, uillian pipes, tin whistle, and bodhran. The elder quartet are all vocalists, Jamie Gatti joins in on bass and several family members step dance.

"We didn’t start doing the tour nationally until we released our first CD and now it’s become our biggest tour," says Kyle. "It’s the show everyone wants. We try to change it up every year. The show has evolved with the banter between the family members and the music itself."

There are, however, a couple of constants: O Holy Night and Christmas in Killarney, always audience favourites.

"Lucy does a fabulous job on O Holy Night, it usually gets a standing ovation," he says proudly.

There are a few less familiar tunes on the playlist including On the Very First Christmas, a song written by their uncle Hector MacKenzie and Stan Rogers’ At Last I’m Ready For Christmas.

"I usually sing the Stan Rogers’ song. It’s a humorous look at Christmas that everyone can identify with."

Thanks to his very understanding, very organized wife Anita, he doesn’t have much to do at Christmas, Kyle reports happily.

So after the final note on Monday, he’ll be able to put his feet up and relax for a couple of days before the big Christmas Day get-together, which numbers close to 20 once all the wives, girlfriends and kids are added in.

That doesn’t count the people who, in the evening, drop in to play a few tunes and share some seasonal cheer.

"We’re all in the Sydney area except Boyd who is living in Halifax," says Kyle, who lives in Albert Bridge and can see the Mira River from his home.

On the menu is likely to be his mom’s cabbage rolls, her buns "which are the best" and apple pie.

And the group may take a few moments to reflect on a year that saw the recording of two new live CDs that aren’t yet available in stores but will be available at the concerts.

"One is a live concert that we recorded at The Marigold in Truro and the second one is like a kitchen racket, a Cape Breton ceilidh that was recorded at Bunkers Pub in Sydney in May. It was as if we were having a session at home with family and friends. It was six or seven hours of live music and a lot was off the cuff and spontaneous. You can hear people stepdance in the background, there’s lots of commotion. They’re both really interesting and will be available in the new year."

After a well-deserved rest, the group heads to Celtic Connection in mid-January in Glasgow, Scotland.

"It’s a great festival. There are Celtic artists from all over the world," says Kyle, noting the Barras will also be working on a new recording over the winter months.

Tickets for the Antigonish show are $25, $20 for seniors. Call 867-3304 or 867-3361.

Tickets for the Halifax show are $36 and are on sale at the Rebecca Cohn box office, by phone at 494-3820 or 1-800-874-1669 or online at www.dal.ca/artscentre.

December 17, 2008
The BARRA MACNEILS Salute the Season at Scotia Plaza
Canada NewsWire via COMTEX News Network

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA BNS
12/17/2008 12:30:00 PM
TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2008

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.

The popular Christmas tour caps a busy year for the Barras who have traveled across the continent playing in 14 U.S. states including New York and Florida. In the new year, they travel to Scotland for the opening performance of the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow. This is the first year Scotiabank has teamed up with the Barra MacNeils to bring the grassroots heart and soul of Nova Scotia to Canadians from sea to sea.

"Scotiabank is proud of its Nova Scotia roots and we are very pleased to help bring some East Coast flavour to Scotia Plaza's holiday festivities," said John Doig, Scotiabank Senior Vice-President, Marketing. "The Scotiabank Barra MacNeils' Christmas Tour celebrates the holidays and the diversity that distinguishes the many communities across Canada where we live and work."

The Barra MacNeils will perform selections from their popular Christmas CD's as well as a variety of vocal and instrumental favourites. The Scotiabank Barra MacNeils Christmas Tour has fast become a holiday tradition, bringing the spirit of Canada's East Coast to the rest of the country.

As a group, the six MacNeil siblings and bassist Jamie Gatti are widely known for their Celtic music. Originally from Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, the family group is deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture and history. 2008 commemorates more than 20 years in the recording and touring history of the Barras, and the group has released a special 20th Anniversary CD in celebration of the milestone.

The Barras perform Wednesday evening in Toronto and continue across Ontario, New Brunswick and closing the tour in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.

The remaining tour dates are below:

December 17 - The Music Hall, Toronto, ON
December 18 - Imperial Theatre, Saint John, NB (sold out)
December 19 - St. John's United Church, Moncton, NB (sold out)
December 20 - St. FX University Auditorium, Antigonish, NS
December 21 - Rebecca Cohn, Halifax, NS (two shows – Evening show sold out)
December 22 - Savoy Theatre, Glace Bay, NS (sold out)

Please visit www.barramacneils.com for more information about each show.

Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad. Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2008 the Bank provided about $43 million in sponsorships and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas of healthcare, education, social services and arts and culture. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com .

SOURCE: Scotiabank - Sponsorships & Donations

about Wednesday's concert at Scotia Plaza please contact Livy Feldgajer, Scotiabank Public Affairs, (416) 866-6203 or livy_feldgajer@scotiacapital.com;

For Barra MacNeil bookings, please contact Andre Bourgeois, INSTINCT Artist Management, (905) 632-2149 or andre@instinctartistmanagement.com

December 15, 2008
Celtic group still loves performing
Barra MacNeils bring 'kitchen party' to two new live albums
By JASON MACNEIL, SUN MEDIA

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.

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.

According to vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Stewart MacNeil, the Barra MacNeils attribute their staying power to a very simple fact.

"I think it's just that we still enjoy what we do," MacNeil said as their tour bus pulled into Belleville for a show Dec. 11. "If a band can stay together for as long as we have, there are the original fans, but I think we get more new fans than the first time around. When we do the live shows, we get a lot of positive feedback and that's probably what keeps it going. The fans want more and who are we to argue at this point?"

The Barra MacNeils have made the Christmas tour a regular event throughout the years, dating back to when they were asked by Rita MacNeil to appear on an early television special.

"A lot of the emphasis is on a lot of the music we heard growing up and stories and the traditions of Cape Breton Island," he says. "We're fortunate to have very positive memories about growing up and enjoying what the season has to offer."

Stewart, along with siblings Kyle, Lucy, Sheumas, Boyd and Ryan (and bassist Jamie Gatti), is also pleased with how the live albums turned out. In Concert was recorded over a few shows last summer in Truro, N. S. while In Session is a rawer, rowdier "kitchen party" affair recorded in a Sydney pub with "some real characters."

But perhaps the reason why the Christmas shows go over so well is due to what MacNeil calls the simplicity and tone to the music he describes as "Celtic-ized carols" found on the group's two Christmas albums.

"It's a lot of great sounding acoustic instruments and family harmonies," he says. "There are moments where you feel like you're in a kitchen in Cape Breton and I think that's what shines through. It's just the memories of visiting Cape Breton or growing up with a similar type of background and celebrating the holidays -- families getting together and eating and drinking."

And with all of the gloom and doom concerning job losses and an uncertain economy, MacNeil says the shows offer people a brief chance to step away from it all.

"I think a lot of people sometimes get so caught up," he says. "It's not just Christmas but the end of the year and it's the big crunch to get it all done. I think the biggest compliment we get is when people come up and say, 'You put me in the Christmas spirit.' It's about stopping the clock for a few minutes."

Following this current tour the Barra MacNeils go to Scotland for the Celtic Connections festival in January. MacNeil says a U. S. tour is also in the works for next year and there's a good possibility of a new studio album being released in the summer.

Yet for now the group will spend the days leading up to Christmas on the road touring.

December 15, 2008
MacNeils spread Christmas joy
Barra MacNeils bring 'kitchen party' to two new live albums
By JASON MACNEIL -- Sun Media

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.

According to vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Stewart MacNeil, the Barra MacNeils attribute their staying power to a very simple fact.

"I think it's just that we still enjoy what we do," MacNeil says as their tour bus pulls into Belleville, Ont. for a show. "If a band can stay together for as long as we have, there are the original fans, but I think we get more new fans than the first time around.

"When we do the live shows, we get a lot of positive feedback and that's probably what keeps it going. The fans want more and who are we to argue at this point?"

The group, performing tomorrow at The Music Hall in Toronto, have made the Christmas tour a regular event throughout the years, dating back to when the Barra MacNeils were asked by Rita MacNeil to appear on an early TV special.

STORIES AND TRADITIONS

Stewart, along with siblings Kyle, Lucy, Sheumas, Boyd and Ryan (and bassist Jamie Gatti), is also pleased with how the live albums turned out. In Concert was recorded over a few shows last summer in Truro, Nova Scotia while In Session is a rawer, rowdier "kitchen party" affair recorded in a Sydney pub with "some real characters."

And with all of the gloom and doom concerning job losses and an uncertain economy, MacNeil says the shows offer people a brief chance to step away from it all.

Following this current tour the Barra MacNeils go to Scotland for the Celtic Connections festival in January. MacNeil says a U.S. tour is also in the works for next year and there's a good possibility of a new studio album being released in the summer.

Yet for now the group will spend the days leading up to Christmas on the road touring. Well, that and buying Christmas gifts for each other.

"There's been a bit done and there seems to be a few shopping bags," MacNeil says. "The bags are starting to take over, so the shopping is starting to get done."

December 6, 2008
Celtic Christmas. Cape Breton's Barra MacNeils perform in Orillia
By SUSAN DOOLAN, Barrie Examiner

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.

Celtic Christmas began with several appearances in Rita MacNeil's Christmas television specials; people liked the group's arrangements of traditional carols. That led to the Barra MacNeils recording a Christmas album and then a couple of their own holiday specials for television.

"People just responded. There are people that say we put them in the Christmas spirit," said MacNeil, who considers it the ultimate compliment.

The six siblings -- five boys and one girl -- of musical parents grew up with live music in their home. During the holidays, it was common for family, friends and fiddlers to gather together.

MacNeil said it was a very joyous occasion where everyone was encouraged to take part, play an instrument or jump up and do a step dance.

And that's how the band works -- everyone contributes to the whole.

They have been together for 20 years, initially touring as four siblings along with bass player Jamie Gatti, who the MacNeils feel is a member of the family. Five years ago, the two younger brothers -- Boyd and Ryan -- joined the group. They were coming off a stint with the Slainte Mhath, a Celtic band that toured the world.

"It's been just great. It's made the band and the show that much better," MacNeil said.

The Orillia show features a lot of seasonal music, including traditional, some Gaelic, well-known carols and new ones, jigs and step dance, stories, bits of fun and Lucy's flair for the dramatic. For Christmas shows, in addition to vocals, bodhran, fiddle and step dancing, she also plays the Celtic harp.

The MacNeils learned step-dancing from their mother, who continues to be called in from time to time to teach workshops at a nearby Gaelic college.

All of the siblings are multi-instrumentalists.

"You do very much get a sense of the family and the members, remembering the way Christmases were growing up and in many ways it harkens back to a simpler time. That's a big part of what the show is all about," MacNeil said.

"We're in trying economic times and I think this type of show gets people to stop and realize in many ways we're still very lucky to live in Canada."

When they finish up their month long, coast-to-coast Christmas tour, the MacNeils head back to their homes in Cape Breton to celebrate the holiday with their own families. Since they began touring, it's a little quieter occasion, a time-out from their hectic concert schedule.

MacNeil said they usually get together for Christmas dinners, open presents and sometimes, they play a little music.

The Barra MacNeils are about to release their first live CD. Advance copies will be available at the concert. Look for a new album, called In Session, the group's 12th, in the new year.

Barra MacNeils perform Sunday at the Orillia Opera House, beginning at 8 p. m. Tickets are $42, available at the box office at 705-326-8011.

December 1, 2008
Barra MacNeils finally release live album
Member 'not really sure' why it took this long
Posted By By Brian Kelly, The Sault Star

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.

What took them so long?

"I'm not really sure," said Stewart MacNeil in a recent telephone interview from Banff, Alta.

A "very loose" In Session was recorded in May in a small pub in Sydney, N.S. Friends and fans filled the watering hole for an informal session with material not typically performed in concert by the East Coast Celtic group.

"There's stuff that you get the whole room singing along," said MacNeil, 44.

"It has a lot of atmosphere, a lot of charm — especially for people who have been fans of the group for a long time. I think they're really going to enjoy it. (It's as) if you were sitting at a house party with the Barra MacNeils."

In Session features That 70s Set, a group of tunes MacNeil remembers hearing when growing up by composers such as his uncle, Carl MacKenzie, and Hughie McCracken.

"They're tunes that stayed with us over that period," he said. In Concert features material taken from a pair of performances this year in Truro, N.S.

Younger siblings Ryan and Boyd joined the group in 2005. The pair toured with Slainte Mhath, a mainly instrumental group, before becoming part of the Barra MacNeils with Kyle, Lucy, Sheumas and Stewart.

The pair offer "a very positive energy and great musicianship."

"It's certainly brought the band to a higher level," said MacNeil.

"We seem to just really be peaking as a live band."

The Barra MacNeils tour regularly. A 29-date Christmas tour includes a stop Friday at Kiwanis Community Theatre Centre. It's an Algoma Fall Festival presentation.

In March, the Barra MacNeils play a pair of shows at the North Texas Irish Festival.

Gigs are becoming more common south of the border, especially in the Midwest.

"In the late 1990s we wouldn't have spent a whole summer doing Irish festivals," said MacNeil.

Through its website, the group's goal is to keep in touch with its fans through contests, tour announcements and blogs.

Different family members will post messages during the current tour "for people who just want to have an idea what goes on from day to day." Postings describe kind gestures from fans, struggling with a different time zone and experiences at airport security.

When it comes time for MacNeil's turn, maybe he'll explain how anyone gets any Christmas shopping done on a tour that offers a scant three days off between now and Dec. 22 when the band plays its final show in Glace Bay, N.S.

"You've got to be creative, I suppose," laughed MacNeil.

Tickets, $33.50 for adults and $23 for children 12 and under, are on sale at Community Theatre Box Office in Station Mall.

On the web: www.barramacneils.com

November 27, 2008
Celtic Christmas tour visits Port Hope
By Jennifer O'Meara, Northumberland News, Cobourg, Ontario

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.

"The big compliment we receive is people say after they see our show, they're in the Christmas spirit," said Mr. MacNeil.

The concert is a musical mix of traditional MacNeil family favourites from Christmas ceilidhs, midnight masses and the holiday season. The group has built a well-deserved reputation with their captivating vocals, distinctive harmonies and extraordinary musical talent, which has people packing the tour concerts.

"It's been wonderful and the audience has been just super," said Mr. MacNeil. "We try to meet the audience after the shows."

The band has two popular Christmas CDs out and the concert will feature favourites in their tour, which started on Nov. 20 in Maple Ridge, BC and wraps up closer to their home on Dec. 22 in Glace Bay.

"We've released two Christmas albums that were really well received," said Mr. MacNeil. "This is one of the most intense tours. It's pretty near a show a day. It's pretty hectic."

The Barra MacNeils take the Capitol Theatre stage on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $43 and are available through the Capitol Theatre box office at 905-885-1071 or 1-800-434-5092.

November 18, 2008
Christmas at the ACT
BlackPress

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, Nova Scotia.

The album, produced by The Barra MacNeils, is the group’s second Christmas album and vividly features the family’s captivating vocals, harmonies and extraordinary musicianship. As a group, the six MacNeil siblings are widely regarded as one of the greatest live acts in the Celtic world.

Hailing from Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, the family group is deeply rooted in Contributed The Barra MacNeils perform at the ACT tomorrow.

Their numerous critically acclaimed recordings have included their own original songs as well as tried and true standards, both instrumental and vocal. 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, dancing, storytelling, Gaelic songs and a journey through an ancient culture. They are family entertainment at its highest level.

Canada’s Celtic ambassadors continue to perform to sold out audiences throughout Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and the United Kingdom. From headlining major festivals, concerts, special guest appearances (Rita MacNeil’s CTV Christmas special, performing with The Chieftains) television specials, film and television placement (Men with Brooms Soundtrack; Racket In The Attic) and their annual Christmas tour, they have set the course with a solid foundation for success. 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.

The Barra MacNeils will continue to do what they love to do best, and that is playing their music for the fans. This incredibly talented family group will tour Canada, the US and Europe to spread their distinctive brand of Celtic flavour around the world.

The ACT is located in the heart of downtown Maple Ridge at 11944 Haney Place.
• For ticket information visit our website at www.theactmapleridge.org or call the box office at 604-476-2787.

November 20, 2008
A tuneful Celtic Christmas
The Barra MacNeils bring their lively sounds to Victoria
on annual tour
Adrian Chamberlain , Times Colonist

IN CONCERT
What: Barra MacNeils Christmas Tour
Where: Alix Goolden Hall, Victoria Conservatory of Music
When: Tomorrow, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $36 including service charge (tel. 250 386-6121 or www.ticketmaster.ca

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 in Campbell River and Courtenay are already sold out.

MacNeil -- who sings, step-dances and plays accordion, tin whistle, flute, bouzouki and guitar -- says when he was a lad, Christmases were always about music and family.

"When we were growing up Christmas was simpler. There was a lot of spontaneous music in our house, and also up at our grandmothers," he said from his home in Sydney Mines.

All the children were encouraged to either step-dance, sing or play music for the delight of doting relatives.

"I got a harmonica when I was five years old at Christmas," MacNeil said. "I could play a song on it by dinner-time. So that was my start, I guess. ... When I think of those fun times, it really influenced us doing this full time."

MacNeil still remembers the song he learned on harmonica -- a traditional Scottish tune called These Are My Mountains. It's entirely appropriate, given the family's Scots roots. "Barra" is the name of the Scottish island that is the ancestral home of the MacNeil family.

Stewart wasn't the only MacNeil to embark on a music career. The Barra MacNeils are made up of five siblings: Stewart, Kyle, Lucy, Sheumas, Boyd and Ryan. The only non-MacNeil is Jamie Gattie, who plays bass and "is kind of like an adopted brother now."

The Victoria concert will showcase generous helpings from the Barra MacNeils' The Christmas Album and The Christmas Album II. Expect such favourites as God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Christmas in Killarney and On the Very First Christmas -- the latter a song written by MacNeil's uncle, Hector Mackenzie.

The Barra MacNeils --winners of five East Coast Music Awards -- started performing together in their teens. The band became a more serious venture in 1986, performing at Expo 86 and releasing their first self-titled album.

One might wonder whether these siblings would ever quarrel, given the longevity of their band and the pressures of touring. Stewart says this is far from the case.

"If anything, we probably get along better now. People learn. You have a choice -- you can get along or you don't," he said.

In 2007 the Barra MacNeils released a two-CD milestone recording The 20th Anniversary Collection. The group is now about to release a new live disc culled from two concerts recorded at the 200-seat Marigold Cultural Centre in Truro, N.S.

MacNeil says hot-off-the-press copies will likely be sold at the Victoria concert. "Boy, we're really happy with it," he said. "It should be a fan favourite."

The Barra MacNeils have performed regularly in this city over the years. What MacNeil remembers most about Victoria is the multitude of used book stores.

"I remember gettin' a $1 copy of Leon Uris's Trinity," he laughed

November 21, 2008
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release

The BARRA MACNEILS CHRISTMAS TOUR TAKES THEM FROM SEA TO SEA Scotiabank Barra MacNeils Christmas!

(Nova Scotia) – 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. The entire tour is presented by Scotiabank.

The popular Christmas tour caps a busy year for the Barras who have traveled across the continent playing in over 14 states in the U.S. including New York and Florida. In the new year, they travel to Scotland for the opening performance of the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow.

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.

Performance dates across Canada are as follows:

November 20: The ACT -- Maple Ridge, BC
November 21: Alix Goolden Hall -- Victoria, BC
November 22: Tidemark Theatre -- Campbell River, BC SOLD OUT in advance!
November 23: Sid Williams Theatre -- Courtenay, BC SOLD OUT in advance!
November 24: Osoyoos Theatre -- Osoyoos, BC SOLD OUT in advance!
November 26: Knox United Church -- Calgary, AB
November 27: Horowitz Theatre -- Edmonton, AB
November 28: Banff Centre -- Banff, AB
November 29: Alumni Hall Theatre -- Vermillion, AB
November 30: MJCC -- Moose Jaw, SK
December 1: Pantages Playhouse -- Winnipeg, MB
December 2: Thunder Bay Community Auditorium -- Thunder Bay, ON
December 5: Kiwanis Community Theatre Centre-- Sault Ste. Marie, ON
December 6: Algonquin Theatre -- Huntsville, ON
December 7: Opera House -- Orillia, ON
December 8: Showplace Theatre -- Peterborough, ON
December 10: Capitol Theatre -- Port Hope, ON
December 11: Empire Theatre -- Belleville, ON
December 12: River Run Theatre -- Guelph, ON
December 13: The Grande Theatre -- Kingston, ON
December 14: Brockville Arts Centre -- Brockville, ON
December 15: Centrepointe Theatre -- Ottawa, ON
December 17: The Music Hall -- Toronto, ON
December 18: Imperial Theatre -- Saint John, NB
December 19: St. John’s United Church -- Moncton , NB
December 20: St. FX University Auditorium -- Antigonish, NS
December 21: Rebecca Cohn -- Halifax, NS
December 22: Savoy Theatre -- Glace Bay, NS

All concerts presented by Scotiabank.

For more information regarding the group and each show, visit: www.barramacneils.com

For photos and interview opportunities with The Barra MacNeils, contact:

Andre Bourgeois
INSTINCT Artist Management
P: 902-632-2149
E: andre@instinctartistmanagement.com

November 18, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
HAILFAX

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.

Barra MacNeils Christmas will be featured at the Rebecca
Cohn Auditorium on Sunday December 21 for two shows – a matinee at 4 pm and an evening show at 8 pm. The following night, Monday December 22, the family return home for one show only at the Savoy Theatre at 8 pm.

Tickets for Scotiabank Barra MacNeils Christmas in Halifax are now on sale at the Rebecca Cohn Box Office; by phone at 494-3820 or 1(800)874-1669; or on-line at
www.dal.ca/artscentre. Tickets for the show at the Savoy can be purchased at the Savoy or Centre 200 box office; by phone: 842-1577 or 564-6668 or on-line www.savoytheatre.com.

The shows are presented by Scotiabank. Media sponsor in Halifax is Seaside FM and in Glace Bay, The Coast 89.7. Both shows are produced by Brookes Diamond Productions.

***

For further info contact: Fiona Diamond, 1(902) 492-1115
or Fiona@brookesdiamond.com

http://www.barramacneils.com/tour.htm

October 24, 2008
Connect the Scots
LAURA JEAN GRANT, The Cape Breton Post

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.

“There was talk of me going over many times before and I don’t know whatever happened but I’m going this time and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Holland, a renowned fiddler, who will be taking part in the Scottish festival for the first time.
Celtic Connections — which features approximately 1,500 artists performing in 300 events over 18 days — announced its lineup of artists and shows Tuesday, describing the opening show as a natural choice during Scotland’s Year of Homecoming.

“What better way for Celtic Connections to launch its festivities than by welcoming an array of top artists from Cape Breton, the beautiful Canadian island where Scots and their music have long found a second home,” Celtic Connections organizers stated in a media release. “The festival will kick off with a celebration of the rich musical connections between Scottish traditional music and that of Cape Breton.”
Holland said Cormier, MacIsaac, Lamond, the Barra MacNeils are a talented group of musicians and he’s excited and proud to showcase Cape Breton music with them on an international stage.

“They’re a great crew of people and I love them all dearly. They’re great friends of mine and I have the greatest respect for them,” he said.

The Cape Breton acts will also be joined for the night by some of the many Scottish musicians who have appeared at the Celtic Colours festival, including harpist/singer Corrina Hewat and pianist David Milligan.

News of the concert comes just days after the conclusion of another successful Celtic Colours festival in Cape Breton and is evidence of the strong relationship between the island-wide event and Celtic Connections, which is considered Scotland’s premier winter music festival.

“We’re delighted,” Joella Foulds, artistic director of Celtic Colours, said of the Cape Breton theme of Celtic Connections’ opening concert.

Foulds said the two festivals have partnered on a number of projects in the past and the Cape Breton Connection show is just the latest example of the positive things that happen because of that co-operation.

“It’s the result of a lot of back and forth connections both at the organizational level and at the artist level,” she explained.

Foulds said fostering a continued partnership with Celtic Connections opens up important markets and opportunities for artists both here and in Scotland, describing it as “a major cultural exchange.”

Foulds, who has been to all 15 Celtic Connections festivals to date, is planning to return this year and expects she’ll be helping out in some capacity with the Cape Breton concert.

“It’s a huge festival and it happens at a time when there isn’t a heck of a lot else going on and so they manage to get artists from all over the world to come and perform there, so if you go for a week to 10 days, then you’ve gotten to see virtually hundreds of performers in the whole Celtic realm,” she said, noting the trip is a great opportunity to scout out new talent to invite to Celtic Colours. “It’s a big shopping spree for me and an opportunity to connect.”

September 15, 2008
Review: Barra MacNeils deserve an encore
by llupo, Chronicle/CoCo Walters

The Barra MacNeils perform live in the Bob and Bernie' Pub Tent at the Irish Music Festival Sunday afternoon. Enlarge photo

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 exquisitely.

Concert at a glance

Band: The Barra MacNeils.
Songs: 14.
Attendance: 1,400.
High point: The passion and dedication these musicians exhibited by performing flawless Celtic music.
Low point: I got rained on when walking back to my car.

The five MacNeil siblings (sister Lucy couldn't make it) and Jamie Gatti from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, wasted no time upon taking the stage by launching into a dapper version of their song "Clumsy," which was anything but.

Singing vocals and playing the accordion, Stewart MacNeil set a precedent of passion and showmanship that would remain constant throughout the performance. Stewart's voice was stirring and resonant without intruding upon his band's instrumental ideas.

The group brought the crowd to their feet for spirited clapping and singing on the second piece "Nancy O." Following a folky tune about their native province, the band hopped into the winsome "Rattlin' Roarin' Willie," which found Stewart playing a brisk Irish flute against the flow of his brother Ryan's uillean pipes, while another brother, Kyle, fiddled a motive.

Boyd, the youngest MacNeil, skillfully punctuated many tracks with his bodhran (Irish drum), but was at his best when plucking bubbly rhythms on his bouzouki (a mandolin) during songs like "Dougie Mac" and "Don't Call Me Early."

Ryan stole the spotlight on the anguished sixth song "Easter Snow," during which the audience hung on each rise and fall of his pipes. "Easter Snow" further proved that a musician does not need a voice to speak to listeners.

The a cappella "Tiree Love Song" performed midway through the set, contained the most trenchant vocals of the afternoon, as Boyd, Stewart, Ryan, Kyle and Sheumas harmonized expertly. The song's organic nature left no room for imperfection and evidenced the brother's musical versatility.

The Barra MacNeils band from Nova Scotia made its Michigan Irish Music Festival debut Saturday. The effervescent "Snowplow Medley," a collection of reels and jigs, compelled the crowd to move as Boyd and Kyle dueled on their fiddles. Ryan's tin whistle rang cheerily on the dances, accenting the strokes of his brother's bows.

Further validating their authenticity, the band sang the second to last song "Maiden's Complaint" in Gaelic. Once again Stewart's voice was on point and accurately captured the Irish spirit with its rustic vibrato. Even though I could not understand the words, the piece was still able to invoke a deep sense of nostalgia.

To conclude their performance, the Barra MacNeils chose to play duets. Kyle and Boyd went at it on fiddle once again, followed by Ryan and Sheumas who sat at a single keyboard and played a ragtime piano piece while Stewart jokingly hawked the bands albums behind them.

I continue to be impressed with the dexterity Irish musicians exhibit on baroque implements. Save for Jamie Gatti's electric bass and brother Sheumas' keyboard, the Barra MacNeils entire show was played with traditional Irish instruments. Bands like this have devoted their time and energy to keeping the art of traditional Celtic music alive, and that is something we should all be thankful for.

I suggest festival officials book the Barra MacNeils for next year without hesitation.

September 15, 2008
Barra MacNeils Celtic music to Pinellas Park
By LEE CLARK ZUMPE

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.

Doors will open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

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.

The band actually released its first eponymous album on their own independent label back in 1986 – and their passion for music began earlier than that.

“We started playing at home,” said Stewart MacNeil during a recent phone interview. “Live music was encouraged in our home.”

Among his other responsibilities, Stewart sings, plays accordion, tin whistle, flute, bouzouki and guitar. He credits his upbringing for his skill as a musician.

Other band members include Kyle on vocals, guitar, violin and mandolin; Lucy on vocals, bodhran, Celtic harp, fiddle and step dancing; Sheumas on keyboards, piano, bodhran, fiddle, bouzouki and vocals; Boyd on mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo and percussion; Ryan on keyboards, percussion, uillian pipes, tin whistle, bodhran and step dancing; and Jamie Gatti on bass.

“It was always a very positive experience,” Stewart said. The family often visited their mother’s familial home in the Washabuck region. “The first piano in the community was in that house,” Stewart said. “We were always encouraged to get up and dance, learn a song or learn to play an instrument.”

Following the release of their first album, the band was asked to perform at the high-profile Expo ’86, a World’s Fair in Vancouver, British Columbia. This appearance, followed by the band’s first East Coast Music Award in 1991, earned them a solid following.

The band’s name comes from the MacNeil clan’s heritage.

“Barra is an island off the coast of Scotland in the Hebrides,” Stewart said. “That’s where our MacNeil ancestors came from when they immigrated to Nova Scotia over 200 years ago.”

The band writes plenty of original compositions, but most albums feature several traditional tunes.

“A big part of what we do is collecting music and song,” Stewart said. Digging up those little known gems is less difficult – and more rewarding – than many might expect. “We visit some of the older Gaelic singers in Cape Breton,” Stewart said, acknowledging that it takes patience to learn the material because of the language. He has only recently begun to learn to speak the Canadian Gaelic dialect. Still, he and his siblings agree that it is important to “keep in touch with the singers who sing the traditional songs.”

The days when the members of the Barra MacNeils were confined to singing in homes around Cape Breton are long gone, of course. These days, the band tours internationally, heading to concerts and festivals in Scotland, Denmark, Germany, Barbados and Jamaica as well as all across North America.

Next February, the group will sail the Caribbean on Holland America Line’s Veendam, departing from Tampa.

The band’s most recent studio album, “All At Once,” includes songs such as “A Thousand Miles,” “One Wild Rose” and “Craobh Nan Ubhal.”

The band is working on several projects, including an album that captures the siblings performing at a pub in Cape Breton. Work is also under way on new studio material.

“In October, we have a little bit of down time,” Stewart said. “We’ll work on a studio session.”

Local favorite Brendan Nolan will kick off the show, performing Irish folk songs. Based in St. Pete Beach, Nolan has released six solo albums. His most recent, “Song Brook,” features an eclectic mix of material including ballads like “The Mountains of Pomeroy,” “Dan O’Hara” and “Icarus.”

Call 571-4183.

July 12, 2008
Barra MacNeils balance tradition, originality in Reading show
By Susan L. Peña, Reading Eagle correspondent

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.

It was to have been the second concert, but because last week’s concert was canceled due to rain, Friday’s performance opened the season.

The Barra MacNeils are a family of six madly talented siblings, with bass player Jamie Gatti, who hail from Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. I couldn’t help wondering, as I heard their music, what it was like to grow up in a household where music was so much a part of the fabric of life.

The result, obviously, was a rare ensemble that produces a balanced sound that varies from wild Celtic party music based on their island’s Scottish heritage (the "Barra" in their name refers to another island in the West Hebrides off Scotland where their ancestors lived), to original tunes and mellow ballads, always infused with joy.

Lucy, who often sang lead in her clear soprano voice, was featured in Dougie MacLean’s beautiful song, "Caledonia," one of the highlights of the evening. She also did some step dancing here and there.

Stewart, who played accordion, tin whistle and flute, is also a songwriter; they played his infectious "Haven’t Got a Care" and "The Longest Day," a breezy instrumental.

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.

Luminato’s opening-weekend festivities get started Saturday afternoon in Yonge-Dundas Square with a Scottish Music Festival to set you up for the National Theatre of Scotland’s Black Watch. This is open and free to the public.

The all-star roster of performers features: The Barra MacNeils, six siblings from Cape Breton Island who for 20 years have been among the most popular and widely respected Celtic groups and the innovative trio Lau, one of the most sought-after acts on the current Scottish scene. They are joined by Winnipeg’s Sierra Noble, a versatile young violinist who specializes in traditional Métis fiddle tunes.

The day will culminate with a Scottish square dance led by internationally acclaimed Nova Scotian fiddler Ashley MacIsaac (with Sheumas MacNeil of the Barra MacNeils on piano).

Hosted by Max MacDonald and Joella Foulds (Celtic Colours Festival)

www.luminato.com/festival/eng/

May 19, 2008
Barra MacNeils Live Recording
Dan MacDonald – Cape Breton Post

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.
There were wires and microphones everywhere as the six family members (and Jamie Gatti, their longtime bassist), laid down track after track, most captured on the first take.

The observers were there to add atmosphere to the occasion, which wasn’t a difficult thing as hoots and hollers could be heard with every new tune or passionately rendered song. After all, it’s not often that Tullochgorum is rendered flawlessly by three fiddles. Late in the day, the three fiddles became four as Sheumas left his customary piano stool to join in.

This is the first portion of a two-part project. Sometime in the future, The Barras will record a stage production and the final results will be released, likely as a double CD set, sometime in the fall.
When that happens I can say that I was there.

December 18, 2007
Barras keep kinship in Christmas
Tim Arsenault, Halifax Herald

IF YOU BELIEVE the holidays are all about families, Bravo is wrapping up something with you in mind.

Christmas Together with the Barra MacNeils premieres Saturday at 10 p.m. on the specialty channel and it’s another opportunity for the musical Sydney Mines clan to shine.

An earlier holiday show by the Celtic-pop group has aired for a few years, but this one is a complement to the plainly titled Christmas Album II CD release from 2006.

The production cycle of Christmas shows and albums usually means that the artist, crew and audience have to pretend to be in the mood in the middle of summer.

Christmas with the Barra MacNeils was no different and was taped last summer before an audience at the cozy Alderney Landing Theatre along the Dartmouth waterfront. It probably took a little effort to suspend reality but the setting and the music seem to have quickly worked magic. The spare design of the program lets the trees, festive lights and candles punctuate the atmosphere.

The Barras get things underway with a spirited rendition of I Saw Three Ships but it’s just an appetizer for the generous musical banquet to follow.

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Kyle MacNeil mentions that this is the first special that includes the whole family, which acknowledges the group’s current six-sibling lineup.

Fittingly, the special takes its name from a song composed by Ryan for Christmas Album II. That all-too-pertinent number about focusing on kinship at Christmas is performed on the show with the group’s guests, Gaelic singer and Celtic harpist Maggie MacInnes and the Acadian vocal trio of Monique Poirier, Isabelle Theriault and Patricia Richard.(An earlier performance of Stan Rogers’ At Last I’m Ready for Christmas makes a similar point in a more humorous way.)

The family bond is maintained with the robust On The Very First Christmas, a song written by the MacNeils’ uncle, Hector MacKenzie. Of course, it’s impossible for every member of every clan to be together over the holidays.

A penetrating Gaelic number by MacInnes is described as being about an immigrant man wishing he was home for Christmas. (Another piece she does while accompanying herself on the harp will give listeners the sort of ethereal vibe Enya is famous for.)

Other treats waiting to be discovered include a centrepiece performance of Ave Maria with a beautifully restrained vocal by Lucy, delightful French songs by the Acadian ladies and a harp duet by Lucy and MacInnes that sounds like the world’s biggest music box.

The show officially concludes with a version of Joy to the World that’s so joyful it leads to two-thirds of the MacNeils doing some step-dancing.

The special was made by Halifax’s New Scotland Pictures with Charlie Cahill producing and Jim Spitler directing. Musical direction was by Declan O’Doherty.

As difficult as it is to believe, 2007 makes the 20th anniversary of the Barra MacNeils as a recording and touring act.

A nicely packaged compilation is in the shops and the same weekend their new special premieres sees the Barra MacNeils performing their series of popular Christmas concerts. The band does two shows at the Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay on Saturday and two more at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax on Sunday.

Depending on when you’re reading this, finding a Nintendo Wii might be easier than snagging a pair of tickets to see the Barras in person so out-of-luck fans should make a point of enjoying some Christmas cheer in front of the television.