The Barra MacNeils family ensemble celebrates its 20th anniversary as one of Canada’s best-loved Celtic groups with an exciting show, full of great music, stories and humour, at the Confederation Centre of the Arts on Thursday, October 11, at 8 p.m.
The group, which now includes all six MacNeil siblings, released a compilation album this summer, featuring fan favourites from the past 20 years as well as some previously unreleased and new material, including a song written by Gordie Sampson and Fred Lavery. Younger brothers Ryan and Boyd MacNeil joined Sheumas, Kyle, Stewart and Lucy in 2005.
Hailing from Cape Breton, the siblings are deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture and history. These diverse and talented musicians wow audiences around the world with their captivating vocals, beautiful harmonies, dancing, storytelling and extraordinary musicianship. Their numerous critically-acclaimed recordings include their own original songs as well as tried and true standards, both instrumental and vocal.
In 2005 they were nominated for best folk and traditional group at the Celtic Fusion Awards, and in 2001 they received a Juno nomination for roots/traditional group of the year. They have received several East Coast Music Awards, including group of the year in 2001, and numerous ECMA nominations.
The Barra MacNeils continue to perform to sold out audiences throughout Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and the United Kingdom. The group’s 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.
From headlining major festivals, concerts, special guest appearances on Rita MacNeils’ CTV Christmas Special and 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.
Tickets for this PEI Presents concert are $20, $30 and $35, and can be purchased at the Confederation Centre’s box office, by phone at 1-800-565-0278, or online at www.confederationcentre.com.
This event is sponsored by Cavendish Farms-The Potato Specialists. Sobeys is the overall sponsor of PEI Presents. Media sponsors for PEI Presents are The Guardian, CBC-TV and CBC Radio. Aliant is the sponsor of the Centre’s toll-free telephone number.
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Media contact: Anna MacDonald, (902) 628-6135, e-mail: confederationcentre.com; www.confederationcentre.com