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Canada’s Celtic ambassadors! For nearly three decades, Cape Breton-based family group the Barra MacNeils has been thrilling audiences of all ages, both near and far, with their sparkling repertoire, vocals, instrumental prowess and vibrant showmanship.

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Seasonal cheer for Charlottetown on Dec 20

Barra MacNeils bringing their Christmas show to Charlottetown

Sally Cole (sally.cole@theguardian.pe.ca)

The Barra MacNeils are bringing plenty of seasonal cheer to Charlottetown with a concert set for Thursday, Dec 20, at the Confederation Centre of the Arts.

“Nineteen years of a touring Christmas show and, honestly, this could be the best one yet coming up,” said Stewart MacNeil, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. “The stories we have mixed with Lucy’s vocals; her voice just gets more fantastic and could bring a tear to the most hardened person’s eye.”

With a wide selection of instruments — from bodhran, Celtic harp, fiddle and accordion to tin whistle, flute, bouzouki and guitar – MacNeil says that during their Christmas shows it is particularly interesting to see how eclectic the performance can get.

“It goes from a kitchen party to midnight mass in the span of one show,” said MacNeil. “The variety is what keeps people interested and involved, and we love how involved the audience reacts while we’re on stage. People clapping along, stomping feet and singing, that is what it is truly all about and especially if folks are coming in out of the cold during the holidays.”

TICKETS

Confederation Centre Box office – 902-566-1267/800-565-0278 or on-line confederationcentre.com

For more information about each show: www.barramacneils.com

Christmas spirit in Peterborough on Dec. 12

The Barra MacNeils have been known to ignite the Christmas spirit. At least that’s what they’ve been told, anyway.

Kyle MacNeil said he’s often told audience members say they weren’t in the holiday spirit until they saw An East Coast Christmas.

The Barra MacNeils will be in Peterborough Wednesday to help fans get into the holiday groove.

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An East Coast Christmas in Oshawa’s Regent Theatre on Dec. 15, with shows at 3 and 7:30 p.m.

The Barra MacNeils, dubbed “Canada’s Celtic ambassadors,” for almost two decades have toured the country at this time of year, sharing an East Coast Christmas. The band is at Oshawa’s Regent Theatre on Dec. 15 and a second show has been added…
MacNeil says people have made going to the concert a Christmas tradition, noting where parents once brought their young children, the latter have grown up and are now treating their parents. It’s a tradition for the band as well.
“There is something special about travelling across Canada at this time of year and seeing faces old and new,” he says.

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