What’s happening

August 31, 2016

Is it too early to think Christmas?

Not when Canada’s first family of Celtic music is coming to town. Back by popular demand, Canada’s first family of Celtic music will kick off their coast-to-coast tour of seasonal magic in Victoria November 16th–marking their 30th year of performing.  TICKETs on presale Sept 1. Read more here: http://www.celticperformingarts.com/events/barra-macneils-christmas-live

August 24, 2016

Back once again to perform with The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony!

A high-spirited concert featuring tight harmonies, precise stepdancing and multi-instrumental skill, this will be a true celebration of all things

August 10, 2016

Cheticamp concert coming up on August 11th

Article in the culture section of the Inverness Oran.

July 23, 2016

Cape Breton Post – Barra MacNeils celebrating 30 years of music with special concert

The Barra MacNeils will perform in their hometown of Sydney Mines on Aug. 3 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church celebrating 30 years of music.

May 9, 2016

Fort Mac benefit concert

Over 5,000 tickets on sale now. Cape Breton artists The Barra MacNeils, Matt Minglewood, Bruce Guthro, the Men of the Deeps, Aaron Lewis and Jordan Musycsyn will be joined on stage by hosts Bette MacDonald and Maynard Morrison.
A large part of the success of this fundraising event will be raffles and auction on site.

December 5, 2015

A coast-to-coast tour stopping in Midland Dec. 9

The group whips up a musical potpourri of family favourites culled from traditional Christmas ceilidhs, midnight masses and other festive fare. Laden with distinctive harmonies, the songs are supported on a bed of instruments ranging from guitar, fiddle and mandolin to the bodhran, banjo and bouzouki. “There are three albums of (Barra MacNeils) Christmas music, so we usually can’t get all the songs in that people request, but we do our best,” MacNeil said. “There are also some new bits, stories and some levity – and some dancing, of course.” Sister Lucy’s take on traditional favourites continues to win over audiences, he added.

December 2, 2015

An East Coast Christmas to Oshawa

Christmas is full of traditions and The Barra MacNeils hitting the road around the holidays has become one of them. The Nova Scotia Celtic band, made up of the MacNeil siblings, is touring a Christmas show for the fifth year. The Barra MacNeils play Oshawa’s Regent Theatre on Dec. 6.

A Christmas tradition in Peterborough

… that sense of home that they can bring wherever they play. Especially at Christmas, when they share the warmth of their childhood on Cape Breton with audiences across the country. This happens Thursday night at Showplace, with a 7:30 performance of their annual An East Coast Christmas show. Tickets are $50 and available at the Showplace box office, 705-742-7469 or online at showplace.org. Featuring five musical Macneil siblings – Stewart, Kyle, Lucy, Sheumas and Boyd, with Jamie Gatti on bass, the holiday celebration lets the family soar on traditional instruments, with stepdancing, storytelling and their famous harmonies, often served up a capella.

November 30, 2015

An East Coast Christmas is coming to Cornwall

The Cape Breton family band’s ‘An East Coast Christmas’ concert mixes traditional and Celtic seasonal fare, extraordinary musicianship, hauntingly beautiful Gaelic ballads, storytelling, and a flurry of foot-stomping instrumentals. “It’s hard to believe we’ve been touring Christmas shows for 15 years – it really is a fan-favourite,” said Stewart MacNeil in a telephone interview with Seaway News. “The material comes mainly from three holiday albums we’ve released – every year we mix it up to keep it fresh.”