HOME AGAIN
The Barra MacNeils to perform in Sydney Mines on Monday
The Barra MacNeils perform in Sydney Mines on Monday.
The Barra MacNeils have performed in many different venues across the country, but none are more special than the one in their hometown.
The band will return to Sydney Mines for a concert at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m. on Monday. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Stewart MacNeil said the group is looking forward to the special performance.
“This is a homecoming show for us and they are usually very special shows,” said MacNeil. “We don’t do a lot of shows in Sydney Mines, although at one time we use to play here a lot. We end up getting people coming who are home for vacation and tourists and of course the locals as well.
“The venue itself (St. Andrew’s), is architecturally beautiful, it sounds great and the sightlines are great, so it’s a really nice place to see the Barra MacNeils perform,” he said.
Last year, the Barra MacNeils performed a special show in Sydney Mines, which celebrated the band’s 30th anniversary.
“We decided to do it again (perform) because last year’s response was great,” said MacNeil. “We like to try to occasionally do these special shows in Sydney Mines.”
Over their career, the Barra MacNeils have won many different East Coast Music Awards including roots and traditional group of the year twice as well as an album of the year, pop recording of the year and group of the year.
MacNeil said the concert will feature traditional songs as well as songs from the band’s new album, which was recently recorded at Soundpark Studio in Coxheath.
“We have been together for 30 years, so we have lots of material to choose from,” he said. “There are certain songs, especially playing in Cape Breton, that we would make sure (to perform) … but also people come and they like to hear something new and there certainly is a good bit
of that too.”
Tickets for the show are $30 and are available at Shoppers Drug Mart in North Sydney and Sexton’s Pharmasave in Sydney Mines as well as online at www. barramacneils.com.
“We guarantee that it will be a great party,” said MacNeil. “There will be step-dancing and there will be some Gaelic music as well — the band is playing better than it ever has and we do enjoy the shows.”