Below the surface
Former Great Big Sea band member Séan Mccann playing Tatamagouche
He once partied his way across Canada and sang in front of massive audiences as the wine and whisky owed freely.
But Séan Mccann had his last drink Nov. 9, 2011 and has been sober since.
“Great Big Sea was a great place to hide and not face the truth – you can’t solve a problem unless you’re prepared to face it,” said Mccann.
Two years sober, the folk-rock musician left Great Big Sea to pursue a solo career. On Aug. 19 he performs at the Grace Jollymore Joyce Arts Centre, as part of Tatafest in Tatamagouche.
Mccann has a message for anyone struggling with addiction of any kind.
“You’re stronger than you think and if you don’t give up you will succeed, because if the guy from Great Big Sea can quit drinking and using drugs then anyone can. Every day we went to work, there was a bottle of whisky, four bottles of wine and 48 beers – and that was our starting point.”
From Carbonear, N.L., Mccann spent his childhood in both rural Newfoundland and St. John’s, becoming familiar with those worlds.
That meant learning how to sh by the time he was 13. It was his rst job, working on a boat with his uncle, who taught him to swear like a sherman, too.
But the Newfoundland shing industry collapsed in the early 1990s, leaving Mccann and many others out of a job.
In 1993, Mccann joined forces with fellow musicians Alan Doyle, Darrell Power and Bob Hallett to form Great Big Sea, playing their rst live show at Memorial University in St. John’s, and opening for the Irish Descendants.
However, during his 20 years in Great Big Sea, Mccann hid a dark secret.
At 15, he was abused by his parish priest. is led to heavy drinking – and sometimes drugs – while he was in the band.
He likened alcohol abuse to deferring one’s taxes – it may numb the pain temporarily – but the bills just keep racking up.
In 2011, Mccann realized it was time to change. He quit Great Big Sea in 2013 after two decades with the band.
In 2015, Mccann went public with the abuse he su ered at the hands of his former priest. e offender was later caught and has “been in and out of jail.”
Today, Mccann warns digital addiction is rising fast, with people seemingly forever glued to their phones and social media. He said people typically curl up on the couch with their phone after work and browse Facebook instead of going out and meeting people.
“ at’s the new ‘out’ and that’s not good enough,” said Mccann.
ere are advantages to playing for smaller audiences.
“I like to bring my show into small, intimate venues where I can go face to face with people,” said Mccann. “I want to have a meaningful interaction with my audience and I want people to sing along with me.”
Mccann takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 19 at the Grace Jollymore Joyce Arts Centre.
For ticket prices and more event information, visit http:// www.gracejollymore.com/events or call the centre at 902-657-3500.