Cape Breton based family band the Barra MacNeils are excited to bring a Celtic flavour to the Christmas season in Lethbridge when they play The Yates Theatre, Nov. 28.
“This is the fifteenth year we’ve done the Christmas tour, but I think it’s the first time we’ve brought it to Lethbridge,” said Barra MacNeils accordionist/ tin-whistle/ flautist / vocalist Stewart MacNeil from a tour stop in Cranbrook.
Three brothers Kyle ( vocals/guitar/violin/mandolin), Sheumas (keyboards, piano, bodhran, fiddle , bouzuki, vocals) and Boyd ( mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo, percussion, step-dancing) and sister Lucy (vocals/bodhran/Celtic harp/step dancing) plus bassist Jamie Gatti flew out to Vancouver to begin their fifteenth annual tour on Nov. 13.
“It’s really become an amazing part of our career,“ MacNeil said.
“It's also become a tradition for a lot of families. They come and see us and bring their children. So it really is a family show,” he continued.
“It’s a combination of Christmas show and Cape Breton kitchen,” he said adding they draw material from the group’s three Christmas albums plus some beloved instrumentals and add some step dancing into the mix as well.
“There are also stories and jokes,” he continued.
He said it is tough to choose his favourite song to perform.
“There’s so many. I like ‘Carol of the Bells,’ which we open with. It’s a very interesting song. It’s originally from the Ukraine, so it’s really fun to play,” he said.
“People love to listen to Lucy sing ‘O Holy Night.’ She nails it every night,” he said.
He said the Christmas show makes the family feel special.
“We like to change things up every year. Though there are some songs we can’t get away with not playing. We have three albums to choose from, so that can be challenging,” he said.
The Barra MacNeils are all kin, except bassist Jamie Gatti.
“He’s been playing with us for 20 years, so he’s like family,” he said.
This year the family is short one brother.
“Ryan decided to take some time off and married a girl from South Africa. Some of us were able to make it to the wedding. It’s a very spectacular country over there,” he said, noting seeing the country is what they enjoy about touring Canada with the Christmas show.
“It’s always very interesting crossing Canada. People are putting up their decorations. In Kingston, they have a huge outdoor rink, so when it is cold enough, you can see people skating. Except one year, it was too warm, so there was just a giant puddle,” he recalled.
“We haven’t played Lethbridge a lot. So the Christmas show will be the first time for a lot of people . So it will be a great way to introduce people to us,” he said.
He said The Barra MacNeils are ringing in the new year by recording a new studio album.
“We’re going into the studio to record some new music,” he said.
“We’ve been performing since 1986 at the Expo in Vancouver. Lucy just joined the band. It’s all been great fun,” he said, adding it will be fun to play Lethbridge again.
“We haven’t played Lethbridge a lot. So the Christmas show will be the first time for a lot of people . So it will be a great way to introduce people to us,” he said.
The Barra MacNeils play the Yates Theatre, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $45.
http://barramacneils.com/calendar/
