Maritime holiday concert comes to Newmarket

  • 2021-11-11
The Barra MacNeils, an East Coast family band, will be bringing their nationally popular holiday show to Newmarket next month.

The show, called “The Barra MacNeils – An East Coast Christmas”, will combine a range of festive musical traditions, from Christmas ceilidhs to more modern festive fare. The band’s musical performances typically involve a wide array of instruments, including accordion, piano, fiddle, mandolin, bodhran, banjo, tin whistles and Celtic harps, as well as the more familiar guitar and bass.

Described as “Canada’s Celtic ambassadors”, the Barra MacNeils are a musical family that has performed for three generations, providing a modern twist on Celtic roots music. The group visiting Newmarket will consist of the five siblings – Lucy, Boyd, Stewart, Kyle and Sheamus MacNeil.

The Newmarket performance is part of a holiday tour across Eastern Canada, focusing on many smaller cities and towns that are typically skipped over in national tours. The tour kicks off in Sarnia and visits areas like Orillia and Lindsay, before concluding in Moncton.

The Barra MacNeils are known for their performance of holiday music, with their Christmas album a critical favourite. The holidays often provide an opportunity for more traditional musical acts to reach a broader audience, using festive banner printing and local media advertisements.

“The Barra MacNeils – An East Coast Christmas” will come to Newmarket’s NewRoads Performing Arts Centre on December 12.