Great Big Sea coming to Memorial Centre

 The Petersborough Examiner: July 31, 2009

Great Big Sea is coming to the Memorial Centre on Sept. 23.

The Newfoundland band is forged from Figgy Duff and Ryan's Fancy.

When asked about their success, founding member Bob Hallett states in a press release: "We weren't the best musicians in town, we just wanted it more. We were driven by a bloody-minded need to succeed and we were rewarded for our bleeding."

The band released its Warner debut Up in the spring of 1995. Relentless touring and a raucous live show quickly propelled the record to platinum. Their next effort Play enjoyed even bigger success and the band moved its show into hockey stadiums across Canada.

U. S. labels took notice and GBS was signed to Sire by Seymour Stein (Madonna/Talking Heads), who unleashed the band on an unsuspecting American public. Accolades and a solid cult following ensued.

"We are showmen and we live and die by our trade," states lead singer Alan Doyle. "I am drawn to the light and I was born to burn."

"Our music is of Newfoundland," states McCann. "It would be impossible to do what we do if we were from anywhere else. Our songs come from the sea and the cliffs and the rocks and all the other natural beauties our country provides. Without her we simply couldn't exist."

For their ninth album, the band chose to work with indie Hawksley Workman.

"We wanted to push ourselves, to be surprised by our own music," stated Hallett, "and Hawksley was the right pilot for the flight...or the fight, depending on the circumstances."

"This album is a stew of all our influences," states Hallett. "Bob Marley, the Clash, Fergus O'Byrne, Ron Hynes, Johnny Cash, Donal Lunny, and who knows what else. So who better to sum it all up than C. S. Lewis: 'Further in and further up.'"

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Concert facts

Who: Great Big Sea

When: Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8 p. m.

Where: Memorial Centre, Lansdowne St.

Tickets: $42.50 and $52.50, order by phone with credit card at 743-3561.