The aquatically named Celtic folk-pop band from St. Johns, Newfoundland, is coming to the Clayton Opera House on Sept. 4, and yes, it will perform rock interpretations of sea chanties.
"Even though not many people would have necessarily encountered the music of Newfoundland, it's very participatory," Bob B. Hallett, a member of the band, said. "It sort of draws people in. It's very engaging music."
Great Big Sea's music includes original songs as well as pop covers of music based on the Canadian island's 500-year-old Irish, English and French heritage. The band consists of Mr. Hallett on vocals, bouzouki, fiddle, banjo, accordion, whistles and harmonica; Alan Doyle on vocals, guitar and bouzouki; Sean McCann on vocals, guitar, bodhran and banjo; Kris MacFarlane on vocals, drums, percussion, guitar, piano and accordion; and Murray Foster on vocals and bass.
The band has released nine albums. Its latest, "Fortune's Favor" has been described as a "stew" of influences such as Bob Marley, the Clash, Fergus O'Byrne, Ron Hynes and Johnny Cash on the band's Web site. According to Mr. Hallett, the songs of Great Big Sea feature a range of topics.
"They run a gamut. There's the requisite love songs, but there's also a lot of songs that speak about what it's like to live on this island in the middle of nowhere," he said.
One song, a light-hearted tune about a tidal wave, provided the band's name 17 years ago when it got its start. According to Mr. Hallett, the decision came after each of the band members created a long list of potential names for the group.
"This was after a three-hour argument," he said. "Everybody picked their own name and Great Big Sea was our second choice."
The performance in Clayton, which is sold out, is part of the band's North American tour that kicked off Aug. 19 in Massachusetts. Although it is the band's first time playing in the north country, Great Big Sea has toured numerous times in the United States — so much so that Mr. Hallett can't keep track.
"I've crisscrossed the continent and Europe so many times, I've literally lost count," he said, estimating that the band has played more than 1,000 concerts in the last 10 years. Its current tour will take the members to Buffalo, Toronto, Washington, D.C., and Cape Cod before sending them across the country to Portland, Ore., and Seattle.
Mr. Hallett's ideal tour contains a mix of large venues like the Canadian hockey rinks in which they are accustomed to performing and smaller venues like Clayton.
"In a smaller place, it becomes more about the music," he said. "You can talk more, so the stories behind the song become more important and more interesting."
Mr. Hallett added that he is especially excited to visit a new venue and see what life is like in Clayton.
"It's always amazing to go somewhere new," he said. "At this stage of the game, it's one of the great pleasures, to be able to wake up somewhere new."
According to Amy L. Flack, executive director of the Clayton Opera House, it is also a pleasure to welcome Great Big Sea to Clayton.
"We have been trying to get Great Big Sea at the opera house for the last three years," she said. "They're a fantastic group, full of energy and really the kind of group we want to be bringing to the area."
