For what was supposed to be a year off, Great Big Sea has had an interesting 12 months. Among other things we played some amazing shows in Ontario, celebrated the mid-summer with a huge concert in Newfoundland, and finally made it to Australia. However, 2012 was really about GBS XX, and the accompanying box set. It took well over a year to assemble, record, write and otherwise create the whole thing, and watching them fly off the shelves, and go gold in just a week, was one of the most incredible things that has ever happened to us. And if 2012 was about looking back, 2013 is going to be about forging ahead. In just a few short weeks we will start the biggest and most ambitious tour of our career, one that will take us coast-to-coast more than once, and see us reviewing all the highlights of our 20-year career.
Before we start tuning instruments, gassing up buses and checking microphones, however, we have to pause for the Yuletide. Christmas is coming, and in Newfoundland we still celebrate for 12 days. Some of our most treasured seasonal memories revolve around the traditional music we heard at Xmas, whether in school concerts, glowing churches, at family parties, or just wafting from stores on busy St. John's streets. As we grow older, and our own families have come to define our home lives, it falls to us to lead the songs, and create some of those memories for our own children.
On a winter day last year we gathered together to record some short videos; we went outside in the snow to record this song, which is often performed at Christmas time here in Newfoundland. As a small present for all our friends around the world, here is "The 12 Apostles".
- GBS
Alan has just posted his latest From The Road entry, this one written on set of the forthcoming film, Winter's Tale. Read all about it here.
Sad news today: Due to a death in the family, Alan will be unable to perform at the Barra MacNeils' East Coast Christmas show this Saturday night at Roy Thompson Hall. The show will go ahead as scheduled. Alan has released the following statement:
Regrettably, due to a sudden death in my family, I am unable to attend Saturday's concert. I was really looking forward to sharing the stage with the Barras and all the other guests, as I know it will be a great night. I hope you all enjoy the evening. Merry Christmas.
We're pleased to announce four new Alan Doyle Trio dates in January! They'll be performing in New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and California. Beginning tomorrow, December 12, visit the GreatBigSea.com Store to pick up your presale tickets before they're available anywhere else.
Be sure to visit Alan's tour page for a complete list of upcoming Trio dates and the Great Big Sea Tour page for group dates.
Many of you have been awaiting this news: GBS will indeed play St. John's, NL, as part of their 2013 20th Anniversary Tour! GreatBigSea.com will be your first place to get tickets to this hometown show on April 27 at the Mile One Centre.
Starting tomorrow, December 5, at 10 am NST, visit the GreatBigSea.com Store to get some of the best seats in the house!