Barra MacNeils
Encyclopedia
The Barra MacNeils are a Canadian
musical group from Sydney Mines
, Nova Scotia
. The founding members of the group are siblings Sheumas, Kyle, Stewart, and Lucy MacNeil. In 2005 two additional brothers, Ryan and Boyd, joined the band. The Scottish island of Barra
is the ancestral home of Clan MacNeil
.
The MacNeil siblings are from Cape Breton Island
and began performing together in 1980 while still teenagers (Lucy MacNeil being only 10 years old). Consequently, they were only able to perform on weekends, and toured during school holidays. The siblings are classically trained musicians and alumni of Mount Allison University
.
In 1986, they released their first eponymous album on their own independent label. The Barra MacNeils won their first East Coast Music Award in 1991, and have won four more since, including an Album of the Year award for TimeFrame in 1992, and a Group of the Year award in 2001. They signed with Polygram
, and their first two albums were re-released while their 1993 album Closer To Paradise earned a gold record. They have been an opening act for Céline Dion
and have toured regularly across North America and Europe.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
musical group from Sydney Mines
Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia
Sydney Mines is a former town in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality.Founded in 1784 and incorporated as a town in 1889, Sydney Mines has a rich history in coal production, although mining activity has now ceased.Prior to a permanent settlement being established, there was significant...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. The founding members of the group are siblings Sheumas, Kyle, Stewart, and Lucy MacNeil. In 2005 two additional brothers, Ryan and Boyd, joined the band. The Scottish island of Barra
Barra
The island of Barra is a predominantly Gaelic-speaking island, and apart from the adjacent island of Vatersay, to which it is connected by a causeway, is the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.-Geography:The 2001 census showed that the resident population was 1,078...
is the ancestral home of Clan MacNeil
Clan MacNeil
Clan MacNeil, also known in Scotland as Clan Niall, is a highland Scottish clan, particularly associated with the Outer Hebridean island of Barra. The early history of Clan MacNeil is obscure, however despite this the clan claims to descend from the legendary Niall of the nine hostages...
.
The MacNeil siblings are from Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
and began performing together in 1980 while still teenagers (Lucy MacNeil being only 10 years old). Consequently, they were only able to perform on weekends, and toured during school holidays. The siblings are classically trained musicians and alumni of Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University is a primarily undergraduate Canadian liberal arts and science university situated in Sackville, New Brunswick. It is located about a half hour from the regional city of Moncton and 20 minutes from the Greater Moncton International Airport...
.
In 1986, they released their first eponymous album on their own independent label. The Barra MacNeils won their first East Coast Music Award in 1991, and have won four more since, including an Album of the Year award for TimeFrame in 1992, and a Group of the Year award in 2001. They signed with Polygram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
, and their first two albums were re-released while their 1993 album Closer To Paradise earned a gold record. They have been an opening act for Céline Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
and have toured regularly across North America and Europe.
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | CRIA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | CAN Country | |||
| 1986 | The Barra MacNeils | |||
| 1989 | Rock in the Stream | |||
| 1990 | Timeframe | |||
| 1993 | Closer to Paradise | 33 | 10 | Gold |
| 1994 | The Traditional Album | |||
| 1995 | The Question | 61 | ||
| 1997 | Until Now | |||
| 1999 | The Christmas Album | |||
| 2000 | Racket in the Attic | |||
| 2005 | All at Once | |||
| 2006 | The Christmas Album II | |||
| 2007 | The 20th Anniversary Collection | |||
| 2008 | In Concert | |||
| In Session |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN AC | CAN | CAN Country | |||
| 1990 | "My Heart's in the Highlands" | Timeframe | |||
| 1993 | "Row Row Row" | 36 | 41 | 81 | |
| "Darling Be Home Soon" | 29 | 23 | Closer to Paradise | ||
| 1994 | "In the Wink of an Eye" | 12 | 25 | 31 | |
| "Caledonia" | 22 | ||||
| 1995 | "We Celebrate" | 16 | 46 | ||
| "Myopic" | 24 | 56 | The Question | ||
| 1996 | "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" | 50 | |||
| 1997 | "Mouth Music" | Until Now | |||
| 2000 | "Misty Moisty Morning" | Racket in the Attic | |||
| 2001 | "By Northern Light" |
External links
- Barra MacNeils www.barramacneils.com