Great Big Sea

Great Big Sea is a Canadian folk-rock band that fuses the sea-shanty tradition of Newfoundland with the spirit and energy of contemporary rock and popular music in a crowd-pleasing formula both heartfelt and vital. A pure force of nature—much like the ocean surge they take their name from—Great Big Sea's blend of instruments like mandolin, bodhran, fiddle, and concertina, along with their vocal harmonies, revels in the melodies they create and the Newfoundland tunes they love. Their sound bellows joy! The band’s hard-driving approach has made them extremely popular in Canada, where they've been nominated for numerous Juno awards, and brought them ever-growing recognition throughout North America and Europe. A British music magazine called them, "a high spirited and richly expressive acoustic quartet who re-invent traditional Newfoundland music, lending it a powerful and resonant contemporary charge." The inspiration for Great Big Sea was sparked during informal, kitchen-party jam sessions in the Newfoundland fishing village of Petty Harbour. In an interview with the Toronto Star, guitar, mandolin, and bouzouki player, Alan Doyle said, "We started out with a simple goal of playing the old songs but picking them up, where need be, with modern tempos.” Picking them up, indeed! The music of Great Big Sea will pick you up in ways you’ll never forget.

Venue Details