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Great Big Sea

The sea shanty tradition of Newfoundland is fused with the spirit and energy of contemporary rock and popular music by Great Big Sea. Their hard-driving approach has not only made them popular in their homeland, where they've been nominated for four Juno Awards, but has brought them a growing recognition throughout North America and Europe. The inspiration for Great Big Sea was sparked during informal, kitchen-party jam sessions in the Newfoundland fishing village of Petty Harbor. Guitar, mandolin, and bouzouki player Alan Doyle, whose mother is a piano teacher, learned piano and drums as a youngster. His most natural musical voice, however, was expressed on the guitar. Having joined his uncle's rockabilly-meets-traditional Newfoundland music band, the New Standells, at the age of 15, he formed a duo, Staggering Home, with John Benton while attending St. John's University. The other members of Great Big Sea -- Sean McCann (tin whistle, bodhran), Bob Hallett (button accordion, fiddle, and mandolin), and Darrell Power (bass) -- initially played together in Celtic rock band Rankin Street. Hallett and McCann had previously played in a traditional, politically slanted group, the Newfoundland Republican Army. Soon after releasing a self-titled, self-produced album in 1992, Great Big Sea signed with Warner Brothers Canada, who reissued their debut album. Enthusiasm for the band's hard-driving sound and close-knit harmonies continued to spread. While their second album, Up, released in September 1995, took nearly a year to sell 100,000 copies in Canada and be certified platinum, their third album, Play, released in June 1997, was certified platinum within three months. By February 1998, Play had sold more than 200,000 copies. Releasing their first United States-distributed album, Rant and Roar, a compilation of tunes from their previous album, in 1998, Great Big Sea spent many months touring the U.S. The following year, the band released their fifth album, Turn, produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos and Tragically Hip fame. The album included a traditional French tune, "Trois Navires de Ble," recorded with the Chieftains. The live effort Road Rage was issued a year later. Sea of No Cares, which appeared in 2002, marked their first with Zoe. Michael Phillip Wojewoda (Barenaked Ladies, Jane Siberry) produced the band's seventh album, 2004's Something Beautiful. The Hard and the Easy arrived in 2005, followed by Courage and Patience and Grit: In Concert the following year. Great Big Sea returned to the studio in 2008 and released Fortune's Favor later that year. The band followed up again in 2010 with Safe Upon the Shore. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi
full bio

Selected Discography

Comments

best.... band EVER!!!!!!!!
AS CLOSE TO PERFECT AS MUSIC GETS!
wesisout
saw a live performance in Steamboat CO.
The guys are amazing musicians.
The base player is also the base singer, and really good.
the audience looked like they brought along all their own "Groupies".
First ime I ever heard of them or heard them period. Love the music, shanty, blue grass flavors, and old time rock and roll.
a great evening of entertainmen t .
ulallinav
I was introduced to Great Big Sea a few years ago, whilst I was working at a resturant. I started bringing the discs in and playing them whenever I was running the kitchen and while half the staff had no clue what they were listening too, EVERYONE was happier and more energetic. A few even got into the band themselves.
no YOU SUCK. Great Big Sea ROCKS.
Seen 'em twice now - great show - great harmonies - great sense of humor - Old Black Rum, Helmet Head, Captain Kidd, I'm A Rover, the Mermaid Song...One great tune after another...I guess I'm a fan!
damongreenpa
great big sea sucks!
oh god I love this.
slapshot1894
Never tire of listening to them. Just plain fantastic.
dfarner2
Uh, that would be Memorial University in St. John's.
Alan Doyle is asome in the new Robin Hood
This has been my favourite band since I discovered them my freshman year of college. Their music makes you want to get up and dance; you can't NOT move to it! And their live shows are the most amazing things ever---full of energy, but still intimate (at least in Cali). All around feel-good music that I can't stop listening to! --Emmi Lawrence
lol
steve4203
this music makes me believe every bad thing I've heard about people from Newfoundland .
Thier music brings a smile to my face every day.
There is a St. John's University in Queens, NY. http://www.s t j o h n s . e d u /
grinham_l
Who wrote the biography? There is no such university as St. John's University.. . nice job with the research.
sheeradam
Nice. Woke me up.
Kinda makes you want to jump the next schooner up to newfoundland
whats the best song?
Where is Up?

Great Big Sea...but no Process Man....grrrr r
Best band ever! Not a bad song by them.
I have just found this music and I'm HOOKED! love it!
Old Black Rum has to be one of the greatest drinking songs of all time. Great band
luv irish rock... luv them :) and i smiled! :)
konradvz
I didnt smile Slapshot. I smirked. A smirk is when you love it but have dignity about it! Damnit i smiled. :)
slapshot1894
Great band. Heard them for the first time earlier this year. Can't get enough. I defy anyone not to smile when listening to them.
Have loved this band for many years and ALWAYS go to their concerts when they're in town. They are fabulous in concert and so much fun to listen to! Whenever I need a "lift", they certainly boost my spirits!!
Bloody hell ... facing a possible WW III I have to have this bloody music to keep this fighter pilot Celtic soul going. Aw, F F'n Hell ...
Sat backstage at a free show at LLBean summer of 2007, amazing. The sounds were clear and crisp and Chris came over to say hello to my daughter. These guys are amazing and if you have not seen them live, GO GET TICKETS NOW>>>>
Speaking as a critic i would have to say that my favorite song by the great big sea is.........D o n k e y riding. Very lively tune and very funny. I don't say this about many bands, but i can make an acception. I, A certified music critic Give The Great Big Sea Five stars. Keep on Rocking!
Everytime I hear this song it makes me happy I sing and dance my sister and mom say if you ever drink any black rum they hope it calms me down...High Energy Person aka ADHD hey people say I'm crazy but they dont understand see....Oh Look A BunnyRabbit. . . . g r e a t song it make me happy.
this band is awesome
easily my favorite band
ryan091
This is easily one of the best bands to see live!
keriganwande r k n i g h t
GBS tours a ton, and I definitely suggest seeing them live... they always have a great show :)
This is a new type of genre to me. I love it, its like new classical sea chanties. haha. Keep on keepin on. Eazy does it.
There were in Seattle just a few months ago, the Moore Theater.... the DVD with C,P&G these fellas look like a good show for sure !
mowen95
Come to Seattle please :) :) :)
Everything is gonna be alright when summer comes. Beautiful.
Couldn't agree with you more, Vash the Stampede. "The Night Pat Murphy Died" gets everyone going. Great song!
I don't know if you can get any better than a live performance of "The Night Pat Murphy Died." The energy in which that song brings out in a room is absolutely electrifying ! :)
I was introduced to them by a friend about the time "Rant & Roar" came out. I have since picked up all of their commercial releases. I have had the good fortune to see them perform in Chicago. This truly is a band that really enjoys what they do and it shows on stage. Great energy and a welcoming feeling - drawing you into their "kitchen party". See this band - you'll be hooked!
The BEST BAND EVER!!! Gotta love em'!
When I first heard the voice I thought the singer from Smashmouth was singing.
Gud Fun music. Anuther round Landlord !!!
ceilisue
Saw them last night in Columbus for the third time! They are so fun. :)
Well, if you'd read the bio, you'd have known they're from a small fishing village called Petty Harbor in the province of Newfoundland , Canada.
aciebryan
where are they from
Can't get enough. Ranting and raving.
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