Kick Christmas off Celtic-style

Who: The Barra MacNeils

What: Canadian Celtic

Where: Kiwanis Community Theatre Centre

When: Friday, December 5, 2008 @ 8 p.m.

Tickets, currently on sale at the Community Theatre Box Office in the Station Mall, are $30 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under.

The Barra MacNeils' official bio

2008 marks over 20 years in the recording and touring career of the Barra MacNeils.

To celebrate this, the group has released a special 20th Anniversary CD which covers the span of their entire career featuring essential recordings from various releases over the years.

The group will also be touring theatres and festivals in Canada, America and overseas extensively throughout 2008 and beyond in support of this new release to further commemorate this career milestone.

Both the CD and the associated live performances are sure to be a hit with fans old and new!

As a group, the six MacNeil siblings are widely regarded as one of the greatest live acts in the Celtic world.

Hailing from Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, the family group is deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture and history.

Their numerous critically acclaimed recordings have included their own original songs as well as tried and true standards, both instrumental and vocal.

The Barra MacNeils live concert experience brings so much more to the stage than most live acts ever can.

Multiple lead vocalists, beautiful sibling harmonies, top drawer instrumental prowess on a wide variety of acoustic, stringed, percussion and wind instruments, dancing, storytelling, Gaelic songs and a journey through an ancient culture. Family entertainment at its highest level.

Steeped in Cape Breton tradition with strong Celtic roots and musical artistry, this diverse and talented family group continues to wow audiences around the world with their captivating vocals, harmonies and extraordinary musicianship.

Multi-award winners, the Barra MacNeils have released numerous recordings including, Racket In the Attic (2002), Christmas Album (1999), Until Now (1997), The Question (1995), The Traditional Album (1994), Closer to Paradise (1993 - Certified Gold in Canada), Timeframe (1990), Rock in the Stream (1989), and The Barra MacNeils (1986).

In 2001, they released a DVD titled Cape Breton Christmas incorporating music from their live Christmas Concert Special (as seen on television), plus a visit to Cape Breton, interviews with the Barra MacNeils home at Christmas and music videos.

Canada's Celtic ambassadors, the Barra MacNeils continue to perform to sold out audiences throughout Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and the United Kingdom.

From headlining major festivals, concerts, special guest appearances (Rita MacNeils CTV Christmas Special, performing with The Chieftains) television specials, film and television placement (Men
with Brooms Soundtrack; Racket In The Attic) and their annual Christmas tour, they have set the course with a solid foundation for success.

The Barra MacNeils one-hour Christmas Television Special (2000) continues to be broadcast on Country Music Television (CMT) and on the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) network in the United States.

December 2007 saw the broadcast of a new Christmas Special which will no doubt become part of the holiday season for years to come.

The Barra MacNeils will continue to do what they love to do best, and that is playing their music for the fans.

This incredibly talented family group will tour Canada, the US and Europe to spread their distinctive brand of Celtic flavour around the world.

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