Great Big Sea

Great Big Sea was a Canadian folk rock band established in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, in 1993. The founding members included Alan Doyle (vocals, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin), Séan McCann (vocals, bodhrán, guitar, tin whistle), Darrell Power (vocals, bass, guitar, bones), and Bob Hallett (vocals, fiddle, accordion, mandolin, concertina, bouzouki, whistles, bagpipes). The band’s early performances were in the George Street club district in St. John’s, leading to a reputation for engaging live shows and extensive touring. Their sound was rooted in the melodies, rhythms, and timbres of traditional Newfoundland music. Over their career, Great Big Sea achieved significant commercial success in Canada, with eleven of their albums attaining Gold certification, including four certified Platinum and two achieving multi-platinum status. Between 1996 and 2016, they ranked as the sixteenth best-selling Canadian artist and the sixth best-selling Canadian band in Canada.

Their career included numerous studio and live album releases, along with extensive touring across North America and Europe. They were known for their convivial “kitchen party” style concerts, characterized by uplifting vocals, a cappella harmonies, and driving instrumental rhythms. The band received multiple Juno Award nominations and won eighteen East Coast Music Awards, including Entertainer of the Year for five consecutive years from 1996 to 2000. Darrell Power retired from the band in 2003, and supporting members Kris MacFarlane (drums, accordion, guitar) and Murray Foster (bass) joined. In 2013, Séan McCann announced his departure from the band at the end of their ‘XX’ 20th-anniversary tour.

Following McCann’s departure, Alan Doyle confirmed in 2015 that the band was “happily retired.” Despite the band’s official retirement, former members Alan Doyle and Séan McCann have continued their solo careers, often incorporating Great Big Sea music into their performances. The band also engaged in charity work, including collaborations with Artists Against Racism on radio public service announcements.