The Barra MacNeils are a Canadian musical family group from Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia. The founding members of the group are siblings Sheumas, Kyle, Stewart, and Lucy MacNeil.Bowman, Durrell. "Barra MacNeils", The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 22, 2011. In 2005, two additional brothers, Ryan and Boyd, joined the band. The Scottish island of Barra is the ancestral home of Clan MacNeil.
Musical career 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. (Sheumas 1984, Kyle 1985, Stewart 1987, and Lucy 1991)
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 a Juno Award for Album of the Year 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.
Discography
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 2009 In Concert (live) In Session (live) 2012 The Celtic Colours Sessions The Barra MacNeils with Symphony Nova Scotia (live) 2018On The Bright Side
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"
References
External links Entry at canadianbands.com The Barra MacNeils barramacneils.com