| The Barra MacNeils | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Genre: | Celtic music folk rock |
| Years Active: | 1980–present |
| Label: | PolyGram |
| Associated Acts: | Slainte Mhath |
| Website: | www.barramacneils.com |
| Current Members: | Sheumas MacNeil, Kyle MacNeil, Stewart MacNeil, Lucy MacNeil, Ryan MacNeil, Boyd MacNeil |
The Barra MacNeils are a Canadian musical group from Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia. The founding members of the group are siblings Sheumas, Kyle, Stewart, and Lucy MacNeil.[1] [2] In 2005, two additional brothers, Ryan and Boyd, joined the band. The Scottish island of Barra is the ancestral home of Clan MacNeil.
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 '84, Kyle '85, Stewart '87, and Lucy '91)
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.
| 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) | |||||
| 2018 | On The Bright Side | ||||
| 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" | ||||