Happy Anniversary Great Big Sea and their fans…
SeanMcCannSings@seanmcannsings
Happy Anniversary @DarrellPowerNL @bobhallett @alanthomasdoyle @krismacdrum
@murrayfoster1 #GBSXX1112 March 2015
AlanDoyle@alanthomasdoyle
Happy Anniversary GBS! 22 Years ago today we played our first gig. What a ride.
Thanks to all. 12 March 2015
MurrayFoster@MurrayFoster1
Lots of magical times with these madmen RT Seanmcannsings @DarrellPowerNL
@bobhallett @alanthomasdoyle @krismacdrum 12 March 2015
As Great Big Sea fans know yesterday was Great Big Sea’s
22nd anniversary since they played their first gig together. Despite the fact
Sean McCann had left the band and the band members were taking a hiatus of
sorts persuing individual projects, it was a time of congratulations and
reflection all round for the fans and some of the band on social media,
including Twitter and Facebook.
Sean McCann began the celebrations by writing a blog post
thanking the band and fans and wished them well.
“Greetings Fellow
Great Big Sea Fans and Happy Anniversary Kris, Murray, Darrell, Bob and Alan. It has been over year now since we stopped and while
taking a breath today to reflect upon our collective past I remembered this
documentary I made for the XX Boxset.
While the winds of time may have blown us apart and we
still don't agree on a Great Big many things, I would like to thank you all
today (Fans and Band alike) for contributing to my Life and ultimately helping
me to Help My Self…
We have lived through so much together ....some
bad....and some great. Today I will remember only the latter and Wish You Well."
Sean circulated a photograph and a beautiful video on YouTube of Alan Doyle, Bob Hallett and himself singing a song called Great Big World written by Jim Fidler. What a treat indeed.
It was unfortunate some fans
chose to start a fight with other fans and the band members on Twitter and the Facebook Online Kitchen Party for the Great Big Sea Fan Community and nick pick over who should have said
what and whether Sean had the right to say anything because he had left the band.
(I am sure if you are a Great Big Sea fan you can guess who, but I won’t go into it
out of respect for Great Big Sea.). To me Sean has the right to say whatever he wants, when he likes as he is still part of the band, at least legally. And as one fan put it nicely hopefully the gesture will help them work towards their (and the fan’s) healing.
To me, Sean has been most
generous and kind about sharing material from his Great Big Sea collection of
memorabilia including photographs and videos. As I have really only been fan
for about 4 years I really appreciate these gestures.
Like many fans, becoming
interested in Great Big Sea changed my life. Although I don’t really
participate in social media, I have met a lot of nice people from overseas at
concerts. I have learned a lot about music, Newfoundland, the challenges
musicians face, piracy, bootlegging and most all fandom which was documented
through my blog.
I have learned it is okay to be a
fangirl, yes fangirl no matter how old you are, to remain loyal to my personal
ideas and beliefs, to stand up for others (even if it isn’t acknowledged and
rewarded) and to put my dreams out there because dreams really do come true.
After years of being snug and
loving my little piece of Australia I finally built up the courage and finances to travel
overseas to Canada and Newfoundland. A lot of fans go to a lot of concerts and don’t make it to
Newfoundland. I didn't do a whole lot of concerts but I did make it to Newfoundland and on more than a couple of occasions.
I have fallen in love with St.
John’s and Newfoundland, it’s people, it’s culture, stories and music. During
the last couple of weeks so many of my personal dreams came true there. I was lucky
enough to meet Alan Doyle in the Toronto airport, Alan Hawco from Republic of
Doyle and to see Sean McCann play in St. John’s. I am grateful for that. I am grateful for all the music, the stories and culture Great Big
Sea have shared with me and most of all introducing me to their glorious home Newfoundland.
I am hoping for one
more great big trip and extended stay at the end of the year.
Many thanks and happy
anniversary Great Big Sea.
My favourite Great Big Sea photograph...(no copyright infringement intended)
