Bob Hallett And A Great Big Sea Update 2017…

Over the past couple of years Bob Hallett has responded to fan’s questions and discussions on the Great Big Sea Online Kitchen Party page on Facebook. Recently a fan asked the question “What do you think the odds of a reunion tour for Great Big Sea?”... And off the participating fandom went about the possibility of a reunion. As the discussion rolled along Bob contributed providing fans with up to date information about where Great Big Sea are currently at.

I always like to keep a record of Bob’s contribution to the discussions about Great Big Sea and those posts as they attract lots of visits (over 300 for the last two updates). As with previous posts I have removed the name of the fan who asked the question to protect their privacy. I have copied Bob’s words directly from these posts to allow him to speak for himself without any interpretation or addition from me.

After a considerable amount of discussion Bob stated… “in its later iterations, was designed to accommodate side projects, guests, long periods of silence, various comings and goings, and had done so successfully for a decade. That it is not active right now is because Sean wished it to end, quit, and subsequently through various and tiresome corporate manoeuvres, has made it very difficult for the band to continue in some form without him. That is the dull and tedious truth. Also, to dispel another myth, there is no big team around the band, it is just the three of us, along with our manager Louis Thomas”.

One fan asked the question about Sean McCann’s use of Great Big Sea songs at solo events and whether it would be in violation of the agreement or partnership of Great Big Sea under its current arrangement. (I have always wondered this considering Sean’s negative attitude towards his past experiences with the band).

Bob was kind enough again to respond “In theory, Sean or whoever billing himself as 'Sean McCann of Great Big Sea' violates the agreement, as it is what is known as self-dealing, i.e. taking work from the corporation by undercutting or damaging it's core business. That said, it would be difficult to impossible to enforce something like that.” 

Another fan asked if Alan used songs from the Great Big Sea catalogue whether he would be in violation of the agreement. And Bob responded… “In theory yes. Though if a majority of the corporation is operating against it the case becomes noot.”

On a brighter note at the end of last year Bob joined Kelly Russell and The Planks at a special concert in St. John’s on December 27. There are some totally gorgeous photographs of the band and Bob circulated via their official social media sites on Twitter and YouTube. So I decided to place a couple of those posts here.

The photographs are from the official Kelly Russell and The Planks Twitter site and were circulated by Bob Hallett on his official Twitter and Facebook pages. No copyright infringement intended.

The Alan Doyle Trio And The Gold Medal Plates In South America (2017)…

Alan Doyle, Cory Tetford and Kendel Carson have been lucky enough to escape the Canadian and Newfoundland exceptionally bad winter for fun in the sun (and work) in Argentina and Uruguay as part of the entertainment package for the Gold Medal Plates.

Alan has been sharing photographs of the trio’s trip via his official Twitter and Instagram accounts about what they have all been up to on this trip.

Like me have fans ever wondered exactly what happens on one on these Gold Medal Plate trips for those who are lucky enough to afford them? While researching on the Internet I found a copy of the itinerary for this trip that was being auctioned off as part of the fundraising and included Alan, Cory and Kendel and her partner Dustin Bentall as part of the entertainment package. The trip certainly does looks amazing. A description of the trip is copied for those interested below.

I have included two photographs from the official Twitter page of Alan Doyle. No copyright infringement intended.

From the official webpage of the Gold Medal Plates… no copyright infringement intended.

“Buenos Aries – sexy, alive and supremely confident, this beautiful city gets under your skin! This astonishing metropolis that looks a bit like Europe, but with an edgy Latin American twist, is the birthplace of the tango and like the dance itself, is captivating, seductive and bustling with excited energy. Old neighbourhoods are bursting with romantic restaurants, where beef and fabulous red wines are king, and thriving nightlife and Buenos Aires’ European heritage is evident in its architecture, grand wide boulevards and parks.

Your Latin adventure will begin with three nights in Buenos Aires at the 5 star Alvear Art Hotel, member of The Leading Hotels of the World. It is located in the vibrant Retiro district which is bordered by Puerto Madero and Recoleta and is unmistakably (and joyfully) South American! This area famed for its wealth, noticeable in the wide leafy boulevards, and abundance of fine dining restaurants, will be a great home base to experience the best of Buenos Aires. Nearby is the expansive park of Plaza San Martín which is surrounded by some of Buenos Aires most impressive public buildings including Plaza de Mayo, Argentina’s most famous square where the stately Casa Rosada Palace resides. It is here that Eva Perón famously preached to throngs of impassioned Argentines from the balcony!

While in Buenos Aires you will have the opportunity to explore this fabulous city by bike, or on foot, or by dancing your inner passion away as you learn the famous tango! There will be a very special private dinner and tango show to see how the tango is really done and you will explore the incredibly superb wines of Argentina with Canada’s premier wine expert, David Lawrason. We will take a boat trip out to the spectacular Tigre River Delta located just 20 miles outside of Buenos Aires. The Isla El Descanso, located on the Sarmiento River, will become our playground for the afternoon as we explore this oasis in kayaks or walk through their amazing botanical and sculptural gardens. It is here that we will enjoy more wines from Argentina, native cuisine and hear Rosie MacLennan’s incredible journey on defending her gold medal at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games!

We will then journey to the exciting historic capital of Uruguay – Montevideo, a vibrant, eclectic place with a rich cultural life. Stretching 20km from east to west, the city wears many faces, from its industrial port to the exclusive beachside suburb of Carrasco. In the historic downtown business district, art deco and neoclassical buildings jostle for space alongside ageing skyscrapers that appear airlifted from Havana, while to the southeast the shopping malls and modern high-rises of beach communities bear more resemblance to Copacabana. Music, theater and the arts are alive and well here – from elegant older theaters and cozy little tango bars to modern beachfront discos.

In Montevideo your home will be the luxurious and historic Sofitel Montevideo Carrasco and Spa. Set in the exclusive residential district of Carrasco, this 5-star hotel boasts a spectacular beachfront location with direct access to the promenade stretching along the city’s waterfront. The majestic hotel, which also features the exquisite Restaurant 1921, first opened its doors in 1912 and is one of Montevideo’s most iconic buildings. It has been declared a national heritage site and boasts spectacular views over the river and the Stella Maris Church.

While in Montevideo, David will introduce you to the exciting wines of Uruguay. With Canelones, Uruguay’s largest and most significant wine growing area, just 45 minutes from Montevideo, you will visit a variety of wineries including Bodegas Juanico, which is producing a large array of wines including Tannat, Uruguay’s most celebrated grape varietal. We will spend an incredible evening at this historical farm and winery, where we will enjoy their finest at a wine- paired dinner, then finish your South American adventure with an unforgettable concert in their cellar with Alan Doyle, Cory Tetford, Kendel Carson and Dustin Bentall! Alan promises to play ‘Battle of the Bands’ as he and the other musicians take challenges and requests as the musicians of the east challenge the musicians of the west!"

Alan Doyle And The Gold Medal Plates In Croatia (2011)… Throwback Thursday.

While researching the post ‘The Alan Doyle Trio And The Gold Medal Plates In South America (2017)’ I found photo albums from the Gold Medal Plates fundraising events and trips over the past couple of years or so. Alan has certainly been involved in raising money for this event for many years.

While looking through the photo albums I found some totally absolutely drop dead gorgeous pictures of Alan in Croatia in 2011 as part of the team. After researching to find out a little bit more about the event I found a newspaper article and a photo from the trip which I have posted here for fans. The article also contains some information about the Gold Medal Plates fundraising event in general which fans may also find interesting.

In 2011 Alan had an official Twitter account and posted tweets about his time in Croatia and some photographs, however I was unable to access them due to the way they were shared back in those days.

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I did. They are from the official Gold Medal Plates webpage and from this article copied below. No copyright infringement intended.

‘Canadian Hockey Icon, Ron MacLean, Brings Hockey to Croatia’ published on 7 July, 2011 by Gold Medal Plates.

Ron MacLean was the host of the first ever Gold Medal Plates tour to the Adriatic. Canadian Olympic philanthropists were there to face off with each other at Hockey Night in the Adriatic in Hvar, Croatia.

"The fisherman of the Dalmation Coast were keenly interested in the hockey nets strapped to the mast on our boat, and were wondering what we were planning on trying to catch," said Ron MacLean.

Cheering on the teams, led by Captain Alan Doyle, lead singer from the Great Big Sea, and Captain MacLean were His Excellency Mr. Edwin Loughlin, Ambassador of Canada to Croatia. Ringers on the team included Olympic Gold Medallist, Adam Kreek and members of the junior and senior teams of KHL Medvescak Zagreb. Dropping the puck was the Mayor of Hvar, Mr. Pjerino Bebic.

"We are delighted to host this group of 72 Canadians from across Canada who represent thousands of Canadians who have been supporting Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes at the annual Gold Medal Plates Celebration of Canadian Excellence," said Stephen Leckie, CEO of Gold Medal Plates. "This amazing trip is one of six international adventure hosted by Canadian celebrities and Olympians and all are auctioned off at the Gold Medal Plates galas".

About Gold Medal Plates
Gold Medal Plates is the ultimate celebration of Canadian Excellence in cuisine, wine, entertainment and athletic achievement. Celebrating in ten cities across Canada in 2011, Gold Medal Plates will feature superb wines and the premier chefs in each city, paired with Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes, in a competition to crown a gold, silver and bronze medal culinary team in each city, and subsequently nation- wide at the Canadian Culinary Championships.

Founded in 2003, the goal of Gold Medal Plates is to raise substantial funds for Canada's high performance athletes, while celebrating Canadian excellence. Since 2004, this event has received tremendous support and accolades all across Canada, and generated a combined net total of $5 million for Canada's Olympic and Paralympic athletes! For more information, visit the Gold Medal Plate website.

The Canadian Olympic Foundation - Beneficiary of the Events. Net proceeds from Gold Medal Plates are given to the Canadian Olympic Foundation to support athletes through high performance programs.”

Alan Doyle And A Love Letter To Canada…

Canadian airline WestJet recently asked Alan Doyle to write a letter to Canada describing what he loved about Canada for her 150th birthday year. The letter was published in the WestJet Magazine on the 3 February, 2017.

I have provided a direct link to the letter below and circulated a copy on my Google + page.

http://www.westjetmagazine.com/story/article/love-letter-canada-alan-doyle

I have provided a couple of paragraphs here. I decided to let Alan speak for himself as the letter does not need any comment from me.

“I love Canada. I love being Canadian. I love the variety of people and places from coast to coast to coast. And I especially love how Canadians identify with and support fellow citizens from regions and cultures other than their own, who might be from just down the street or from another part of the country all together…

I love that we don’t expect everyone to speak English as his or her first language. And, mostly, I love how Canadians accept diversity and multiculturalism as a Canadian trait without even thinking about it. We see our national identity as an ever-evolving cultural mosaic and are happy to include anything or anyone that wants to join the party…

“I love how Canadians accept diversity and multiculturalism as a Canadian trait without even thinking about it.”…

I have also included two absolutely drop dead gorgeous selfies Alan took at home in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the place Alan loves most in Canada. The first photo was taken on a cold but beautiful morning at Quidi Vidi lake, late last year. The second photo at his home in his backyard, early this year.

The photos were circulated on social media and are from Alan’s official Facebook  and Twitter account. No copyright infringement intended.

Alan Doyle And The Beautiful Gypsies And A Week At The Warehouse...An interview.

A photograph of Alan Doyle, Bob Rock and journalist Terry David Mulligan was circulated on social media. Terry stated he has done an interview with Alan and Bob about their experience recording Alan’s second solo album at the Warehouse studio in Vancouver.

The recording session ended last week and I have yet to find anything, so I have just put a copy of the post here to remind myself to keep looking. It is a really nice photograph of Alan, Bob and Terry.

The post is from the official Instagram account of Terry David Mulligan. No copyright infringement intended.

Alan Doyle And The Beautiful Gypsies And A Week At The Warehouse...Let's make an album. Part One.

Today Alan Doyle informed fans on social media that he and The Beautiful Gypsies had finished recording rough mixes for his second album at The Warehouse studio in downtown Vancouver.

For the past 10 days or so Alan Doyle has been sharing his experiences of recording the album on his official social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. He has shared his thoughts and words, in posts, photographs and short videos which provide fans, not only an insight in what they may expect on the new album music wise, but also how musicians go about making music and an album in today’s technological society.

The posts certainly gave me a greater understanding and appreciation of how much work goes into making music and an album from the initial writing of the music, to playing and recording the lyrics and music, to the editing and a final version being available to listen too and buy digitally or on a CD. How lucky are we to be able to buy a song for under a dollar where I come from.

Alan shared on Instagram that his talented guitarist and photographer Shehab Illyas was making a small documentary about the making of the album. From the response to the post there are a lot of fans like me who can’t wait to see this documentary. It will be real gem for sure.

I enjoyed all the posts including those from The Beautiful Gypsies including Cory Tetford and Todd Lumley who also shared some photographs. Our boys certainly have some amazing toys including guitars, pianos and recording equipment. I really liked Todd’s photograph of Bob Rock and that one is included in this post.

I really liked one of Alan’s Facebook live posts in which he describes his feelings of being nervous and excited at starting a new project and working with famous record producer Bob Rock. It is good to know that accomplished people also get nervous at starting new projects and work.

I also really enjoyed Alan's focus on social media posts on the inclusiveness of all The Beautiful Gypsies rather than the focus being on him. I have found the development from Alan Doyle the solo artist to Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies member really interesting.

As with all the other projects that Alan Doyle has done and shared on social media, I have collected a few posts here mostly for my own interest and own record. This post is divided into two parts, the first part is the lead up to the recording and the second part is the recording and completion. I have also included a post of Alan making the announcement he was working with Bob Rock late last year on his Twitter account.

The posts are from the official Instagram and Twitter accounts of Alan Doyle and Todd Lumley. No copyright infringement intended. 

Alan Doyle And The Beautiful Gypsies And A Week At The Warehouse...Let's make an album. Part Two.

Alan Doyle @alanthomasdoyle This gang just gave me the best music recording experience of my life. By far. A week at The Warehouse is in the can. 30 Jan, 2017.

Alan Doyle @alanthomasdoyle Last few listens to the rough mixes before we pack up. What a week. I am the luckiest person I know. 30 Jan, 2017.

Alan Doyle @alanthomasdoyle Pretty sure we just finished a new CD.11 Tunes in 7 days. The Beautiful Gypsies are amazing. 29 Jan, 2017.

(This is copied from Alan Doyle And The Beautiful Gypsies And A Week At The Warehouse...Let's make an album. Part One as people view posts individually.)

Today Alan Doyle informed fans on social media that he and The Beautiful Gypsies had finished recording rough mixes for his second album at The Warehouse studio in downtown Vancouver.

For the past 10 days or so Alan Doyle has been sharing his experiences of recording the album on his official social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. He has shared his thoughts and words, in posts, photographs and short videos which provide fans, not only an insight in what they may expect on the new album music wise, but also how musicians go about making music and an album in today’s technological society.

The posts certainly gave me a greater understanding and appreciation of how much work goes into making music and an album from the initial writing of the music, to playing and recording the lyrics and music, to the editing and a final version being available to listen too and buy digitally or on a CD. How lucky are we to be able to buy a song for under a dollar where I come from.

Alan shared on Instagram that his talented guitarist and photographer Shehab Illyas was making a small documentary about the making of the album. From the response to the post there are a lot of fans like me who can’t wait to see this documentary. It will be real gem for sure.

I enjoyed all the posts including those from The Beautiful Gypsies including Cory Tetford and Todd Lumley who also shared some photographs. Our boys certainly have some amazing toys including guitars, pianos and recording equipment. I really liked Todd’s photograph of Bob Rock and that one is included in this post.

I really liked one of Alan’s Facebook live posts in which he describes his feelings of being nervous and excited at starting a new project and working with famous record producer Bob Rock. It is good to know that accomplished people also get nervous at starting new projects and work.

I also really enjoyed Alan's focus on social media posts on the inclusiveness of all The Beautiful Gypsies rather than the focus being on him. I have found the development from Alan Doyle the solo artist to Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies member really interesting.

As with all the other projects that Alan Doyle has done and shared on social media, I have collected a few posts here mostly for my own interest and own record. This post is divided into two parts, the first part is the lead up to the recording of the album and the second part is the recording of the album and completion. I have also included a post of Alan making the announcement he was working with Bob Rock posted late last year on his official Twitter account.

The posts are from the official Instagram and Twitter accounts of Alan Doyle, Cory Tetford and Todd Lumley. No copyright infringement intended.