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Great Big Sea
The Patio
Tuesday, March 30

About 2,400 miles to the north and east of Indianapolis sits the city of St. John’s, nestled next to jagged cliffs that plunge into the icy North Atlantic.
St. John’s is also the home of Bob Hallett, a multitalented instrumentalist and founding member of Great Big Sea, a band that, over the last dozen or so years, has melted the divisions between Newfie folk, Celtic punk rock and American pop music.

And Hallett, like the other two original band members — Alan Doyle and Sean McCann — is fiercely devoted to the enigmatic island and the culture that continues to nurture the band, both artistically and spiritually.

“For most people in America, their experience with Newfoundland is The Shipping News,” he says, “and that’s a pretty fucked up way to look at Newfoundland.”

On March 30, Great Big Sea arrives at the Patio for the band’s first-ever show in Indy. The three original members are joined by two newcomers, bassist Murray Foster and drummer Kris McFarlane, who helped give the group’s eighth album (and third for Rounder Records) a definite rock ’n’ roll feel. The CD also includes 10 original compositions, the most of any Great Big Sea disc so far.