CORNWALL, Ontario – If Sean McCann is still alive, he’ll be in Cornwall in a few days to perform at Aultsville Theatre.
You see MacCann, a founding member of Great Big Sea who now performs solo, is moving to Manotick…and he hates it.
Not Manotick, of course, just the physical act of settling into a new home.
“They say whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” he said with a laugh. “If this doesn’t kill me, I’ll be in Cornwall.”
Let’s hope he makes it.
McCann and Cornwall’s Graham Greer, frontman for The Barstool Prophets, are getting together for a show at Aultsville Theatre Sept. 19.
‘A Night of Song’ will feature tracks from McCann’s new album ‘You Know I Love You’ – a happy collection of songs sung by a man intent on sharing his joy directly with the audience.
He’s even published a songbook so that members of the audience with a copy can sing along with him.
McCann, laughing again, concedes it’s almost like going to church – without the pomp and circumstance.
“My goal at every show is to get people singing,” he said. “I believe strongly that it is good medicine.”
Indeed. ‘You Know I Love You’ follows ‘Help Your Self’ – a CD that described through music and lyrics his battle with alcoholism.
“I find myself in better place now,” McCann said.
His connection with Greer and other Canadian artists goes back nearly 20 years to when a myriad of other bands from the north were signing record deals.
“Graham is the guy who gets it,” McCann said. “I remember as a band we would listen to those songs from other bands, like Barstool Prophets, Spirit of the West and the Headstones.
“We were fans.”
Tickets ($25) for the Sept. 19 show can be purchased at admission.com, the Cornwall Civic Complex box office or at the door, subject to availability.
