The Pub Boys launched their first CD at Sydney’s Cedars’ Club this summer, and they are returning to that hallowed venue for a holiday show on Wednesday, December 28.
“Well at the risk of seeming ostentatious, it really has been fan driven,” says Shawn Bigley, who plays the bouzaki, bodhran, and mandolin in the band as well a writing some of the original tunes on their CD. “Stemming from (the reaction to our CD release party in June) we’ve had several requests to do the same type of show again. We have lots of friends and family that call this Island home but for various reasons can’t live here year round. A large chunk of them do get home for the holidays and want to see us play so it seemed to us to be the perfect show at the perfect time.”
Along with the Pub Boys, the show features singer/songwriter Wally MacAulay and Will’s Addiction, and starts at 8 pm. The event is for those 19 years and older, tickets are $7 and are available from their Facebook page and at the door.
Bigley says about their guest artists, “We asked Wally MacAulay and Will’s Addiction to give a hand and they were both gracious enough to say yes.”
“For sure there is no shortage of people we could choose from for this show but for us the choices were rather easy,” he adds. “All of us in The Pub Boys have been big fans of Wally’s for years so the opportunity to share the stage with him has us very excited. Will’s Addiction are good friends of ours and any chance we get to play together we jump at. Wally has also agreed to be our MC for the evening. We feel that the musical styles of all the performers will blend and compliment each other to produce a very good show.”
Since the launch of their CD in the summer, Bigley says the feedback has been very positive and sales have continued very strong since its release.
“We’ve have attracted attention from literally all over the world, as far away as Australia and Europe thanks to the power of the internet,” Bigley explains. “Also right across Canada and down through the States. We’ve been lucky enough to have received airplay from most of the local stations including our sponsor The Coast 89.7. It is on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon and several other digital music retailers. This style of music seems to resonate with people everywhere.”
“Locally the CD is available in Glace Bay at Arlie’s, The Coast Radio Station and the KOC,” he adds. “In Sydney it’s for sale at the Curiosity Sydney and the CB Shoppe, as well as at Charlie’s Music Store in Cheticamp. On the isle of Arichat it’s available at Jeantie’s Minimart and in Halifax at Concepts School of Cosmetology. Of course it’s also available at any of our shows.”
Bigley says the Pub Boys have several shows booked already for 2012 including a big St Patrick’s Day show at the Irish Hall in Rocky Bay. They are also hoping to play a few festivals this year and looking at another CD project, perhaps a live one this time.
“So we are very excited about what is coming up both known and unknown,” Bigley says.
ALLAN MCNEIL says
the next time I`m in town I` ll pick up a CD ,