Alan Doyle, one of Canada’s best-known musicians both for his solo work and as front man with million-selling former folk-pop group Great Big Sea, returns to the UK for the first time in seven years to perform a free show at the Canada Day celebrations in London’s Trafalgar Square on June 30.
Extolled for his high energy live shows, Doyle is guaranteed to ignite the party for the thousands of fans expected in the capital to salute the rich music and culture of Canada.
Doyle’s latest release Welcome Home is his fourth full-length solo studio album and twentieth overall including the catalogue he created with his acclaimed group Great Big Sea.
Whilst retaining Doyle’s signature touches, Welcome Home holds a few surprises including co-writes with an East Coast country-folk king (Jimmy Rankin), a country-roots hipster (Donovan Woods) and a cast member of Star Wars (Oscar Isaac). The album also contains one of the first tunes Doyle ever penned. Most notably perhaps, alongside the fiercely rollicking party tracks he is known for, Welcome Home also boasts some ballads: full-stop, heart-on-sleeve love songs.
“This is the most personal and understated record I’ve ever done,” Doyle confirms with typical candour. “I have always struggled with the middle ground. I love playing live so much and I have been rightly accused of writing songs more for concerts than albums. Most people who come to my shows want that kind of night out. So, I have overlooked the lower and slower: the lower part of my vocal range and the slower songs. I’m letting myself do that for the first time on this record.”
Alan Doyle hails from Petty Harbour, Newfoundland. As well as his acclaimed solo work and his time with one of Canada’s best-loved and most successful bands, Great Big Sea, Doyle’s CV lists marquee credits as a film and television actor, producer, and best-selling author of three non-fiction titles.
Among his movie credits is Robin Hood, the 2010 release starring the singer’s pal and sometime musical collaborator Russell Crowe. It was on that set that Doyle met Oscar Isaac who co-wrote the toweringly melodic, wistful “Best I Never Had” for Welcome Home.
While he may not have put Newfoundland on the musical map — that honour goes to the late Ron Hynes — Doyle and his Great Big Sea cohorts did help raise the world’s consciousness to the uniquely vibrant traditional sounds and storytelling culture of the island and its mainland region, Labrador. A mission that he proudly continues today.
Extolled for his high energy live shows, Doyle is guaranteed to ignite the party for the thousands of fans expected in the capital to salute the rich music and culture of Canada.
Doyle’s latest release Welcome Home is his fourth full-length solo studio album and twentieth overall including the catalogue he created with his acclaimed group Great Big Sea.
Whilst retaining Doyle’s signature touches, Welcome Home holds a few surprises including co-writes with an East Coast country-folk king (Jimmy Rankin), a country-roots hipster (Donovan Woods) and a cast member of Star Wars (Oscar Isaac). The album also contains one of the first tunes Doyle ever penned. Most notably perhaps, alongside the fiercely rollicking party tracks he is known for, Welcome Home also boasts some ballads: full-stop, heart-on-sleeve love songs.
“This is the most personal and understated record I’ve ever done,” Doyle confirms with typical candour. “I have always struggled with the middle ground. I love playing live so much and I have been rightly accused of writing songs more for concerts than albums. Most people who come to my shows want that kind of night out. So, I have overlooked the lower and slower: the lower part of my vocal range and the slower songs. I’m letting myself do that for the first time on this record.”
Alan Doyle hails from Petty Harbour, Newfoundland. As well as his acclaimed solo work and his time with one of Canada’s best-loved and most successful bands, Great Big Sea, Doyle’s CV lists marquee credits as a film and television actor, producer, and best-selling author of three non-fiction titles.
Among his movie credits is Robin Hood, the 2010 release starring the singer’s pal and sometime musical collaborator Russell Crowe. It was on that set that Doyle met Oscar Isaac who co-wrote the toweringly melodic, wistful “Best I Never Had” for Welcome Home.
While he may not have put Newfoundland on the musical map — that honour goes to the late Ron Hynes — Doyle and his Great Big Sea cohorts did help raise the world’s consciousness to the uniquely vibrant traditional sounds and storytelling culture of the island and its mainland region, Labrador. A mission that he proudly continues today.
