Doors 6pm, Music 7:30pm

Live in the Upstairs Listening Room at Abilene Bar and Lounge

Sean McCann—The SHANTYMAN Sings for Abilene

A lot has happened in the almost 10 years since Séan McCann exited the Canadian folk rock arena filling GREAT BIG SEA he co-founded in 1993. He’s released five successful solo albums touching on a range of subjects from Canadian life and culture to spotlighting national hardships like the infamous 2016 wildfires that devastated Fort McMurray, Alberta, in which he partnered with the Canadian Red Cross. A philanthropist as much as he is an artist, McCann also organized a songwriters’ benefit in 2017 in support of veterans suffering with PTSD and addiction. In recognition of these efforts and his other advocacy work for people living with mental health and addiction issues, McCann earned the Order of Canada in 2020. McCann’s own battle with overcoming alcohol addiction, coming clean and owning his truth has been key to his growth as a husband, a father, a musician, and a human. Armed with the strength and support of his wife, Andrea Aragon, McCann co-penned his first book One Good Reason (April, 2020). “It’s the story of how love saved their marriage, and music saved his life. It is the story of a man freed from the weight of a lie; a man who is changing his narrative and never forgetting... that he is not alone.” McCann has shared his powerful and inspiring personal story and songs with audiences all across North America over the past decade as a solo performer and musical keynote speaker. As the concert trail is opening up again as pandemic restrictions loosen, McCann continues to do what loves best, write and perform songs and share stories accompanied by his best friend “Old Brown” - the first guitar he purchased back in 1989. These days, the only “wave” most of us care to hear about is the kind that lands on a sandy shore or carries a boat safely to its destination. McCann’s sixth solo album, SHANTYMAN, proves that a 200-year-old, traditional sea shanty and a modern, new wave pop song can really be just a whistle apart stylistically. Infectious (in a good way) sing-alongs from an album brimming with them, SHANTYMAN honours both the recent and the ancient musical past by blending two of McCann’s favourite genres in foot stompers guaranteed to lift spirits after the many months we’ve all spent largely in lonely isolation.

Séan McCann (seanmccannsings.com)

Tickets: $30 (very limited) and on sale online now at www.abilenebarandlounge.com