Sobriety suits Séan McCann. The founder of the iconic Canadian band, Great Big Sea, has been through the fire struggling with alcoholism and addiction. But he’s come out stronger forging a path grounded in family strength.
“I’m 12 years sober and I no longer see myself as a victim. I still credit music as the medicine I needed. But like most addicts, I want to prevent others going down this path,” said McCann who performs a low-key solo concert at the Arden Theatre on Friday, April 28.
As the pride of Newfoundland, Great Big Sea was one of the biggest acts that came out of the island province. Known for performing rock interpretations of traditional folk songs including sea shanties, the energetic folk-rock outfit became one of the most successful party bands across Canada.
“Our songs were successful because they were very singable. We were very good at writing anthems,” McCann said.
Invited to play in every corner of the country, the band performed up to 300 concerts a year. As a singer and major co-writer along with Alan Doyle, McCann was under intense pressure to produce.
But the singer-songwriter was shielding a painful secret. Raised in a strict Catholic family, he survived sexual abuse. The shame of abuse coupled with Great Big Sea’s wild success performing in venues flowing with beer and spirits were the perfect recipe for alcoholism to thrive.
“We were Canada’s favourite party band, and we sang drinking songs every night. It was a good place to ignore my problems. I would just get drunk. It was a haven for me coming out of sexual abuse. I could hide from my problems,” said McCann speaking candidly about his past.
Two years before leaving Great Big Sea in 2013 following his 20th anniversary, McCann cleaned up.
“Staying in the band for me as a sober person was a trigger. But I’m better now and it doesn’t unleash the same emotions. I don’t perform in breweries or bars. I like to perform in halls and places like the Arden Theatre, and I go full tilt.”
In tandem with his wife, Andrea Aragon, the couple wrote One Good Reason, a deeply personal memoir of their complex struggles with addiction. For the singer-writer, it become a rallying cry for cherishing loved ones, finding courage to help yourself and adopting music as medicine.
In 2020, the Ontario-based performer received the Order of Canada for philanthropic work and advocacy helping people living with mental health and addiction issues.
Sheldon Kennedy, former NHL hockey player and founder of Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy wrote this about McCann.
“Séan is such an inspiring individual with his unique ability to reach each of us through his music. I see that as a gift. I admire his courage and also knowing that to be able to help others, we must be strong ourselves. Séan sincerely connects with people by speaking the truth and I am so grateful for our friendship.”
The only friend McCann will bring to the Arden concert is Old Brown, a guitar he used to write his first song and play Great Big Sea’s multi-million-dollar albums.
“He’s my best friend. I owe him a lot. After I quit drinking, the phone stopped ringing real fast. But Old Brown was there. When I needed a friend, Old Brown was there. He stuck by me to a future that was unknown.”
Although McCann has shed his crazy party band image, he still sings Great Big Sea's anthems.
“The songs I’ve picked for the tour are just to prove peace can be achieved. There's a lot of negativity in the world right now, and I’m opposite to that. I want to steer away from the overtly drinking songs. But a lot are good, uplifting, singable songs in the tradition of Newfoundland folklore. They’re upbeat even when they deal with disasters. It seems to be part of the Newfoundland spirit to sing about hardships.”
The Friday concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Arden Theatre. Tickets are $40 and are available at 780-459-1542 or online at tickets.stalbert.ca.
