As far back as the 16th century, the South East of Ireland has had a strong bond with the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, based on the shared history of the two places. Many emigrants departed from counties Waterford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, and Wexford, as well as from the coast of Cork, in search of a new land and a new life.
This connection caught the attention of an up and coming band based in South East Ireland, back in 2013. At the time, the then nameless group were searching for a name that represented the history of the place they called ‘home’, as well as something to depict the ‘traditional meets contemporary’ nature of the band.
They named the band ‘Newfoundland’, after a place that represented just how far the Irish diaspora reached. A place where you could easily mistake a local accent for one from the South East of Ireland.
It wasn’t long before the band started to show up on the radar of the Newfoundland locals, some of whom reached out to the band, curious about where the name came from. By then, the band were traveling outside of Ireland to play around Europe, and when the call came to invite the group to play in their namesake province, they jumped at the chance.
In May 2017, Newfoundland (the band) arrived in Newfoundland (the island) for a 12 show tour, and were overwhelmed with the response, as word got to the band of some sold out shows across the island. Playing to packed houses between St. John’s and Norris Point with many highlights along the way, the group got an extremely warm welcome from locals, enjoying the friendliness of a place that felt like home.
Their then fiddle player, Rowan Sherlock, fell in love with the place and eventually traded one Newfoundland for the other, uprooting and moving to the island where he currently resides.
This coming August, Newfoundland return to the island of Newfoundland, for a three week tour, stopping at Twillingate, Bonne Bay, Stephenville, Corner Brook, Burlington, Marystown, Eastport, Bay Bulls, Bonavista and St. John’s. The band will be joined on certain nights by such great Newfoundland acts as D’Arcy Broderick, The Celtic Fiddlers, Jeff Pittman, Mike Sixonate and Ronnie Power. Fiddle player, Rowan Sherlock also reunites with the band for the entire tour!
Full details of the tour are on the band’s official website: www.newfoundlandtheband.com
Come and be part of this great ongoing connection between two beautiful places. Yes b’y!
The Arts & Culture Centre is proud to host Newfoundland the band, in Stephenville on Saturday, August 18 and in Corner Brook on Wednesday August 22, 2018. Tickets are $25 each and are on sale now at the box officewww.artsandculturecentre.com.
*Press Release Courtesy of Arts and Culture Centre