Ennis Sisters Set to Return to Perth

Ennis Sisters Set to Return to Perth - theHumm November 2016

Following their highly successful appearance at this year’s Stewart Park Festival, Newfoundland’s Ennis Sisters are set to bring their traditional musical stylings back to Perth just in time for the holiday season.

The Ennis Sisters were born and raised on Irish Newfoundland tunes. While their father is a button accordion player, their mother grew up on the southern shore of the Avalon, surrounded by music.

Throughout the sisters’ childhood, if their parents weren’t making music, it was coming through the radio — particularly the Irish radio shows that aired on Saturday and Sunday mornings. There was no escaping the traditional music all around them.

“When we first began singing for an audience, these were the songs we sang. It’s what came easiest and most naturally, and it still does,” says Karen Ennis.

Some say it’s in their bones to sing, that their voices reflect the very strength of the Atlantic itself. “That’s all we knew growing up,” echoes Maureen Ennis. “Newfoundland is a unique province, and because of this we have a different perspective of our surroundings.”

With many accolades — a Juno Award, SOCAN Award and multiple East Coast Music Awards — the Ennis Sisters, comprised of Maureen, Teresa and Karen, are world-renowned singers, as well as gifted musicians. Maureen, the oldest, is a guitarist and songwriter. Middle-born Karen plays both the tin whistle and flute and does step dancing, while the youngest of the trio, Teresa, also step dances, as well as playing the bodhran.

This past summer the sisters wowed the crowds at Perth’s Stewart Park Festival with their beautiful harmonies and powerful voices. Now they are set to return to Perth with their East Coast Christmas Show, on a tour that will take them across Canada before returning to their home province.

The Christmas tour has become an annual event for the Ennis Sisters ever since their sophomore album Christmas on Ennis Road landed them their own Christmas special on CBC television.

A subsequent album, It’s Christmas, earned them Celtic/Traditional Music group of the Year at the Music Newfoundland Awards. Their song I’ll Be There Christmas Eve continues to receive widespread airplay throughout the season.

This show consists of the sisters singing songs from their two Christmas albums, along with traditional holiday songs interspersed with stories of Christmas past and present, all served with healthy doses of humour and traditional Irish dancing. There will be no finer way to kick off this year’s season!

As in previous years, a portion of the revenue raised at each performance during their tour will be donated back to the community. In Perth, some proceeds from the show will go towards the Stewart Park Festival, the much-loved free festival held each July.

“It’s a great feeling knowing we’re helping to make a difference to communities across the province, especially this time of year,” explains Karen Ennis. “It’s always amazing to see people come together in the true spirit of Christmas.”

The family-friendly East Coast Christmas Show will take place in Perth at 7:30pm on November 24 in St. Paul’s United Church where the superb acoustics will, no doubt, be sure to welcome the sisters’ soaring harmonies.

Tickets are $25 plus taxes and ticket fee, and are available at ticketsplease.ca , the Visitor Centre in the Perth Museum, or by phoning 485–6434. Children under twelve are free.

You won’t want to miss this wonderful way to greet the holiday season!

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