Hal An Tow
Hal An Tow was a folk group that took its name from a song of the
same title,
celebrating an ancient summer festival in Cornwall, England. The group,
formed by members of the Saint John (N.B.) Folk Club, performed the
traditional dance music, airs and songs of England, Ireland, Scotland
and North America, as well as original and other contemporary works in
the folk idiom. Hal An
Tow were described by CBC Radio as "stalwarts" of the
East Coast music scene. For thirty years, their
travels took them from numerous concert stages in the Maritimes
to such distant venues as Yellowknife and Ottawa. Their music has been
featured on both national and international radio, television, video
productions, and the theatrical stage. Individually or collectively,
their music has won wide acclaim, including awards for the song Lunenburg Lady and
the folk opera The
Marco Polo Suite. Throughout the years, the band included a fourth member: Steve Sellors, Becky Bourdage, and Barbara Ann Quigley.
The band was dissolved in 2009 with the untimely passing of founding member John Murphy. John was a true Renaissance Man -- singer, musician, painter, printmaker, actor, set designer, human rights activist, and community organizer. His vision, commitment and compassion have been inspirational to a great many people, and he is truly missed.
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