Lucy MacNeil

Lucy MacNeil, born October 24, 1968, is a renowned Canadian Cape Breton folk musician and the younger sister in the Barra MacNeils, comprised of brothers Sheumas, Kyle, Stewart, and younger sister Lucy. Growing up in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton, the MacNeils were very fortunate to be immersed in Cape Breton traditional music at a tender age, with their home often being the setting where musicians, whether they were fiddlers, singers, or piano players, would drop in. Each of the MacNeil children began formally studying music at age six, and Lucy began performing professionally with three of her older brothers when she was just 10. For 35 years, she and her brothers have toured the world as the Barra MacNeils, selling countless albums, performing sold-out concerts, and winning numerous awards. Lucy MacNeil was almost 16 when their debut recording, The Barra MacNeils, premiered in 1986. Alongside her brothers, she has shared the stage with icons like Celine Dion, Kenny Rogers, and Rita MacNeil. Lucy performs vocals, bodhran, Celtic harp, viola, and violin. In 2015, Lucy was one of the artists in residence for the Celtic Colours International Music Festival, where she was paired with Liz Doherty from Buncrana, Ireland. Her first solo album Angels Whisper came as a result of a five-song EP Lucy and her husband Rob Durando put together for their wedding guests in 2017. During the pandemic, Lucy started working on a solo album, something she had long wanted to do but time never presented itself, finally showcasing her individual artistry while honoring her Cape Breton heritage.

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