Séan McCann (born 22 May 1967) is a Canadian singer and musician (playing bodhran, shakers, tin whistle and guitar) who formerly played with
Great Big Sea
Great Big Sea was a Canadian folk rock band from Newfoundland and Labrador, best known for performing energetic rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year Irish, Scott ...
, a band he co-founded. He announced plans to stop touring with the group at the end of December 2013.
After exiting Great Big Sea, McCann publicly revealed a secret past in which he used alcohol to mask the pain of sexual abuse by a priest. His fifth solo album was titled ''There's a Place''.
Early life
He was born to Anita and Edward McCann. His mother was born in Northern Bay and his father in Gull Island. When he was a child, his family moved to St. John's. He was raised
Roman Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
. He is married and has 2 sons. He now lives in
Manotick
Manotick ( ) is a community in Rideau-Jock Ward in the rural south part of the City of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is a commuter town, suburb of the city, located on the Rideau River, immediately south of the suburbs Barrhaven, Ontario, B ...
, a suburb of
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...
, Ontario.
Career
McCann has released 5 solo works (''Lullabies for Bloodshot Eyes'', ''Son of a Sailor'', ''Help Your Self'', ''You Know I Love You'', and ''There's a Place'').
In June 2016, McCann released the folk song "Proud (To Be a Canadian)" for free online in partnership with the
Canadian Red Cross
The Canadian Red Cross Society ()Fort McMurray wildfires. McCann told The Canadian Press that his feelings of despair over the disaster led him to write the lyrics. Once he was finished he contacted fellow musician Jeremy Fisher to help him in the studio.
In November 2017, McCann organized a benefit songwriter's circle at the Algonquin Commons Theatre in
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...
with his friends
Joel Plaskett
William Joel MacDonald Plaskett (born April 18, 1975) is a Canadian rock musician and songwriter based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was a member of Halifax alternative rock band Thrush Hermit in the 1990s. Plaskett performs in a number of gen ...
,
Sarah Harmer
Sarah Lois Harmer (born November 12, 1970) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and environmental activist.
Early life
Born and raised in Burlington, Ontario, Harmer gained her first exposure to the musical lifestyle as a teenager, when her older s ...
, and Jeremy Fisher to raise money to purchase guitars for veterans suffering with
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that develops from experiencing a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, warfare and its associated traumas, natural disaster, traffic collision, ...
and other mental-health issues.
He was awarded the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...
in 2019. His memoir ''One Good Reason: A Memoir of Addiction and Recovery, Music and Love'', was released in 2020.
Albums
* ''Lullabies for the Bloodshot Eyes'' (2010)
* ''Son of a Sailor'' (2011)
* ''Help Your Self'' (2014)
* ''You Know I Love You'' (2015)
* ''There's a Place'' (2017)
* ''Shantyman'' (2021)
* ''Great Big Songbook: Live in Ottawa 2023'' (2023)