City and Colour, Great Big Sea to Play 2011 Canada games

HRM Release:
Christmas is coming early for music fans this year. As a thank you to Halifax for their support of the 2011 Canada Games, the Host Society announced today, Dec. 21, two more artists to play free concerts in Celebration Square.

Award winning recording artists Great Big Sea, from Newfoundland and Labrador, will rock the Games' halftime show on Feb. 19, while Canadian artist City and Colour will provide a final thank you to Haligonians and Games volunteers on Feb. 26.

"We're so happy to bring in these two great acts as a thank you to the people of HRM," said Chris Morrissey, 2011 Games CEO. "City and Colour is a critically acclaimed live act whose style and influence will fit in perfectly in Halifax and Great Big Sea is a fan-favourite guaranteed to give the volunteers the boost they need mid-Games."

The acts are in addition to the nightly performances that will take place on a nightly basis during the Games in Celebration Square. The Stanfields, Matt Mays, and Christina Martin have already been named as headliners for three of the ten performances. The remaining artists will be named in the new year.

Juno Award winning, City and Colour (Dallas Green) has been garnering praise and recognition the world over and more recently sold out London's legendary Royal Albert Hall. City and Colour's sophomore release Bring Me Your Love (2008) debuted at no. 2 on the Top 200 Soundscan chart in Canada. The album is certified platinum in Canada, and the popularity of Gold-selling single Sleeping Sickness helped garner City and Colour Songwriter of the year at the 2009 JUNO awards.

Halifax based singer-songwriter Amelia Curran will open for City and Colour.

Great Big Sea have been rocking Newfoundland folk music and creating original material of their own for more than 17 years. Building on a hard working approach to touring and performing, Great Big Sea has built audiences across Canada and North America.