• Two of Newfoundland’s finest storytellers and entertainers come together Oct. 26 for one unforgettable night at Harmony Hall.
  • Mike Sixonate and Arthur O’Brien are teaming up for their first-ever Ontario tour together after 20 years as colleagues on Newfoundland’s music scene.
  • The evening promises a traditional Newfoundland kitchen party feel, with music, stories, humour, audience interaction, and plenty of East Coast charm.
  • The 90-minute show will feature a mix of solo and collaborative performances, with musician Michael O’Grady adding whistle and accordion.
  • “Any expat Newfoundlanders will feel just like they’re at home, and anybody who wishes they could go to Newfoundland will be transported for a couple hours,” Sixonate said.

 

Two of Newfoundland and Labrador’s best-known storytellers and songwriters are bringing a taste of the East Coast to Stouffville.

Arthur O’Brien, a founding member of the iconic Newfoundland folk band The Navigators, and fellow Newfoundland entertainer Mike Sixonate will take the stage at Harmony Hall for an evening of music, stories, and laughter on Monday, Oct. 26.

For Sixonate, the show marks a special opportunity to perform alongside a longtime colleague. “If anybody has ever been to Newfoundland, they have definitely seen Arthur O’Brien or heard his songs from The Navigators,” he said. “He is an absolute staple. So I’m excited to play with him.”

The Ontario run is the first time the two have toured together outside Newfoundland and Labrador.

“We’ve been colleagues for 20 years, but this is our first time doing a stint of shows outside of the province,” Sixonate said. “It’s going to be a good old Down East time.”

The evening will feature a blend of solo performances and collaborative moments, with musician Michael O’Grady joining the lineup on whistle and accordion.

“Arthur is a brilliant musician, and he’s going to bring some of the more foot-stomping Newfoundland favourites, and I myself am a songwriter and a storyteller,” Sixonate said.

Sixonate’s material draws heavily from his home province. “I sing a lot of songs about Newfoundland and about the people, the culture, and the beautiful scenery,” he said, adding that the performance promises a strong sense of Newfoundland hospitality.

“Any expat Newfoundlanders will feel just like they’re at home, and anybody who wishes they could go to Newfoundland will be transported for a couple hours.”

The Harmony Hall performance is one stop on a short Ontario tour that includes shows in Toronto, Cambridge, and Hamilton. According to Sixonate, the tour came together in a remarkably simple way.

“I called Arthur one day and said, ‘Arthur, do you want to play some shows in Ontario?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ Then I was like, ‘Okay, well, I guess I’ve got to book some shows in Ontario.’”

When he started looking for venues, Harmony Hall quickly stood out.

“I had a look at some of the pictures and saw some of the artists that have come through,” he said. “I said, ‘Wow, this seems like a great fit.’”

Tickets remain available for the 90-minute show. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show beginning at 8 p.m. Advance tickets are $25, or $35 at the door.

Organizers promise an evening of Newfoundland music, storytelling, humour, familiar favourites, and the feeling of being welcomed into a traditional Newfoundland kitchen party.