Séan McCann, the cherished Canadian singer-songwriter and founding member of Great Big Sea, has announced a heartfelt and ambitious coast-to-coast tour for 2025—“The Great Big Canadian Road Trip: One Man. One Guitar. One Country.” This isn’t just another musical journey; it’s a statement of values, a celebration of Canadian unity, and a powerful stand for connection over chaos.
McCann, who was awarded the Order of Canada, is taking a firm step away from traditional touring norms. Amid tightening U.S. visa rules, rising costs, and recent cultural backlash faced by artists avoiding the U.S., McCann is focusing all his energy on Canada. Instead of lamenting challenges abroad, he’s embracing the opportunity to deepen his bond with the people of his own country.
“I LOVE Americans!” McCann stated. “I love them so much that I even married one, but I won’t return to the states until the current president is gone and our neighbours change their angry tone. In the meantime, I believe that Canada needs a little more singing, and a little less shouting.”
The Great Big Canadian Road Trip is more than a tour—it’s a cross-country journey into the heart of Canadian communities. With only his acoustic guitar, heartfelt voice, and a catalogue of songs that resonate with hope and healing, McCann is traveling from Sudbury to Victoria and countless places in between. His mission is simple yet profound: bring music to the people who need it most, in the places that often go unheard.
This isn’t about sold-out arenas or luxury tour buses. McCann will perform in parking lots, prayer halls, libraries, and legion halls—places where community still thrives and music remains a powerful connector. These are spaces where songs aren’t just heard—they’re shared, sung along with, and lived.
Though he first rose to fame with the rousing folk-rock sound of Great Big Sea, McCann’s solo career has been deeply personal and purpose-driven. He now sings about mental health, recovery, and resilience, using his own life experiences to connect with others in meaningful ways.
“Music is medicine,” McCann says. “And we all need a dose right now.”
Beyond entertainment, this tour is also a declaration of McCann’s artistic and personal independence. It marks a break from the American-centric music industry and an embrace of a quieter, more authentic road. He’s choosing community halls over corporate stages, substance over spectacle.
“The Great Big Canadian Road Trip” is not defined by distance, though the journey will span over 10,000 kilometres. Rather, it’s defined by its spirit—a mission to rediscover and reconnect with the soul of Canada. From Kamloops to Kenora, McCann aims to amplify the stories of everyday Canadians and to affirm that their voices matter.
In a world that feels increasingly divided and dissonant, McCann is on a mission to bring harmony—one song, one stop, one story at a time. His road trip is a call to unity, a reminder that in singing together, Canadians can find strength, healing, and hope.
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