This December, Nova Scotia singer-songwriter Ria Mae & The Big Sing are bringing people together for a holiday singalong. For close to 10 years, the Halifax-based group has transformed audiences into a three-part harmony choirs who learn iconic hits from the past 50 years. Rachael Delano is one of the members of the Big Sing team and says anyone can attend their events. “The event happens the second Tuesday of every month and no experience necessary. We just want people to come and sing and have a good time,” she told CTV Your Morning Atlantic’s Crystal Garrett. “It is meant for singers, but it is also meant for people who didn’t grow up singing and maybe didn’t have a space where they felt comfortable to.” Ria Mae says when she first got invited to the event, she didn’t know what to expect. “When I got there, I was sold. It’s a community event and I said we need to do more and that’s how we came up with the idea of some holiday shows.” The upcoming Big Holiday Sing consists of three shows with 100 per cent of the profits being donated to Feed Nova Scotia. “Two of them are a Big Sing and Ria Mae collative sing along. Some of my stuff and a lot of Christmas stuff. Then we have a little sing for kids,” she said. “Families just want to come out and have fun so we will have the little sing in the middle of the day. Delano says she thinks there is something really special about the Big Sing. “Shared vulnerability. I think there is something really special with being brave and singing in a way that you might not want anyone else to hear but you’re doing it anyway,” she said. “There is just an energy being with a bunch of people in a room having fun and being silly. In this day in age when everything is so online it brings me such joy,” said Mae. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
