GREAT BIG SEA Mere bus accident won't prevent show

[StoneMtn]

[color:brown]That's right; Canadian musicians are tough...

Great Big Sea in bus crash

Feb. 9, 2006. 05:23 PM

CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER — A tour bus carrying members of the band Great Big Sea ended up on its side today after its driver pulled over to avoid stopped traffic on a highway outside the city.

The musicians weren’t hurt in the accident, shook off the scare and are ready to perform in Vancouver tonight, said their concert promoter, House of Blues.

“It’s all good, everyone’s OK. They’re good hearty people. The show’s going on,†said general manager Paul Haagenson of House of Blues.

Great Big Sea’s tour bus was travelling on the Trans-Canada Highway from Calgary when it went off the road near Abbotsford, about 80 kilometres east of Vancouver.

“In an attempt to avoid a collision with a line of cars stopped on the highway the driver moved to the shoulder of the road,†the band’s Halifax-based manager, Louis Thomas, said in a statement.

“Once the bus had come to a full stop, it tipped.â€

It was clear and bright when the accident happened at mid-day today. CTV showed video of the bus on its side in a ditch and reported that it had turned over after sinking into soft ground.

Thomas said the despite the accident, Great Big Sea wanted to perform.

“Everyone is OK and the priority is to make the show happen in Vancouver tonight. The band is looking forward to playing in the concert tonight,†he said.

The band declined an interview request about the accident.

A police spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.

The five-piece band from St. John’s made their debut in 1993 with a self-titled album.

Great Big Sea is Celtic folk-pop band known for their foot-stomping original songs. They have been nominated for a number of Junos.

Article here.