RITA MACNEIL BRINGS THE OLD AND NEW TO TH'YARC

At a point in her career when there was nothing left for her to do as
a musician, Rita MacNeil did the only logical thing someone in her
position could -- she harvested weed with the Trailer Park Boys.

MacNeil laughs when asked about the now legendary episode of the
popular TV show where the boys hijack her tour bus and force MacNeil
and her band to help them pick their crop. In the show, MacNeil
happily picks five-foot tall marijuana plants while singing her
trademark, Working Man.

In a phone interview just before she headed back out on tour, MacNeil
- -- who will play Th'YARC on May 10 -- said the appearance was about
trying something new and keeping things interesting.

"When they first approached me I thought, 'Oh, this is crazy' . . .
But they sent me the script and when I read the script I just couldn't
believe it. I said, 'this is funny. I cannot pass this up.'"

The out-of-character move brought MacNeil a lot of attention. The show
makes a point of having well-regarded Canadian musicians guest star
and she was glad for the opportunity.

"I got a lot of great comments and people that probably never thought
I would be up to doing something like that were a little surprised and
absolutely pleased that I went for it and had a good time doing it.

"It was great that they wanted to play this sort of
joke."

Much has changed for MacNeil since she started touring more than 30
years ago, yet much remains the same.

"When I first started out . . . it was at folk festivals and that sort
of thing," she says.

It's been some time since MacNeil has had to play a pub or worry about
people coming to her shows. But she said her interest in and passion
for what she does hasn't wavered during her long career.

"I think music is my passion, it's what I love. I think if you love
whatever you're doing, then therein lies the interest. No matter what
you're doing, if that's what you want to be doing then it's great to
enjoy it and keep it all going."

In some ways this tour gets back to the early days for MacNeil. The
tour, which she dubs An Intimate Evening with Rita MacNeil, features
the Cape Breton songstress backed by a trio. She'll be playing songs
from her new album, Songs My Mother Loves, as well as favourites from
her catalogue.

But even with familiar tunes, MacNeil says every show is different.
After playing for crowds around the world for all these years there
are still new things in every show, she says.

"There's lots of spontaneity within a show . . . Just being there and
sharing your words with a new audience every night -- you never know
what will happen.

"I'm just fortunate enough to have written songs that are still being
requested and that still have meaning and connect with people -- it's
all about the connection."