The Grey Cup is the biggest home-grown sporting event in Canada.
So, it's natural one of Canadian music's most popular bands would want to throw one of the biggest parties.
"When people are looking to have a party and to have fun, they look to Great Big Sea," says Bob Hallett, a founding member of the Newfoundland celtic pop group.
"We have a certain aptitude for these things."
Great Big Sea is headlining tonight's Grey Cup Gala at the Saddledome and Hallett says fans can expect a rousing performance.
"There's going to be a bit of everything," he says. "It's going to be all about entertaining the people who are there to celebrate The Grey Cup. There'll be none of the serious ballads off the latest record."
Not that there is anything wrong with Great Big Sea's slower tunes, but Hallett realizes many of the football fans who have descended upon Calgary this weekend have travelled hundreds, if not thousands of miles to take in the Grey Cup.
And they want to party.
"We're known to produce a certain atmosphere," Hallett says with a laugh.
"And we're aware people are paying money and travelling from miles away to see the show.
"We want to provide an exciting soundtrack to a great party."
Hallett admits he's not entirely well-versed in football, explaining the CFL is not as popular in Newfoundland as hockey, soccer or rugby.
But he says he wouldn't mind seeing the Alouettes take the cup on Sunday.
"Purely for sentimental reasons," he says.
"It's a tough choice."
Toronto R&B diva Divine Brown remained impartial about her choice, saying, "may the best team win."
The singer will also take the stage at tonight's gala concert, which begins at 7 p.m.
She joins Canadian country star George Canyon, Russian-born jazz chanteuse Sophie Milman and classical quartet The Four Tenors.
"I was totally interested in playing the Grey Cup," says Brown, whose latest CD, The Love Chronicles won a Juno this year for best R&B/Soul recording.
"It's such a huge thing in Canada."
In addition to the gala concert, Stephen Avenue will again be alive with the sound of music between 1 and 6 p.m., with performances by local acts Random Task Collective, Madcowboys, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald and more.
LISA.WILTON@SUNMEDIA.CA
