2008

  • February: Three sold-out shows at The Music Room Theatre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Music and Story of The Beatles.
  • February: 25 shows in Veredaro, Cuba...Bella Costa Resort.
  • March: Tour of England (Cavern Club Concerts), and Sweden (Two Beatles Festivals -sold-out shows)
  • May: Abbey Road On The River Beatles Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. 6th consecutive year performing, and Hal named Music Director for The Beatles Love album recreation onstage with a cast of 30 musicians and singers from different countries. Also performs the entire White Album with a cast of 30.
  • June: Hal organizes 3rd Annual Maritme Beatle Event in Halifax's Olympic Gardens. Musicains from Europe, USA and Canada headline the 12 hour marathon of Beatles classics.
  • August: Belleville, Ontario's Beatles Celebration Festival, 2nd consecutive year performing.
  • August: Hal performs for the 9th consecutive year at The International Beatle Week Festival in Liverpool, England.
  • August: Scranton, Pennsylvania's 2nd Beatle Festival. Hal performs his 2nd consecutive year.
  • September: Music and Story of The Beatles at The Marigold Centre Theatre in Truro, Nova Scotia.
  • October: Beatles Festival in Southern France, Salon de Province. Hal is headlining act in their first ever festival honoring the music of The Beatles.
  • December 31st 2008 - March 8th, 2009: Hal performs his All You Need Is Love Show in Canyonville, Oregon's Seven Feathers Hotel and Casino Resort.

2007

  • Jan: Invited to be Music Director at the world's largest Beatles festival, "Abbey Road On The River", www.abbeyroadontheriver.com in Louisville, Kentucky, May 25-29, 2007.

  • Feb: Commisioned to write and record the official "jingle" for Abbey Road On The River Festival.

  • Feb-Apr: Produce/perform on cd projects for Maritime singers, Michelle Gill and Melanie Donnelly.

  • Apr: Write and record bonus track for cd "Thank You Girl" entitled, "Come On, Come On Down To Abbey Road".

  • May 25-31: Headline concerts in Louisville, Kentucky and Cleveland, Ohio.

  • May 27: Premier the world's first stage performance of The Beatles current album LOVE. Hal performs and is Music Director for this project.

  • May 28: Headline 40th anniversary concerts "Summer Of Love 1967" in Louisville, Kentucky.

  • Jun 2: Music Director and performs LOVE album with four other bands, symphony players, and brass section in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

  • Jun 9: Organize/host/perform at 2nd Annual Maritime Beatle Event in Halifax Nova Scotia, along with a number of International Acts.

  • Jun 16-17: Perform at Abbey Road On The River Canada Beatles Festival in Belleville, Ontario.

  • Aug. 23-28: Perform for the 8th consecutive year at The International Beatle Week Festival, in Liverpool, England.

  • Sep. 22-23: Perform at Beatles Day Festival in Mons, Belgium.

2006

  • May 27 Inducted as the First Member of the Abbey Road On The River Beatles Festival "Hall Of Fame".
  • May 28 Awarded a John Lennon/George Harrison electric Epiphone guitar for his ongoing musical contributions to the Abbey Road On The River Festival.
  • Organizing 1st Annual Maritime Beatle Event to be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia on June 3rd. Appearances by The Repeatles from Sweden, Jay Goeppner from Chicago, USA, Abbey Road from Nova Scotia, as well as Hal and Ticket 2 Ride with Scott Ferguson. Special guest appearance by Julia Baird, John Lennon's sister. Further information at www.maritimebeatleevent.com.
  • Recording 3rd Beatles tribute CD; scheduled to be released in May.
  • Invited to perform at "Abbey Road on the River" in Louisville, Kentucky; 4th consecutive appearance.
  • Invited to perform at the "International Beatle Week" Festival in Liverpool, England; 7th consecutive appearance. Scheduled to perform the non-stop Beatles medley of all 214 songs.
  • Invited to perform at the "Australian Beatles Festival" in Adelaide; 3rd consecutive year

2005

  • Invited to perform at "Abbey Road on the River Festival" in Louisville, Kentucky; 3rd consecutive appearance. Will perform the non-stop Beatles medley of all 214 songs.

  • Invited to perform at the "Australian Beatles Festival" in Adelaide; 2nd consecutive year.

  • Invited to perform at the "International Beatle Week" Festival in Liverpool, England; 6th consecutive appearance. Scheduled for 13 shows including performances at the world-famous Cavern Club (birthplace of The Beatles).

  • Invited to perform at "Beatles Day" in Mons, Belgium; 2nd consecutive appearance.

2004

  • Invited to perform at the annual Beatles Festival in Buenos Aries, Argentina in November.

  • Scheduled to perform at the annual "Beatles Day" in Mons, Belgium this October.

  • Invited to perform at the "Australian Beatles Festival" in Adelaide, Australia; this festival marks the 40th anniversary of The Beatles tour in Australia, as well as the grand opening of Adelaide's very own "Cavern Club".

  • Released 7th album; second Beatles tribute CD, entitled "I Will".

  • Invited to perform at the "Abbey Road At The Races" in New Kent, Virginia on July 9th, 10th and 11th. This is a festival commemorating the 40th anniversary of The Beatles first U.S. tour.

  • Invited for fifth consecutive year to perform at the "International Beatle Week" in Liverpool, England; 11 scheduled concert performances.

  • Invited to perform at the "Abbey Road on the River" Festival in Cleveland, Ohio; second consecutive year. Hal will perform a non-stop Beatles medley of their complete song catalogue (214 songs).

  • Emphasis on theatre settings and international festivals; solo (and group) performances with Beatles Tribute Show.

2003

  • Received an invitation to perform as a showcase artist for “Contact East 2003” in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Artists from across Canada will be on hand to showcase for the talent buyers who will be attending from Canada and abroad.  

  • Performed as a solo artist at the "Abbey Road on the River" Beatles Festival in Cleveland, Ohio on August 8th, 9th and 10th. This was Hal's first appearance at this new festival honoring the "Fab Four".

  • Returned to Liverpool, England in August to perform at his 4th consecutive "International Beatle Week" Festival. During his return journey overseas, Hal met annual visitors and performers at this international event. Hal performed 11 shows during the six day convention; one of the highlights had to be his solo concert at the Royal Court Theatre.

  • Currently completing preliminary planning for new recording project; 2nd tribute CD to the music of The Beatles.  Hal to be in recording studio this Fall and Winter for a Spring 2004 release.

  • Continued touring throughout the Atlantic Provinces and Ontario.   

2002

  • Debut of solo performances; focus on concerts, festivals, club dates and touring.  Extensive repertoire combining rock ‘n roll, folk, country and original music.  “You request ‘em…I’ll play ‘em!”

  • Released 5th album “In My Life…”; an acoustic tribute CD to the music of The Beatles.  

  • Recorded a promotional Christmas CD for Nova Scotia based shopping centre; recorded at Ferguson Music Productions in Dartmouth, N.S.  This six song CD contains a few of Hal's Christmas favourites.

  • Performed at the Havelock Jamboree in Ontario to an audience of approximately 30,000 people.  Followed performances by Pam Tillis and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

  • Performed at “International Beatle Week 2002” in Liverpool, England; 3rd consecutive year.  Performed 10 scheduled shows plus an additional 3 held over shows over the 6 day festival.  Offered a “standing invitation” to future “Beatle Week” festivals in Liverpool.  

2001

  • Performed at “International Beatle Week 2001” in Liverpool, England; 2nd consecutive year.  Headlined a number of spots at the festival with encores at every venue.  The only Canadian to play out of over 50 acts, as well as the only soloist to perform such an event.  Labeled “The Cavern’s very best friend!”

  • WINNER of “Golden Note Award” in Beaumont, Texas at the “Best of Texas Music Awards” for songwriting.  Over 5,000 entries were eligible from Europe, Canada and the USA.  Other Canadian winners were Dick Damron and Gary Fjellgaard.

  • “Hired Hand Band Farewell Tour” of Ontario in October.

2000

  • Debut performance at “International Beatle Week 2000” in Liverpool, England.  Rave reviews from Beatle “extremists”.

  • Recorded “Imagine” at Abbey Road Studios – No. 2 in London, England for a global television tribute to The Beatles. 

1999

  • Released 2nd video “I’ll Be On My Way”.  Produced by Hal Bruce and Dan MacDonald of Access Cable in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. 

1998

  • Released 4th album “On Our Way”.  Produced by Hal Bruce in Oshawa, Ontario and Halifax, Nova Scotia under the guidance of D.J. Hopson of Wellcraft Music, Oshawa, Ontario. 

1997

  • WINNER of “Video of the Year” at the NSCMA Awards.

  • WINNER of “Songwriter of the Year” at the NSCMA Awards. 

1996

  • WINNER of “Male Vocalist” at the NSCMA Awards.

  • WINNER of “Entertainer of the Year” at the NSCMA Awards.

  • WINNER of “Band of the Year” (Hired Hand Band) at the NSCMA Awards. 

1995

  • Released 3rd album “Cover Up”.  Produced by Hal Bruce.  A collection of favorite cover tunes played and recorded live by the “Hired Hand Band”; 90+ minutes of country and rock ‘n roll music. 

1994

  • Extensive touring. 

1993

  • Released 1st video “I’m Goin’ Home” to CMT, TNN, Much Music, Outlaws & Heroes.

  • Hal’s song “I’m Goin’ Home” included on international compilation CD with Dolly Parton, Reba McIntyre, George Strait, Michelle Wright and other well known acts. 

1992

  • Recorded 2nd album “Goin’ Home”.  Produced in Nashville, Tennessee and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

1991

  • Performed on CTV’s “CCMA Awards Show”.

  • CCMA “Vista Rising Star” nominee. 

1990

  • Performed on CTV’s “CCMA Awards Show”.

  • CCMA “Vista Rising Star” nominee.

  • Performed on “Tommy Hunter Show” with Ricky Skaggs and Michelle Wright.

  • Performed on Ronnie Prophet’s “Spirit of the Country” in Ottawa, Ontario.  Sang solo and with Lacy J. Dalton. 

1989

  • Performed on Rita MacNeil’s CTV Special “Flying On Her Own”; performed “Impossible Love”.

  • Opened for The Beach Boys at Parlee Beach, New Brunswick; audience of approximately 70,000 people.

  • Opened for Janie Fricke and Jonathan Edwards.

  • WINNER of CHFX “Band of the Year”.

  • WINNER of CHFX “Male Vocalist of the Year”.

  • Performed on CTV’s “CCMA Awards Show”.

  • Hired as an opening act for The Judds, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Pride, Steve Wariner, Patty Loveless; concert in Moncton, New Brunswick. 

1988

  • Recorded 1st album “The First Time”.  Produced in Nashville, Tennessee. 

1986

  • WINNER of CHFX Talent Search out of 36 contestants; placed well at Nationals in Winnipeg, Manitoba.


Performing at Abbey Road on the River
Louisville, Kentucky (May 2005)


Performing in Luxembourg
(Oct 2004)


Latin American Beatles Festival 
Buenos Aires, Argentina (Nov 2004)


Interviewed in Buenos Aires, Argentina


Performing at the Cavern Club
Liverpool, England (Aug 2003)


Outside of the Cavern Pub
Liverpool, England (Aug 2003)


Warming up at the Cavern Pub
Liverpool, England (Aug 2003)


Tuning up at the Abbey Road
on the River Festival
Cleveland, Ohio (Aug 2003)


Performing at Hollywood
on the Queensway
Toronto, Ontario (Aug 2003)


Performing at the Havelock Jamboree
Havelock, Ontario (Aug 2002)


Performing at the Cavern Pub
 Liverpool, England (Aug 2002)


Performing at the Royal Court Theatre
Liverpool, England (Aug 2001)


Outside of Abbey Road Studios
London, England (Aug 2000)