CALGARY - It's been less than two years since The Rankin Family reunited after calling it quits in 1999.

Since re-forming, the singing siblings from Mabou, Cape Breton, have put out two albums -- Rankin Family Reunion and the recently released These Are The Moments -- and toured across Canada to thrilled audiences.

The group returned to Calgary last night for the first of two shows at the Jubilee Auditorium. The four surviving members -- John Morris Rankin was killed in a car accident in Cape Breton in 2000 -- were greeted by more than 2,000 fans as they stepped onto the stage.

The Rankin Family, backed by a five-piece band, opened with the catchy hit single North Country from their platinum-selling 1993 album of the same name, and followed with an upbeat rendition of The River from 1995's Endless Seasons record.

The Rankins showed only the slightest bit of rust through the 90-minute set list.

The Rankin Family were at the height of their success in the early '90s when their singles Fare Thee Well Love, Rise Again and North Country helped set off a Celtic resurgence in Canada's music scene and garnered them 15 East Coast Music Awards and six Junos.

As the years progressed, the band softened the Celtic influence and moved toward a more pop and country sound. But it was the Celtic and East Coast-flavoured songs such as Rovin' Gypsy Boy, Mairi's Wedding and Fare Thee Well Love that received the best response.

The group paid tribute to their late brother John Morris by performing Parlour Medley, one of the last songs he wrote before the Rankins disbanded.

The second half of the song turned into a toe-tapping reel, at which point the three sisters left the stage for young dancers from Calgary's Irwin School of Irish Dancing.

Their energetic routine was one of the few times the audience got anywhere near rowdy.

Jimmy Rankin has enjoyed the most solo success, having released three award-winning CDs since the band's original split. But last night, the singer and guitarist was often overshadowed by the graceful harmonies of his sisters Cookie, Raylene and Heather. Still, he did manage to steal the spotlight a few times, including taking lead vocals on a touching track My Only Wish from the new CD.

Last night's Rankins show wasn't as lively as I'd hoped, but the group's well-crafted songs rang out clearly in the Jube and didn't disappoint loyal fans.

Opening the show was Canadian pop-opera act Destino. Tenors Joey Niceforo, Paul Ouellette and Calgarian Leon Leontaridis were accompanied by only a pianist and violin player, but their smooth, soaring vocals needed no propping up.

The trio showed professionalism when Leontaridis' mic went dead. Instead of stopping the song, Leontaridis simply projected as loudly as he could without the aid of electronic amplification.