The Shanty Show

Pressgang Mutiny

The podcast that the Maritime Music Directory International calls "certainly one of the best features of the contemporary maritime music community."
This is the show about sea shanties, showcasing the singers and stories behind the songs.
Hosted by Pressgang Mutiny and featuring guests and discussion about all things shanty and sea music.
NOW WITH MORE SINGING!

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MusicMusic

Episodes

23. LIVE: David Jones and Jos Morneault at the Connecticut Sea Music Festival
Jul 1 2023
23. LIVE: David Jones and Jos Morneault at the Connecticut Sea Music Festival
We're back with another special live episode, recorded in front of an audience at St. John's Church as part of the Connecticut Sea Music Festival.  Our guests this time are David Jones and Joseph Morneault.  David is a stalwart of the shanty scene in the North East US, moving there from London in 1965 and becoming deeply involved with the NYC folk music scene. He sings solo and with many acts including The Starboard List, The Bermuda Quadrangle, Poor Old Horse, and The New York Packet.Jos. is the founder and president of the Connecticut Sea Music Festival. He's also a social historian and performs with groups such as The Jovial Crew. His focus is on bringing to life early American songs relating to the everyday person: work songs, songs of the sailor, drinking songs, songs of love and consequences, ballads, and introspective songs. ⚓︎ Shanties featured:- Live song: Paddy Doyle's Boots, trad. arranged by Pressgang Mutiny- Live song: Yankee Whalermen, trad. arranged by David Jones- Live song: Around Cape Horn, trad. arranged by Joseph Morneault- Live song: Bold Riley, trad. arranged by David Jones- Live song: A Man of War Song, lyrics trad, tune by Joseph Morneault- Live song: Haul Away Joe, trad. arranged by Pressgang Mutiny- Live song: Eagle Alley, trad. arranged by Pressgang Mutiny⚓︎ Special thanks to the Connecticut Sea Music Festival!⚓︎ Find out more about the Connecticut Sea Music Festival here:- https://ctseamusicfest.org/⚓︎ Find out more about Pressgang Mutiny here:- pressgangmutiny.com
21. A Shanty Show Special: Chris Ricketts LIVE at the Fundy Sea Shanty Festival
Dec 9 2022
21. A Shanty Show Special: Chris Ricketts LIVE at the Fundy Sea Shanty Festival
In our first ever LIVE episode, we took the stage in front of the wonderful Fundy Sea Shanty Festival audience to sing some songs and chat all things shanty with UK singer-songwriter-shantyman Chris Ricketts. We hear all about how he first fell in love with shanties, his time performing on cruise ships, as well as his approach to arranging and song-writing that came to life most recently on his album Songs in the Key of Sea. Chris' self-deprecating sense of humour and beautiful singing voice helped make our first foray into live shows a roaring success, and we got tons of singing done too - enjoy!⚓︎ Shanties featured:- Live song: Paddy Doyle's Boots, trad. arranged by Pressgang Mutiny- Live song: Haul Away Joe, trad. arranged by Chris Ricketts and Pressgang Mutiny- Live song: Shallow Brown, trad. arranged by Chris Ricketts and Pressgang Mutiny- Live song: Stormalong John Medley, trad. arranged by Pressgang Mutiny- Live song: Hey Stan, written by David Buckley, arranged by Chris Ricketts - Live song: South Australia, trad. arranged by Chris Ricketts and Pressgang Mutiny- Live song: Pique la baleine, trad. arranged by Pressgang Mutiny- Live song: Sam's Gone Away, trad. arranged by Chris Ricketts and Pressgang Mutiny⚓︎ Special thanks to the Fundy Sea Shanty Festival production team and volunteers!⚓︎ Find out more about Chris Ricketts here:- www.rickettsmusic.co.uk⚓︎ Find out more about Pressgang Mutiny here:- pressgangmutiny.com
18. "Adequate!" with JD of the Longest Johns
Jun 18 2022
18. "Adequate!" with JD of the Longest Johns
Jon “JD” Darley is a member of the chart-topping shanty group The Longest Johns, based out of Bristol, UK. Their rendition of “Wellerman” went viral on TikTok in the early days of 2021 and launched them into stardom. But even prior to that, The Longest Johns were innovating new ways to reach new audiences with their music online. In this episode, we talk to Jon about the whirlwind of the last two years, how they have blended their love of traditional music with their love of video gaming, and how they hope to be a “gateway drug” into the world of shanties and singing. (To be clear, the episode title is a Longest Johns inside joke...listen to find out more!) ⚓︎ Shanties featured:- Opening credits: Paddy Doyle's Boots, trad. arranged by Pressgang Mutiny- Live song: Leave Her Johnny, trad. arranged by Jonathan Darley- Live song: Randy Dandy-O, trad. arranged by The Longest Johns- Live song: Wellerman, trad. arranged by The Longest Johns- Recorded song: Leave Her Johny Community Project, trad. arranged by The Longest Johns- Recorded song: South Australia, trad. arranged by Fishermen’s Friends- Live song: Here’s a Health to the Company, trad. arranged by Jonathan Darley- Closing credits: Wellerman Community Project, trad. arranged by The Longest Johns⚓︎ Find out more about Jonathan Darley and The Longest Johns at thelongestjohns.com⚓︎ Find out more about Pressgang Mutiny here:- pressgangmutiny.com- facebook.com/pressgangmutiny- TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram: @pressgangmutiny
15. "Creating community by singing together" with Ian Robb and James Stephens
Mar 9 2022
15. "Creating community by singing together" with Ian Robb and James Stephens
Ian Robb and James Stephens are singers and musicians based near Ottawa who have had a front row seat to the evolution of the Canadian folk music and sea music communities since the ‘70s and have played with groups such as The Friends of Fiddler’s Green and Finest Kind. They have just released a new album, Declining with Thanks that contains a mix of traditional and composed songs and, of course, some songs of the sea. In this wide-ranging episode, we explore the ever-present and timely themes of war, love, and loss that make certain songs resonate across generations. We also dive deeply into Ian’s experiences with the folk revival in the UK in the ‘60s, and how the traditional music scene in Toronto came to take on its own unique character.  ⚓︎ Shanties featured: - Opening credits: Paddy Doyle's Boots, trad. arranged by Pressgang Mutiny - Live song: Heave Away Me Johnny, trad. arranged by Ian Robb and James Stephens- Recorded song: Dead Funny, written by Brian Pearson, arranged by Ian Robb and James Stephens- Recorded song: Daft Annie, written by Ian Robb, arranged by Ian Robb and James Stephens - Live song: All Things are Quite Silent, trad. arranged by Ian Robb- Recorded song: I Wish They’d Do It Now, trad. arranged by The Friends of Fiddler’s Green- Recorded tune: Kilkenny Jig, trad. Arranged by Duncan Cameron - Live song: Bold Riley, trad. arranged by Ian Robb and James Stephens- Closing credits: God and the Orange Clown, written by Ian Robb, arranged by Ian Robb and James Stephens⚓︎ Find out more about Ian Robb at: www.ianrobb.com  ⚓︎ Find out more about Pressgang Mutiny here: - pressgangmutiny.com - facebook.com/pressgangmutiny - TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram: @pressgangmutiny
13. "One life is not enough to know all of it" with Miguel Perez of El Pony Pisador
Jan 7 2022
13. "One life is not enough to know all of it" with Miguel Perez of El Pony Pisador
Miguel Perez is a singer and multi-instrumentalist and a member of El Pony Pisador. Based out of Barcelona, El Pony have been making waves in the shanty world with their irreverent and fun interpretations on classic shanties, including on their latest album "It's Never Too Late for Shanties". Miguel talks to us about how the group first found shanties, how they've been received in their native Catalonia, the way they play with musical inspiration from other genres as wide-ranging as ragtime and metal, and the importance of having fun while playing music. This is a fun one!⚓︎ Shanties featured:- Opening credits: Paddy Doyle's Boots, trad. arranged by Pressgang Mutiny- Recorded song: Whip Jamboree, trad. arranged by El Pony Pisador feat. Chalart58- Recorded song: Pay Me My Money Down, trad. arranged by El Pony Pisador- Recorded song: Bully in the Alley, trad. arranged by El Pony Pisador- Recorded song: Essequibo River, trad. arranged by El Pony Pisador- Recorded song: Santiana, trad. arranged by El Pony Pisador- Live song: Fathom the Bowl, trad. arranged by Miguel Perez- Closing credits: L'Abordatge, trad. arranged by El Pony Pisador⚓︎ Find out more about El Pony Pisador at elponypisador.com, buy their stuff at rattio.es/pony-pisador/ and find their YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUSjRkF72RR1E8Rl4SWtVsQ⚓︎ Find out more about Pressgang Mutiny here:- pressgangmutiny.com- facebook.com/pressgangmutiny- TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram: @pressgangmutiny
10. "That's the time we let go our voice" with The Barrouallie Whalers Project
Oct 15 2021
10. "That's the time we let go our voice" with The Barrouallie Whalers Project
The town of Barrouallie on the leeward side of the island of St. Vincent has a long history of longshore whaling. Taking to sea in 25-foot wooden whaleboats powered by rowing and sails, the whalers of Barrouallie developed a rich tradition of a capella work songs, many of which share their roots with well-known deepwater sea shanties.  In this episode, we talk with George “Tall 12” Frederick, one of the most successful harpoon gunners in Barrouallie history who also has a genuine claim to being one of the world’s last “real” shantymen. He tells us all about his childhood watching his uncles and brothers head out to sea, what it was like spending his days hunting blackfish (pilot whales) and other cetaceans such as porpoises, killer whales, and sperm whales, and how they used their songs to motivate the crew, summon crowds to the shore when returning with a catch, and haul large whales and boats onto the shore. Tall 12 is joined by fellow Vincentian Vince Reid and New England shanty singer Dan Lanier. Collectively, their efforts are helping to preserve and promote the shanty traditions of Barrouallie both at home in St. Vincent and around the world.⚓︎ Shanties featured:- Opening credits: Paddy Doyle's Boots, trad. arranged by Pressgang Mutiny- Live song: Blackbird Get Up (rowing song), trad. arranged by The Barrouallie Whalers- Live song: Seven Long Years, trad. arranged by The Barrouallie Whalers- Live song: Bear Away Yankee, trad. arranged by The Barrouallie Whalers- Live song: Hey Bully Monday (hauling song), trad. arranged by The Barrouallie Whalers- Live song: Yard-O (ringplay and hauling song), trad. arranged by The Barrouallie Whalers- Live song: That Poor Old Man, trad. arranged by The Barrouallie Whalers- Live song: Blow the Man Down, trad. arranged by The Barrouallie Whalers- Live song: Royo Ground, trad. arranged by The Barrouallie Whalers- Live song: Goodbye Fare You Well, trad. arranged by The Barrouallie Whalers- Live song: Time for Man Go Home, trad. arranged by The Barrouallie Whalers- Closing credits: Blow the Man Down, trad. arranged by The Barrouallie Whalers- Closing credits photos: The Caldwell Collection, New Bedford Whaling Museum; Carol Entin⚓︎ Find out more about the Barrouallie Whalers Project athttps://www.facebook.com/Barrwhalers⚓︎ Find out more about Pressgang Mutiny here:- pressgangmutiny.com- facebook.com/pressgangmutiny- TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram: @pressgangmutiny
8. "A lot of saltwater in our blood, and a lot of our blood in the saltwater" with The Yarmouth Shantymen
Jul 9 2021
8. "A lot of saltwater in our blood, and a lot of our blood in the saltwater" with The Yarmouth Shantymen
In the late 1800s, ships from Yarmouth, on the southwestern tip of Nova Scotia, could be found in every major seaport in the world. Many people in Yarmouth today can trace their heritage back generations to sailors, shipbuilders, traders, fishermen, and port workers – including members of the Yarmouth Shantymen. They’ve been belting out shanties around the East Coast for almost 40 years and it was a chance encounter with them that encouraged members of Pressgang Mutiny to give this whole shanty thing a go. In this episode, we chat with them about the history of sailing in Yarmouth and the Maritimes, the joys of singing with others, and why shanties still resonate profoundly with the descendants of those who lived – and often lost - their lives at sea.⚓︎ Shanties featured:  - Opening credits: Paddy Doyle's Boots, trad. arranged by Pressgang Mutiny  - Live song: Across the Western Ocean, trad. arranged by The Yarmouth Shantymen  - Live song: Bully in the Alley, trad. arranged by The Yarmouth Shantymen and Pressgang Mutiny  - Live song: Boston Harbour, trad. arranged by The Yarmouth Shantymen  - Closing credits: Sam’s Gone Away, trad. arranged by The Yarmouth Shantymen⚓︎ Find out more about The Yarmouth Shantymen at yarmouthshantymen.org⚓︎ Find out more about Pressgang Mutiny here:  - pressgangmutiny.com  - facebook.com/pressgangmutiny  - TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram: @pressgangmutiny  Send us your comments and feedback!