Matthew Moeller to Lead October 14th Shanty Sing!

Matthew Moeller is a gifted shantyman and musician who hails from Olympia. He'll be returning to Port Townsend this October to lead a rousing October 14th Shanty Sing! Read what Mike James has to say on the flyer about Matthew. You won't want to miss this Sing-Along with Matthew Moeller; he's a hoot!

Matthew Greeting Helen Gilbert at WBF

Sailor's Prayer

Matthew Moeller leads Sailor's Prayer while Tugboat Bromberg accompanies on the guitar, at our 3rd monthly Shanty Song Circle at the Northwest Maritime Center Cafe in Port Townsend, Washington State. Video courtesy of Helen Gilbert.

Another fun night!

Thanks to the 60 or so folks who came out last night to join the sing-along at the NW Maritime Center Cafe. 

Emily (Cafe Manager) and all the Maritime staff are awesome! Service with a smile!

A big thank you to Tug Bromberg for leading the Song Circle! Thank you to our shanty-friends Matthew Moeller and the Shifty Sailors for making the trek from places afar off to join us for another great time of camaraderie, sharing and singing songs of the sea! 

Our gatherings would not be possible without the faithful inspiration and support of Mike and Val James, Helen Gilbert and the growing number of shanty enthusiasts who come to our monthly gatherings and are volunteering to help in anyway they can. Keep singin' shanties!

Photos and videos forthcoming, courtesy of Helen Gilbert. Hopefully, she'll have some good ones of Tug, as I was staring at the back of his head all evening.

Judy Courtwright playin' us a tune on her Penny Whistle

Tugboat Bromberg writes:

I had a great time hosting the chantey sing last night. What Fun! I hope that you call on me again to host the sing.
Thanks again
keep your throat wet and powder dry,
Tug

Thank you to our sponsors: the Northwest Maritime Center and Crossroads Music 

Good time had by all!

The following video-clips from our January 5 song circle and sing-along are courtesy of Luane Hanson, student at Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding. Thanks, Lu!

Sea Shanty Song Circle and Sing-Along -- #1 -- 01.05.12. from Luane Hanson on Vimeo.

Sea Shanty Song Circle and Sing-Along -- #3 -- 01.05.12. from Luane Hanson on Vimeo.

Sea Shanty Song Circle and Sing-Along -- #7 -- 01.05.12. from Luane Hanson on Vimeo.

Sea Shanty Song Circle and Sing-Along -- #10 -- 01.05.12. from Luane Hanson on Vimeo.

Off to a good start!

The feedback we're getting from our first Sea Shanty Song Circle and Sing-Along has been great! Here are some of the comments I've received via email and read on Facebook:

Last night was incredible! - Jake Beattie, Executive Director of the Northwest Maritime Center

Last night in Port Towsend was fun! The Northwest Maritime Center down on Water Street hosted their first-ever "sea shanty" song circle. More than 100 people turned out. Matthew Moeller, Tugboat Bromberg and Mark Iler joined in. Mike James was the host/MC. And unexpected delight came when Shauna, former cook of the Lady Washington, gave us a rollicking rendition of "Government Ship", aka "Ten Thousand Miles Away." It looks like this shanty-sing is off to a good start! -  Hank Cramer

We Shifties really enjoyed the musical gathering last eve in P.T. There were tunes new for some of us and methinks roundly loved by ALL of us. See you next month... an excellent experience it was. - Wylie of the Shifty Sailors

The chantey sing was great! I hope we have as great a turnout next month. I, for one, will be there. - Tug Bromberg

What a great way to start the year and a joy to be with everyone – and to make many of your acquaintance – for the first time - in song and sound if not yet in conversation. Looking forward to the next ones, which I hope to be able to regularly attend.  - Judith-Kate Friedman, Director of Songwriting Works

A hearty and heartfelt AAAAARGH!, and many, many thanks to all of you who traveled from afar to help us PT-ites kickoff our shantey song circle at the Maritime Center. Your interpretations of traditional numbers… or your parodies, as well as your originals, and willingness to include the crowd, added real flavor to the program. I've heard nothing but positives about the experience. All of you helped to tap into a spirit of musical community that seems to have been overlooked in our modern times. The room was at least as full at the end of the evening as it was at the start… Wonderful! - Mike James

And read what Helen Gilbert has to say on our Sing Shanties blog post TheRafters resounded!

More fun than expected! Easy to participate even for non-singers. Looking forward to next month.  - Susan
 This was one of the funnest events in my time in PT – truly! And I can’t wait till next month.  - Lynn

I had a blast! A foot-stomping good time. Looking forward to February! - Sheila

Join us for the first time or join us again on Thursday, February 2, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., at the Northwest Maritime Center Cafe for another free, "foot-stomping" good time!

The rafters resounded!

Anchors were firmly aweigh at the inaugural gathering of the Port Townsend Sea Shanty Song Circle, when an estimated 90 shanty loving folk filled the Northwest Maritime Center Café to bursting. For two rousing hours the rafters resounded with the echo of sea songs past and present as the community shared their passion for maritime music.

The event was attended by many well-known local and regional singers including Matthew Moeller of the Whateverly Brothers, The Shifty Sailors from Whidbey Island, Tugboat Bromberg and Hank Cramer. The evening also brought to light many fantastic voices from the local community as the song circle format ensured that nearly everyone had the opportunity to sing, request a song or pass along to the next in the circle before Mark Iler brought the session to an end with a delightfully moving melody.

The success of the evening was made clear not just by the sheer number that attended, but also by the camaraderie felt within the room, the old bonds renewed and new friendships that were made. I am fairly sure that the majority of folk arrived with songs they knew and left with at least one they hadn’t heard before. 

Of course, none of this would have come to pass without the stalwart organization and time put in by Lee Erickson and the fearless Mike James who did a fantastic job of keeping the circle on track.  I’m sure I speak for everyone when I offer our heartiest thank you to them for making the evening, and every one hereafter, possible. 

by Helen Gilbert

If you were at the Sea Shanty Song Circle and Sing-Along on January 5, you will remember Helen and her rich voice, as she led the song General Taylor and sang a duet with a member of the Shifty Sailors. Thank you to Helen for her wonderful support and help spreading the word.