Our shanteying style is strongly influenced by the singing and music of Stan Hugill, the last shantyman. As an experienced seaman at the end of the sailing era in the early 1900s, Hugill sang in the manner of the shanty men he served with and we strive to continue that tradition. With percussive accentuation of the beat, created by yodel like “hitches”, yelps, and yells, our songs draw forth the bygone era of the great age of sail. Every sea song carries with it a rich and colorful history. Singing and playing in the unabashed style associated with folk music, our approach brings a rousing refreshing style to a music too long associated with pretty harmonies and subdued voices. Our sing along songs encourage the audience to participate and experience the exitement of the shanty worksong.

We are known as the "Paddy Wester's", graduates of the infamous sailing school that rooked clod-busters into believing they were sailors. My introduction to playing sea shanties was with my fellow graduate Richard Burbank began studying sea shanties and sailor’s ballads in 1994. Soon afterwards, he begin a five-year tenure as cook on the Schooner Timberwind. Here he started developing his repertoire of sea songs. Not only did he sing to entertain the passengers, but also utilized the sea shanties in their original context, as working songs to coordinate and ease the physical work raising anchor with a windlass or hauling at the halyards to raise sails. In 1998, Richard produced The Chantey Chef, a CD of twenty sea shanties. Joining him was a chorus of local schooner crews. He also is the MC and regular performer at the Windjammer Weekend Festival in Camden, Maine. He was one of two sea-music acts representing the United States at the Fete de Chanson de Marin 1999, a major sea-music festival on the north coast of Brittany in Paimpol, France. During this festival Richard received the Capitaine Hayet Trophy (1st place) for the English language working shanty competition. Today when not caring for his new daughter or baking he is expanding his musical horizons. Richard plays concertina and button accordion.

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