Jack Coutts is a member of the legendary shanty group Stormalong John. We sat down with Jack and his daughter Hannah aboard the Pilgrim at the world's largest sea music festival in Paimpol, Brittany for a chat and a sing in between sets. We discuss the origins of the band, what it was like touring in Poland in the 80s behind the iron curtain, and performing with Stan Hugill. And of course we get some singing in too!

⚓︎ Shanties featured:
- Live song: Pique la baleine, trad. arranged by Pressgang Mutiny
- Live song: Bulgine, trad. arranged by Stormalong John
- Live song: Rock Island Line, performed by Lonnie Donegan
- Live song: Blood Red Roses, trad. arranged by Jack Coutts, Hannah Coutts and Pressgang Mutiny
- Live song: South Australia, trad., arranged by Stan Hugill and Stormalong John

⚓︎ Find out more about Pressgang Mutiny here:
- pressgangmutiny.com
- facebook.com/pressgangmutiny
- TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram: @pressgangmutiny

As part of our European tour, we stopped in at Whitby Folk Week to do a few concerts and sit down with our favourite shanty singer, Jim Mageean, or “Shanty Jim”. In a wide-ranging chat with plenty of singing and a wonderful live audience, we discuss the burgeoning shanty scene in Poland, Jim's 1983 victory with Johnny Collins at the Eastern Bloc's answer to Eurovision, the growing consensus around the true origins of shanties, and much more! It's a conversation we won't soon forget.

⚓︎ Shanties featured:
- Live song: (No) You Won't Get Me Down in Your Mine, by Colin Wilke, arranged by Jim Mageean
- Live song: Jim and Johnny's 1983 winning medley (Poor Old Man, Ranzo-Ray, Rosabella), arranged by Jim Mageean
- Live song: John Dead, trad., arranged by The Unthanks (clip)
- Live song: John Dead, trad., arranged by Pressgang Mutiny
- Live song: Seven Long Years, trad., arranged by Pressgang Mutiny

⚓︎ Contact Jim at shanty_jim@hotmail.com

⚓︎ Find out more about Pressgang Mutiny here:
- pressgangmutiny.com
- facebook.com/pressgangmutiny
- TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram: @pressgangmutiny

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