Mary Webb Jo Martin and Rowena on the Cello














Uncle Al down there on the Bass!

Sun Inn and the famous "Kitchen Sessions in Conder farm in Dent , Thanks to Mick and Wendy ,

Well the Famous White Star session is picking up nicely and we had a good audience and a few guest singers including Colin Batho! Always supportive of live music although it is probably not his particular branch of the folk community. We are playing a lot of the more commonly heard and popular songs at the moment . All singers and musicians are welcome !
We are developing a more "Maritime" slant and shanties and sea ballads fit well in the White Star with its predominantly nautical theme and of course the name!!
Next Wednesday is the third session and we are hoping for a good turnout.
Thanks Alfie and Jackie! Always friendly and hospitable serving good cask ale and of course on the Liverpool "Ale trail" registered with CAMRA .
Good music . Good ale .  Good company! Life dont get any better!!!!

The White Star session.

Some friends and I are starting up a little LTS (Lunch time session) In the "White Star" in Button St-- L1 on Wednesday 15th Jan.
Should be good with a lot of well known local Singers/players and a good cask beer menu including the famous "Draught Bass!!
Pop along for a sing or just to listen to the music , If it takes off it could be a regular date!!

Baltic fleet shanty night

Another success at the Baltic with 9/10 Below and Yesterdays Men , the session being run by Trim rig and a Doxy and hosting a night of singing and drinking which resulted in this August institution running out of beer despite having a famous brewery in the cellar! Need I say more? A night that exhausts the capacity of the boozer must be good! Quite like the old days again !!!

Songs from Jack Coutts and Bernie Davies and Richard and Jim Irvine all great and The Liverpool Shanty crew did two sets Followed by the Sunlight seadogs with some great renditions of some good shanties!
First Saturday of the Month so keep it clear and come along to see if we can drink em dry again!!!???

Happy new year!!

2013 is coming to a close and another new year begins in this calendar! All the best to my friends and the good people of the traditional music community ! The shanty singers and the balladeers who have given me so much pleasure down the years .
I am looking forward to the next dates in 2014 starting with The Belvedere on the 02 and the Baltic on the 04 , A flying start methinks!!
Easter weekend heralds the Ellesmere port Shanty festival (Not to be missed) and another gathering of musicians and storytellers in Dent in March , the date yet to be confirmed , but Mick at Conder farm is prepping up for a beer tent again , the last one was flattened by some interesting weather systems!! Oh well , thats Dent for ya!! Diddnt stop us from having a great time and producing some top class music!!

Peter Coyle Hijacked/Christmas In Liverpool | Music | Liverpool Confidential

Peter Coyle Hijacked/Christmas In Liverpool | Music | Liverpool Confidential

First Saturday at the Baltic fleet coming up people! The last session was another cracker and the musicians and players are begining to queue to perform! The place is getting full and the atmosphere is great.
Trim rig and a Doxy the resident band and the Liverpool shanty crew have the "Baltic" as their "Mothership"
Liverpool is the home of the Sea Shanty and there is an international interest developing with guest shanty singers from the "Low Countries" visiting and giving us the delights of their great vocal skills.
Watch this space for the next guest performances.

The Belvedere singers and tunes session is a great afternoon session and Kelly has started lighting the log fire in the snug where we meet!
This is a traditional Victorian delight of a "Pub" in the truest sense of the word , No ersatz fittings or dusty hops hanging off the walls Just the original fittings and atmosphere.
This is the home of Liverpool Gin and a vast gin Menu exists for our pleasure expertly served and presented with Juniper berries and lemon!! This and an afternoon of traditional music is great!! Come along  give us a song and have a huge pork pie for lunch??

Barrets privateers By the legendary Stan Rogers.

Liverpool history and the notable ships , Here's a sea song about the controversial ship "Enrica" that became the Alabama down in the Azores.

Kevin Dempsey and Robbie Sherratt - Going Down To Georgia & The Mason's ...

Alistair Anderson, Richard Thompson & Kathryn Tickell

Slieve Gallion braes by Tommy Makem.

I was reminded of this by the singing of Kevin McDermott Visiting the Belvedere singers club in Liverpool.
Thanks Kevin and thanks Tommy. RIP. I remember chatting to him in "Ma Egertons" in Pudsey St. Liverpool in th late 60's , A nice Man and a great singer!!

At the Maritime museum in the Albert Dock in Liverpool , "Trim rig and a Doxy" entertain!

Liverpool shanty crew and a whole lot more.

Liverpool maritime museum at the Albert dock hosts a weekend of shanty singing on the 5&6 of October.
On Saturday the 5th there will be a feast of songs to keep our rich maritime tradition alive and well , these songs of chants and replies were sung to keep a rhythm for the sailors working on sails and ropes to keep in time to and were essential to the smooth running of a sailing boat .
Now then. If you sail across to the "Baltic Fleet" in Wapping (Just opposite the Wapping dock) there will be a great shanty session hosted by "Trim rig and a Doxy" with the "Liverpool shanty crew" and other outfits to entertain. The prizewinning beer is brewed on the premises and is renowned for getting in your mouth!!!http://www.balticfleetpubliverpool.com/

Shanty UK. Check out this site for a feast of maritime music and links!

http://www.shanty.co.uk/

Here's a link to some interesting stuff for all you shantymen out there which was sent to me by my fellow bandmember Sean. --Enjoy!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-23035692

http://www.sea-cadets.org/liverpoolcity/home.aspx

http://www.liverpoolnavalclub.co.uk/

Belvedere Session John Routledge on the Northumbrian pipes Mike Locke on the octave mandolin. 19 Sept.

The voyage of the Western Rose

We heard the gun sound one o clock

the gulls flew from the shore

we rolled across the harbour bar

and sailed for Baltimore

the days were fair the seas were calm

we made good speed to West

 we scanned the seas for privateers

so we could never rest

*

Our lookout on the masthead stood

and called to us below

I fear I spy a pirate barque

Black colours does it show.

They put a shot across our bows

they ordered us to stand

surrender now your ship to me 

 you'll never more see  land

*

Our captain cried stand fast me lads

make ready for the fray

we'll win the day and take the prize

 to fair Americay.

were armed and strong we know no fear

we've taken ships before

so sharpen up your cutlasses

the sea will roll with gore

*

We fired our big guns first

 and saw the chainshot rake their decks

the screaming of the wounded

made the hair rise on our necks.

they fired next and carnage wrought

among our steady crew

 the seas rocked floating corpses

of the sailors that they slew.

*

Then hand to hand the battle raged

with pistol knife and sword

till our bosun slit their captains throat

and threw him overboard

we took the crew at musket point

and made their barque secure

we worked them with a longtail lash

right down to  Baltimore.

*

The pirate crew were took in irons

their barque as booty sold

we shared the prize so dearly won

in bags of Yankee gold

we rigged the ship and bent on sails

and slipped our ropes at dawn

and shipping oil and indigo

set off around cape horn.

*

In battles fray our brave lads killed

will rock in Neptunes arms

and with the seabirds follow us

to save us all from harm

the spirits of our comrades slain

will ever watch their ship

through hells hot fire and battle grim

until the final trip.

*

We rolled her home to Liverpool

with baccy rum and sugar

and back to shore we rowed ourselves

in Brasser Murphys lugger

the bonny girls came down in flocks

both doxy tart and whore

 they'll get a little Yankee gold

till its off to sea once more.

©mike locke.