Connecticut’s Mystic Seaport hosts its 30th Annual Sea Music Festival, June 11-14, and WPKN Radio (WPKN 89.5 FM in Bridgeport, CT and WPKM 88.7 FM in Montauk, NY) will broadcast live from the event that annually draws more than 5,000 people to hear performers from maritime cultures around the world carry on classic musical traditions of the golden age of sail.
“WPKN has a nice history of broadcasting this event, and we are pleased to bring it to our listening area on June 11, 12 and 13 from 7 to 10 p.m.,” said Doug Echols, a WPKN programmer and producer of the station’s Sea Music Festival coverage. Referring to WPKN as “an excellent media and radio partner for us over the years,” Geoff Kaufman, the festival’s director and an accomplished folksinger in his own right, said “We understand that people from all over the world tune into these live broadcasts, and I also understand that with their new online streaming capacity, even more people from far-flung areas can feel like they are part of our festivities.”
Bonnie and Dan Milner help get things going on Thursday evening as they serve as emcees for a musical lineup that includes Tom Goux and the New Bedford Harbor Chantey Chorus, The Ancient Mariners, Barnacle (a Celtic/sea music/folk quartet), Forebitter (a quartet featuring Geoff Kaufman), Sheri Mortimer, Rick Nestler, Bob Webb (hailed in Europe as “King of the Chantey” and making his 29th festival appearance), and a number of current and former festival staffers.
Friday night’s musical talent includes emcee Jerry Bryant, San Francisco’s Walter Askew, Judy Cook, Dick Holdstock and Allan MacLeod (a duo who hail from the British Isles but now call northern California home), The Hudson Crew (Nanne Kalma and a ensemble from The Netherlands), Louis Killen, David Klieman (who organized the precursor to the festival at New York City’s South Street Seaport) and Heather Wood (a founding member of England’s The Young Tradition in the 1960s), Talitha MacKenzie and Les Bouthilliers of Serre L’Ecoute, The Rum Soaked Crooks, and Bob Walser.
John Roberts, a noted English concertina player and singer of traditional songs, often with duo partner Tony Barrand, emcees Saturday night’s musical festivities. Joining him will be The Clancy Legacy (cousins Aoife Clancy, Robbie O’Connell and Donal Clancy, who are furthering the Celtic musical traditions of their family), Ellen Cohn, Stuart Frank and Mary Malloy, Forebitter, Martin and Philip Hugill, Geoff Kaufman, Danny Spooner (an Australian singer), STOUT (a five-member ensemble now marking its 35th year), and Jeff Warner (a New Hampshire-based musician and scholar of maritime music heritage).
Daytime activities during the festival include workshops and entertainment from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and a Music of the Sea Symposium at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy on Friday and Saturday. While at Mystic Seaport, visitors also can explore America’s maritime history as they climb aboard historic tall ships, stroll through a re-created 19th century coastal village, or watch a working preservation shipyard in action.
Although the symposium is open free to the public, concert tickets are required for evening performances and museum admission is required during the daytime. More information, including descriptions of each of the scheduled performers, can be found online at www.mysticseaport.org/seamusicfestival.
Like/Follow Us!