- Date
- July 28, 2008
- Venue
-
The Barbican
London, England
- Billed As
- Hal Willner's Rogue's Gallery
- Gig Type
- Concert
FEATURING
Baby Gramps, Martha Wainwright, David Thomas, Gavin Friday, Ralph Steadman, Robyn Hitchcock, Norma Waterson, Teddy Thompson, Martin Carthy, Julie Fowlis, Eliza Carthy, Tim Robbins, Ed Harcourt, Neil Hannon, Suzanne Vega, Pete Doherty & more
from The Barbican's website:
Based on the extraordinary recent CD release produced by legendary Hal Willner, this concert features contemporary re-workings of traditional sea-songs and chanteys. A stellar line-up of artists take us on a trip like no other, exploring the hardships, the horrors, the lusts and lurid depths, and the crystal beauty that led men to the sea in ships for hundreds of years.
Expect songs about drinking, death, nasty crimes on the water and of course pirates...
MUSICIANS
Kate St John (oboe / cor anglais / saxophone / accordion)
David Coulter (banjo / violin/ saw/ukulele/banjo/mandolin)
Leo Abrahams (guitar / hurdy gurdy / mandolin/ bouzouki)
Andy Newmark (drums)
Martyn Barker (percussion)
Dudley Phillips (double bass / electric bass)
Roger Eno (piano, keys, harmonium)
Background
While working on the Pirates of the Carribean films, director Gore Verbinski and his star Johnny Depp became fascinated with the lore and fable of the pirates and sailors who ran the high seas before the days of upright tray-tables and airsick bags. Not too far behind was Hal Willner, who quickly joined into the mix, dragging a very impressive list of musicians to create what we now know as Rogue’s Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys.
The songs (on the CD) have titles like 'Baltimore Whores,' 'Boney Was a Warrior' (about Napoleon) and 'Little Boy Billee' sung by the artist Ralph Steadman about eating the cabin boy. A sea chantey (often spelt shanty) is a work song that was sung on the ol' ships in the day. Rhythmically they matched the activity speed of these men hauling on lines. Many of them are really filthy, many are really beautiful.
'The ocean: it's all about the vast blue that engulfs two thirds of the planet. The human being cast against that abyss creates an interesting bit of perspective. I think the sailors of the time were dancing with death, and these were there tunes.' '
Gore Verbinski
-
Cape Cod Girls
Baby Gramps + Chorus
-
Crossbone Sculley
Baby Gramps + Chorus
-
Hog Eye Man
Martin Carthy + Chorus
-
My Son John
Tim Robbins + Chorus
-
Haul Away Joe
Teddy Thompson + Chorus
-
Baltimore Whores
Gavin Friday + Eliza Carthy
-
Farewell Nancy
Langley Sisters/Ed Harcourt
-
Ole Og
Langley Sisters/Ed Harcourt
-
Sam’s Gone Away
Traditional Robyn Hitchcock + Chorus
-
Leave Her Johnny
Sandy Dillon
-
Bonnie Portmore
Kami Thompson + violins
-
Rolling Sea
Eliza Carthy
-
Dan Dan + Oboe Duel
David Thomas
-
Fire Down Below
David Thomas
-
Ged A Sheol Mi Air
Julie Fowlis
-
Mingulay Boat Song
Chris Difford + Kami Thompson
-
Good Ship Venus
Richard Strange
-
Long Time Ago
White Magic
-
Blood Red Roses
White Magic + Chorus
-
Coast Of High Barbary
Neil Hannon
-
Turkish Revelry
Neil Hannon + Gita
-
Bay Of Biscay
Norma + Martin, Eliza
-
Sally Brown
Teddy Thompson
-
Bully In The Alley
Gavin/Sandy/ Pete
-
Boney Was A Warrior
Gavin w/ Shane/Pete
-
South Australia
Shane McGowan w/Tim/Pete/chorus
-
Haul On The Bowline
Tim Robbins + Chorus
-
The Cruel Ship's Captain
Tim Robbins + violins
-
Caroline And Her Young Sailor
Suzanne Vega + violins
-
Little Boy Billie
Ralph Steadman + Chorus
-
One Spring Morning
Teddy + Kath Williams
-
Row The Boat Child
Jenni Muldaur + Chorus
-
Drunken Sailor
David Thomas + Shane + Tymon
-
Lowlands Low
Chris Difford + Gita
-
Lowlands Away
Martha Wainwright + violins
-
Grey Funnel Line
Martha Wainwright
-
Wild Goose / New York Gals
Traditional Robyn Hitchcock + Chorus
-
Pinery Boy
Gavin Friday + violins
-
Lament
Julie Fowlis
-
Turas
Julie Fowlis
-
Liverpool Shanty
Shane & Tim + Chorus
-
The Mermaid
Martin Carthy
-
The Nightingale
Eliza Carthy
-
Shallow Brown
Norma + Chorus
-
Old Man Of The Sea
Baby Gramps