Sounds great, Dani!
I have also just received an email from an American morris dancing, shanty and folk singing, musician friend of mine, Peter Contrastano. Previously he lived in New England and ran the Portsmouth NH, Shanty Festival.
At one time he lived in England for a while - he was even on the national committee of the English Folk Dance and Song Society for a year or two - and he is now moving to Cary, near Raleigh NC. Is that anywhere near you? I'll give you his email address if you PM me or send me an email (see the list from the Getaway). I don't think he is a Mudcatter.
"... summer dies and autumn follows ...!"
Alan