Congratulations to Shanty Jack, organizers, volunteers, and performers who made the Hull festival a wonderful experience! It was well worth my long trip from Albany, NY. Like the Mystic Seaport Festival, the Hull festival was well organized, populated by great performances (oh, Sweet Minerva, god, what a song!) and filled with pub singing and organized sing-arounds.   

My special thanks to the Shellback Chorus for their songs and friendliness. You made me feel like part of the group, something I didnt merit as an amateur but surely appreciated.

There was nothing in my past experiences like the last few songs in the Guildhall on Saturday night. The formal sing-around had ended. Then a few of us joined in on the Farewell Shanty. The Hissyfit women launched us into Grey Funnel Line with wonderful harmonies. We then gave Fathom the Bowl a go. As the harmonies added new colors to the air, we were ushered out of the room and into the hallway, where the chorus became richer as it reflected off the old walls. Then Hissyfit came back with Shallow Brown, and the small group of us harmonized down the hallway and out the door. The last chorus was finished on the curb outside the Guildhall, and you could feel that something very special had happened.

What a time! I think everyone who attended the festival must have had moments like that. When you collect them all together, it makes our lives better.

I hope I will sing with all of you here next spring. Gotta Get Gon (sponsored by the Pickin and Singin Gatherin folk club) happens the last weekend in May near Saratoga Springs, NY. The Mystic Seaport Shanty Festival happens in Mystic, CT on the second weekend in June. And the renowned Old Songs Festival happens the last weekend in June near Albany, NY. If you let me know you will be here, we will order the beer and organize a house sing and do it all again.