The festival is off to a grand start. The Friday evening session at the Press room was one of the best ever with lots of strong voices, rich harmonies and masterful instrumentals.

On saturday, riverRun Books, a new venue, was packed with people come to hear Great Bay Sailor and Mudhook. Jeff Warner's program at the Warner House was equally well attended.

The Press Room was packed with singers and listeners alike, with a non-stop run of shanties and forebitters for the full two and a half hours .

Great Bay Sailor started off the saturday night performance with fine leads by Kevin Scanlon and Steve Carrigan, along with Bruce MacIntyre's harmonies and tin whistle work.

Jeff warner was classic Jeff. A high point was when Barbara Benn (Guest BB) joined him for a song collected by his parents. These two could easily do an entire program together.

ken Sweeney demonstrated his virtuosity on many levels; unaccompanied ballads, songs with banjo, harmonica and bones, and his trickiest feat, English concertina and harmonica together.

Bob webb closed the evening with a series of shanties and forebitters, along with a grand demonstration of the art of the McCann duet concertina.

Here's
a glimpse of what you missed.

However, there's lots more going on today and the weather is sublime.

Come join us -- Tom