Oh dear - In the Short, Sharp Shanty Project, there's Jackie Oates playing fiddle on A-roving, Banks of Sacramento, Mr. Tapscott, Mr. Stormalong, One More Day, Rowler Bowler, Tommy's Gone Away, and Won't You Go My Way (and we haven't finished yet)! We must be being BAD!!!

Seriously though - if renditions have to be authentic then they have to be sung on board and for work - with maybe some passengers for audience. They need to be understood for what they were, and personally I hope that renditions/recordings don't compromise what they are about (there are some recordings about that completely 'lose it'.

Apart from that, there is no reason not to be creative - after all, the shantymen always were within the restrictions of the job the songs were doing.

TomB