The Chicago Maritime Festival is coming up on Saturday, February 25th, 2012 at the Chicago History Museum. (Just off Lake Shore Drive, near the Lincoln Park Zoo.) This will be the tenth year, and they have an excellent line-up of performers. The non-musical presentations this year sound really interesting, including several about the War of 1812.
More info here: http://www.chicagomaritimefestival.org/

Performers include:

Tom Lewis, a Canadian performer of traditional sea songs who has also written a number of wonderful songs about the sea. For me, personally, going to a Tom Lewis performance is what started me on a interest in maritime music that has continued for many years.
http://www.tomlewis.net/

Serre L'Ecoute, a Canadian trio from Quebec, they perform traditional French-Canadian songs in French with wonderful harmonies. Truly not to be missed. Especially since their US appearances seem to be rare these days!
http://www.myspace.com/serrelecoute/music

Calico Jack, a duo of Janie Meneely & Paul DiBlasi from Maryland. Janie writes wonderful, clever songs. I personally have never seen them play live, but I've enjoyed Ms. Meneely's recordings very much over the years and am looking forward to seeing them perform.
http://www.janiemeneely.com/

Jerry Bryant, from Maine. Many of you mudcatters know Jerry, so I'll just say that he's great and leave it at that. I always enjoy his performances; the joy he obviously takes in this style of music is infectious.
http://filbert.com/pvfs/artists/JerryBryant/Default.htm

Tom & Chris Kastle will also be performing, and Lanialoha Lee, as well as special guests Bounding Main, David H.B. Drake, Richard Adrianowicz from San Francisco, the Hardtackers Shanty Crew from Ohio, and the Sea Shanty Class from the Old Town School of Folk Music.


P.S. If you are into maritime music or would like to be, and are in the Midwest, the monthly sea chantey sings continue in Chicago and all are welcome. For more info go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chicagoshanties/