Hi Pelrad, the session starts around 9:00 or so. I'd say that the talent runs from beginners to professionals. Irish traditional songs are what's mostly done, in part because most (65%) of the singers are Irish but anything folk is the aim. Some people bring in instruments but it's all singing, no tunes. There's a $1 donation for singers & browers alike, we built up the kitty till we got someone to guest sing with us, a couple of weeks ago we were blessed with having Frank Harte join us & we'd like to keep the treats coming, I'll be hitting there tomorrow night.

It sure sounds like we've been crossing paths. I sing with a few others under the guise of Finn & Haddie, we mostly do prison work songs & shanties. We've been doing NEFFA for the past 4? yrs. & hit Mystic last yr. Compass Rose & the Rum Soaked Cooks are probably close to you they may have knowledge of stuff more local to but if you want I'll try & keep you abreast (sailor talk) of any shanty happenings. The Little Red Lighthouse (sea music) Festival (1 day) in Brooklin, New York is on Sept. 18. On the 23-25 of july will be the Boston Seaport Festival, Jeff Warner, Craig Edwards & Compass Rose will be at least part or maybe all of the lineup. I've never been thrilled with this festival, for some reason when Boston does a sea think it's usually to promote beer & chowder & sea music is a token squeezed in bewteen the Rock & Roll & a hard place but I'm hoping (as in the past) to be pleasantly suprised. Let me know if you'd be interested in a monthly shanty sing, some of us in the area are wondering if there'd be enough interest to get one rolling. Probably & hope to see you somewhere soon. Barry