Mainbrace

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: Joy Bennett
Date: 01 May 01 - 08:58 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 02:01 PM

The news gets better. Mainbrace now plan two trips to USA in '02. East coast around the time of Mystic, West coast in the autumn.

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: Martina Ryan
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 10:01 AM

Thanks everyone for the info. It is lovely to have it confirmed that they are indeed lovely people as well as fantastic singers. The sooner they release that CD the better.

Martina

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: Joy Bennett
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 08:20 AM

Hi Chanteyranger and Burl and all -- Joy here -- I Met Mike on a Folk music weekend in 1997 and Tony shortly after at Mystic - Roy Harris started the group and was singing with them then. These are three of my favorite people. I have lots of photos from that year.

They are all terrific guys as well as great singers. I visit with Mike and his family usually twice a year and they stay with me when they come over to this side of the pond.

Alison and I had the pleasure of singing with Mike and Tony on board the Balmoral last summer (sort of singing for our passage.) Ok, so the Balmoral isn't a sailing vessel. We had a great time!

Mainbrace had a great tour in 1999, bringing the house down with sound. With the exception of Mystic, I arranged the other bookings on that tour (no, I'm not an agent - just a friend who likes to help promote good singing.) Mike and Tony are planning to have their CD out for their next US tour. (which I am anticipating will be around Mystic 2002.) Don't know at this time how long they will be over, but we're always looking for good venues for them. Do send me a personal post if there is interest in having them in your area.

Joy

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 08:13 AM

They have come in the Summer in the past.

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 06:16 AM

Chanteyranger, Not certain of exact dates but likely to be sometime around the time of Mystic Sea Festival. When I find out more I'll let you know via Mudcat. All the best, Burl.

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 23 Apr 01 - 08:35 PM

Burl, do you know what time of year they are looking to do a US tour in '02?

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 23 Apr 01 - 06:47 PM

Thank you!!

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: Micca
Date: 23 Apr 01 - 06:44 PM

Chicken Charlie, it comes from a particularly dirty nasty ,tricky Job on old sailing ships," splicing the main brace " literally spliceing the main bracing rope from stem to stern of the ship to prevent the ship breaking its back in heavy seas and afterwards a tot of rum was given to those who had done the work.. as iron ships came in the term remained but ceased (like many things) to apply to the original task, and applied only to the post work free drink and then was broadened to mean any extra free, tot....and all you need now is the meaning of the terms "sippers" "gulpers" and "Viscious gulpers"

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 23 Apr 01 - 05:48 PM

Don't ask me why (Spaw probably knows) but "splice the mainbrace" is salty jargon for "have a drink." File that under "stuff, weird, tangential."

cc

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 23 Apr 01 - 02:33 PM

just a line to say thanks to Martina for opening this thread. I have known Mike & Tony aka Mainbrace for many years and endorse all that Liam's brother and Chanteyranger have said. They ARE fine singers, and they ARE great blokes. They deserve a wider acknowledgement. I'm not sure of their upcoming dates but I do know they intend to head for the USA next year. Mike has all their information on [e-mail] Their new debut album will be on Minstrel Records, should be ready soon.

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 23 Apr 01 - 02:13 PM

That will be a great CD! Thanks for the heads-up, Dan. I saw them at Mystic '99. They're flat-out great.

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 23 Apr 01 - 09:16 AM

Mainbrace actually sound like sailors when they sing sailors' songs. Shouldn't that have a lot to do with it!

Mike & Tony are from South Wales. They've sung sea songs together for many years. Mike is a fine singer of Irish songs as well.

Bob Conroy and I first met Mike & Tony at the Sea Music Festival at Mystic Seaport in 1997 when we were all on the bill. Our mutual friend, Roy Harris, sang with Mainbrace at that time and he was anxious that we get together. Like Martina Ryan (above), we liked them right away not only for their singing but because they're great guys. The four of us sang together at Lancaster and Brest last year and we will probably do so again at Saltburn and Bremen later this year.

Mainbrace are finishing up a CD of maritime songs. Much of the recording will be Mike and Tony singing together but the disc also includes a number of shanties with a chorus of Roy Harris, Jeff Warner, Jerry Epstein and myself.

All the best,
Dan Milner

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: Giac
Date: 23 Apr 01 - 08:17 AM

Here you go, I hope:

blicky

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 23 Apr 01 - 07:58 AM

If you go to the link below you will find the info you need. Blicky, anyone?

http://members.boardhost.com/UKFolkIndex/msg/30.html

Murray

Subject: RE: Mainbrace
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 23 Apr 01 - 07:45 AM

I wish I did. I'm into maritime music. Kindest reguards, Neil

Subject: Mainbrace
From: Martina Ryan
Date: 23 Apr 01 - 07:15 AM

For me, one of the highlights of the recent (and excellent) maritime festival in Lancaster was a group called Mainbrace. They are a duo (Tony Fraser and Michael O'Leary-Johns) with great voices, and more importantly with absolutely fantastic songs. They even seemed like lovely people. Does anyone know anything about this group? In particular, do they have any recordings available, or any plans to release anything. Thanks in advance, M