Performers Cobh Maritime Song Festival 2008

Johnny Collins (England) - An internationally acclaimed artis, he has topped the bill in concerts since the fifties.  Johnny sings shanties, sea songs and maritime ballads as well as folk songs and songs of the heart.  His vigorus style and supreme ability to persuade audiences to join in choruses is unrivalled.
http://www.johnnycollins.net/



Four 'N' Aft (England) -They call themselves a maritime group (as opposed to a shanty group) because their songs cover a wider aspect. Four 'n'Aft hail from Liverpool and sing a mix of traditional ballads, love songs, as well as shanties and forebitters. They've appeared internationally and this year won the award for "Best Traditional Performance" at the Shanties festival in Krakow, Poland. http://www.loctuptogether.co.uk/Fournaft.html

Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill (Ireland/America) - Irish fiddle virtuoso Martin Hayes and American guitarist Dennis Cahill posess a musical kinship. Together they have garnered international renown for taking traditional music to the very edge  of the genre, holding listeners spellbound with their slow-building, fiery performances. http://www.martinhayes.com/

The Johnson Girls (America) - Joined together in 1997 following the Mystic Seaport Sea Music festival to burst through the barrier of this previously male dominated genre.  An energetic all-woman mostly a cappella group, each member of the group brings a specialty and style to the ensemble.  Their extensive repertoire spans traditional and contemporary music includes songs with an Afro-Caribbean influence, of the inland waterways, of fishing, mining, Irish, Anglo-American, Italian and French Canadian ballads and work songs, and much more.
http://www.thejohnsongirls.com

Jim Mageean (England) - Jim began singing in folk clubs in 1963 at "The Bridge" in Newcastle and later was a resident at several London clubs.  His duo with Johnny Collins has been going strong for more than 25 years.  Jim is probably one of the greatest experts on Shanty and sea music around.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=217076905

Moonshine (Ireland) - Johnny Moynihan is one of Ireland's most well known bouzouki players - his musical history includes Sweeney's Men and De Danann. In 2007 he formed Moonshine, along with American fiddler Frank Hall and Swedish five-string banjo player and vocalist Lena Ullman.  Their album "First Run" has been widely acclaimed as one of the best new albums of 2007.
http://www.iol.ie/~ronolan/moynihan.html

Nordet (France) - Nordet play work songs and shanties, both traditional and contemporary, originating from the Atlantic Coast to Scotland. Nordet wowed audiences last year at the festival and we are thrilled they can be with us again this year. http://nordet56.free.fr/equipage.htm

Patrick Street (Ireland) - Now in their third decade, Patrick street are considered the "Irish Supergrop" with musical heritages dateing back to the Bothy Band, Planxty and De Dannan. Patrick Street features one of Ireland's leading singers, Andy Irvine along with Ged Foley, John Carty and Kevin Burke. Formed in 1987 the band has been going strong for many years now with their latest release in2002. http://www.andyirvine.com/On_the_Fly_Press_release.pdf

Perły i Łotry (Poland) - This crew of 6 play traditional shanties and contemporary compositions.  They are one of the most popular maritime groups in Poland at the moment.  We welcome them back for their second visit to the Cobh Maritime Song Festival.  http://perly.kultura.tychy.pl/