I’ve always loved the sea and songs about the adventures and the work of sailors. While I’d have preferred to learn shanties aboard a real ship – my ventures as a sailor were kind of limited to lots of fishing outings with my dad and my family aboard some craft that he had built (with a little of my help). Lucky for me,though, it’s possible to appreciate and learn about the life and adventures (and tall tales) of those real sailors through the learning and sharing the songs and tunes that have been gathered over time.
I also consider myself lucky to be engaged in this fun musical ‘work’ with good friends Alan, Mike, and Pete. We met through the broad musical threads in Portsmouth’s Press Room, and we pulled Mudhook together in response to the invitation that the annual Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival. We love the search for interesting songs, learning them together, and (especially) seeing a group of listeners bouncing and singing to the rhythms with us. That’s the best.
Portsmouth is a fine seaport, with a rich history. We are proud to call it our home harbor. As time goes by, we look forward to musically setting sail for other ports of call.