Rogue's Gallery - Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys July 28, 2008

Based on an extraordinary recent CD release featuring Nick Cave, Sting, Jarvis Cocker, Rufus Wainwright, Bono and others, this concert features contemporary re-workings of traditional sea songs and chanteys.

Expect songs about drinking, women, death, nasty crimes on the water and of course pirates... funny, beautiful and sad songs. Special guests tbc.

Produced by maverick genius Hal Willner (known for his tribute records, covering the music of Thelonious Monk, Kurt Weill and Harold Arlen), the idea for Rogue's Gallery germinated on the set of the second Pirates of the Caribbean movie, with actor Johnny Depp and director Gore Verbinski.

The songs (on the CD) have titles like 'Baltimore Whores,' 'Boney Was a Warrior' (about Napoleon) and 'Little Boy Billee' sung by the artist Ralph Steadman about eating the cabin boy. A sea chantey (often spelt shanty) is a work song that was sung on the ol' ships in the day. Rhythmically they matched the activity speed of these men hauling on lines. Many of them are really filthy. Many are very beautiful.

'The ocean: it's all about the vast blue that engulfs two thirds of the planet. The human being cast against that abyss creates an interesting bit of perspective. I think the sailors of the time were dancing with death, and these were there tunes.' '
Gore Verbinski

Official Website: http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=7455