Ballads and Brews

When the festival closes at 5:00 p.m., Friday—Sunday, July 19—21, the more lively shanty musicians can be heard in The Quarterdeck at Ballads and Brews. 

When the festival ends for the day, the music carries on into the evening and the taps flow with Michigan craft beers. $5.00 coverage charge to enter The Quarterdeck for Ballads and Brews, waived if you present your Souvenir Passport at the entrance.

Presented by

Sponsored by

Tom Mason & the Blue Buccaneers (Tennessee)

Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers play with the fervor of the Pogues and the sensitivity of the Buena Vista Social Club. Their songs transport you to the wildest pub in Port Royal at the turn of the eighteenth century. Their new CD "The World is Ablaze" draws on the fact that pirates sailed the world around and pirate crews were an international lot, so their music would be a medley of styles plundered from all over.

Tom’s theatricality and musicianship make for an explosive mix. His songs conjure up a life on the seas in an era when the only hope for destitute sailors was to go “on the account”, to become pirates.

Za Horyzontem (Poland)

Za Horyzontem is a folk group from Poland. Since 2003 they have given almost 500 concerts in Poland and abroad. They play their very own material composed by all band members. Their songs tell stories about sea from a female point of view and they are inspired by Irish folk. Colorful costumes and feminine charm creates performances that are entertaining and engaging.

Sasiedzi (Poland)

Sasiedzi (the Neighbours) were formed in 2001 in Gliwice (Poland). The name of the band originates from the pub where we first played music together. Initially, we performed mostly folk and sea shanties (maritime work songs performed a cappella in Polish, English, French and Russian). Today, our set list includes our own original compositions. Additionally, we incorporate music from other cultures in our repertoire, including traditional tunes from Cape Breton, Ireland and Scotland, as well as our own Silesian folk and also some medieval folk.

The combination of musicians give the band its own unique sound. Magnetism of the group lies in intricate harmonies orchestrate with richly acoustic instrumentation. Sasiedzi have developed our own distinctive style.

Sasiedzi have performed over 400 concerts in Poland and abroad (Tatihoo, Paimpol - France; Appingedam - Netherland; Bremen, Rostock - Germany, Bay City and we are the first group from Poland, took place in legendary Sea Music Festival in Mystic Seaport in USA.

El Pony Pisador (Spain)

El Pony Pisador is a folk band formed by 5 young boys from Barcelona. They began playing in 2013 and after a few line-up changes, they played their first concert in October 2014. At first, they played Irish folk tunes, but then began to experiment with other traditional music styles and started to mix all of them. They’ve played more than 50 concerts in the Catalunya region of northeastern Spain and have continued to expand their musical repertoire over the years. In 2016, El Pony Pisador released their first album, “Yarr’s i trons!”

Bocca Musica (Detroit)

Bocca Musica is an international, award winning, band based out of the Metro Detroit area. Known for their spicy and raucous sense of humor, they perform a wide range of genres from original pirate and bawdy tunes to Celtic and traditional sea shanties.

No matter where Bocca goes or what they sing, one thing remains the same...their love of tight harmonies and making people laugh!

3 Sheets to the Wind (Belgium)

Formerly part of the Belgian shanty group “Les Mâles de mer” Yves and Manu decided to continue touring and singing the maritime repertoire as a duo, under the name “Two Sheets to the Wind”. With this third invitation to attend Tall Ship Celebration: Bay City, they had no problem convincing their young and talented fiddler to hop on board once more and join them on their journey of shanties, maritime songs and Irish jigs and reels. And just like that, Two Sheets to the Wind became Three Sheets to the Wind!

They play their music with a slight pop twist that sets them apart from more traditional bands. Over the years, they’ve had the pleasure of playing all major European venues and Canada’s beautiful province of Quebec and are delighted to be back again in Michigan. They’ll bring you tales of French pirates, British fishermen and Dutch pilots, songs about creole whale hunters and poems of  Brittany women longing for the return of their husbands sailing the seven seas. Yves plays guitar, Simon plays fiddle and Manu plays Mandola.

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2019

5:00 p.m.
The Celtic Jam
5:45 p.m.
Sasiedzi
6:45 p.m.
Tom Mason & the Blue Buccaneers
7:45 p.m.
Za Horyzontem
8:45 p.m.
Tom Mason & the Blue Buccaneers
9:45 p.m.
Bocca Musica
 

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019

5:00 p.m.
The Celtic Jam
5:45 p.m.
The Women of Wind & Water
6:45 p.m.
El Pony Pisador
7:45 p.m.
Three Sheets to the Wind
8:45 p.m.
Tom Mason & the Blue Buccaneers
9:45 p.m.
Bocca Musica
 

SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2019

5:00 – 7:30 p.m.
All Hands Sing Around

CLOSED FOR 2019!