Denmark’s sea shanty singers, the Salty Seadogs, gave audiences at the Albany International Folk ’n’ Shanty Festival renditions of old and new shanties with heaps of gusto.

They were rewarded with cheers and audience participation.

The shanty festival, which was postponed in July due to COVID-19, went ahead over the first weekend in October due mainly to the hard work and persistence of Albany shantyman Gary (Grizz) Greenwald and his band of volunteers.

Nine shanty-singing groups and 26 Australian folk music acts and seven international acts played in several venues around Albany waterfront including the Albany Entertainment Centre.

For the Salty Seadogs it was their second public outing from their practice shed but they rose to the occasion with a well-rehearsed song list.

Some of their songs were traditional shanties originally sung to make mundane tasks onboard sailing ships easier.

The group’s Michael Paver and Roger Monk wrote other songs while working on traditional wooden boats at the Denmark shed.

Grizz Greenwald said the Salty Seadogs were the ‘surprise package’ at the festival which was a big success.

The Salty Seadogs appreciated the welcoming vibe of the festival and enjoyed the community spirit.

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 14 October 2021.