Westlin Weavers News -- 2005 Archive
September 12, 2005 -- The Westlin Weavers' long-awaited follow-up CD to "To The Weaver's Gin Ye Go" will be released at the 2005 Sea Chantey Festival in San Diego.
"A
Blanket Of Blue" is a collection of favorite shanties and songs of
the sea -- with a Scottish flavor! The band will combine its performance
at the annual Sea Chantey Festival aboard the tall ship "Star of
India" with a CD release party and a live set featuring all of the songs on
the CD.
"Sea songs are a central part of our music and our heritage," says Jeanne McDougall, "and we are thrilled to present this collection of songs to others who share our love of the sea."
The CD includes the shanties "South Australia," "Hieland Laddie" and "Leave Her, Johnny," and a selection of traditional sea songs including "Westering Home," "Farewell To Nova Scotia," "Fiddler's Green," "Loch Tay Boat Song" and "Farewell To Tarwathie." It also includes two original songs by McDougall: "Time And Tide (lyrics)," a ballad dedicated to the sailing men and women of the Maritime Museum of San Diego (and the women and men who love them), and "A Land Beyond The Sea," (lyrics) which tells the story of Greek immigrant George Sirian, who came to America at age ten in 1828 aboard the U.S.S. Constitution and was the only man to ever serve three separate tours aboard the famous ship. Learn more about George and the U.S.S. Constitution Museum -- click here!
"George was my great-great-grandfather," says McDougall, "and I cannot express how proud I am to be able to share his story with others who have found a home in America."
The Sea Chantey Festival is an annual event presented by San Diego Folk Heritage. Learn more about SDFH and its programs at http://sdfolkheritage.org/
Thanks to J. Howard Standing for the use of the California District Tartan on the CD.
The Westlin Weavers will perform at the San Diego Sea Chantey Festival aboard the Star of India at 4:00 PM on Sunday, September 18, 2005. CDs will be available on the deck all day long during the festival, which kicks off at 11:00 AM. Call the Maritime Museum of San Diego at (619) 234-9153 for ticket information or visit www.sdmaritime.org
The Westlin Weavers are: Jeanne McDougall on guitar, recorders, whistles, dulcimers and vocals; Alex McDougall on vocals, guitar and percussion; Pete Connolly on vocals, bass, bouzouki, whistles and bodhran; Anastazia Dalesandro on vocals; and Jackie Hammack on fiddle.