The Columbia Street Seisiun

•Seisiun Tune List - A printable list of tunes frequently played at the seisiuns.

Bands -

Back Porch Swing

Before The Mast
(Sea Songs and Shanties)

Budd Bay Buccaneers
(Scallywags and Scoundrels)

Constellation's Crew
(Hank Cramer & Northwest musicians sing historical Shanties and Sea Songs)

Cricket On The Hearth
(Celtic/Irish)

Old Time Medicine Show

Snake Oil
(Old Time/Bluegrass)

On the Air -

Wheels of the World - On KAOS 89.3 FM, in Olympia, WA.

"Shanties...have always held a special place in the repertoire of folk singers and in the affection of those who love the sea and ships. However, many of the people who cheerfully sing these songs do not understand fully the significance of what they are singing. The purposes for which the songs were sung and the jargon they used were, in many cases, lost with the skills of the men who sailed the tall ships."

BEFORE THE MAST sings these songs with style and gusto, provides historical background, and describes the various uses of shanties in shipboard life. Two of the members have served as sailors and shanty singers aboard the square-rigger, Lady Washington, based at Grays Harbor. BEFORE THE MAST can add a festive and nautical flavor to your event.

Burt & Di Meyer have been involved in folk music in the Olympia area since the mid-60's. They helped found the OLYMPIA FOLKLORE SOCIETY and, later, the APPLEJAM FOLK CENTER, the TUMWATER BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL, the COLUMBIA STREET SEISIUN, and the OLDTIME MEDICINE SHOW. They also play in the old-time/bluegrass group SNAKE OIL.

Dusty Rhodes is a well-known and respected Olympia folksinger who has opened for several national acts. His uniquely charming voice and his considerable skill on banjo and guitar added to Burt's lively concertina, melodian, and bodhran and Di's bass make for a memorable and entertaining program.

OF NOTE: Dusty, Burt, and Di are members of the Irish group CRICKET ON THE HEARTH and they can easily include authentic Irish selections of land or sea in their performance, if you wish, or even do an entire Irish program.