The Ballina Whalers

Ear Trumpet Folk Club presents regular intimate, sit-down gigs with some of the greatest musicians from around the globe:

The Ballina Whalers (pronounced Bal-en-a) are Pete Truin, Jamie Doe and Sam Brookes – three musical barnacles clinging to the creaking hull of a musical tradition stretching back over hundreds of years. Using just their voices they explore ballads, shanties and seafaring songs that tell tales of whaling ships, lost loves, roaring storms and hardship out at sea.

Fast becoming one of the most sort after shanty bands around, known as much for their heart rending three part harmonies as their lusty approach to singing shanties, the last few years have been extremely busy for the boys, seeing them playing folk clubs, harbour sides, beaches, boat sheds and festivals up and down the country.

Particular highlights include being invited to perform in Holland at the International Sea Shanty Festival in Appingedam and the Naar Zee, Naar Zee Festival in Leiden where they met and exchanged songs with legendary shanty men, Stormalong John, Andy Kenna from Liverpool and Les Souillés de Fond de Cale from Brittany.