Garnet's Gems

Yesterday was Canada Day!!!!! Woohoo! Patriotism time!!

Given that fun fact, I figured I’d take some time to talk about the great fun that is Maritime* Folk, one of my favourite genres.

*(Technically Newfoundland is not part of the Maritimes, but let’s just consider it as such for the purposes of this article)

We humans are social creatures. This means that every now and then we need to participate in a drunken singalong at midnight, and let me tell you, there is no better genre for that purpose than this one. Primarily made up of sea shanties, which are fully designed to be sung in unison with their steady beats and clear call-and-response format, maritime folk has a uniquely Canadian flavour (admittedly about half the genre staples are imports from the European Celts, but shh). I mean, how else do you describe Barrett’s Privateers?

Also, if any of you don’t recognize that song, go ask your parents about it. If they don’t know it, then I weep for this country and its future.

Who are the stand out artists of the genre? There’s a million of them, but I’m just going to focus on three for now.

Stan Rogers

The only hipster I respect. This man, who tragically died at a young age is the undisputed king of the genre. Once a coffeeshop snob, he found his heart stolen by the ineffable Atlantic.

Beyond the all-timer that is Barrett’s Privateers, he was also responsible for Northwest Passage, The Mary Ellen Carter, The Flowers of Bermuda, and countless other timeless songs.

His best album is Northwest Passage (1981): 9.

Ron Hynes

The least recognizable name on this list belongs to a champion of the Maritime working class.

Ron Hynes was a crooner of the sea. Although his body of work wasn’t particularly shanty-esque, its thematic ties to the soul of the region undoubtedly earn him a spot here. This man interrogated love, pride, and masculinity in the ruins of a desolate economy.

His best album is Face to the Gale (1997): 8.75.

Great Big sea

Aka, the only reason I had to add that caveat up there about Newfoundland.

Do they rock? Yes.

Do they chant along to tales of the waxing and waning of the sea? Yes.

Are they great? Also, yes.

If you haven’t listened to The Night Pat Murphy Died (shockingly a newfoundland original, though not originally theirs), The Chemical Worker’s Song, or Excursion Around the Bay, then what are you doing with your life?

Best album is Play (1997): 8