Sea Song Sessions

Ben Hillier-produced Topic Records debut of maritime songs by leading British folk luminaries “supergroup”. ‘Sea Song Sessions’ is a collection of British maritime folk songs and sea shanties, performed by a collective of some of British folk music’s leading lights : Jon Boden, Seth Lakeman, Ben Nicholls, Emily Portman & Jack Rutter. The concept for the album came to them in 2021, when they were asked to prepare an evening of sea-related songs for the Folkestone Festival. Boden’s celebrated work as frontman of Bellowhead (of course no strangers to sea-faring songs) and Ben Nicholls’ band, Kings of The South Seas (who play exclusively maritime-influenced music), Seth Lakeman’s own extensive body of work from the South West as well as Emily Portman and Jack Rutter’s sizeable oceanic repertoires, all formed the natural foundation and inspiration for these acclaimed musicians to conceive the Sea Song Sessions. The album was produced by seasoned veteran Ben Hillier (Blur, Depeche Mode, Elbow) and recorded live over two days at Agricultural Audio, Hillier’s own studio in the Sussex Downs, constructed within a giant farm building made entirely out of hay bales. Unsurprisingly from the oldest independent record label in the world and an undeniable steward of Britain’s folk music, Topic has a long history of recording maritime/sea songs, this record serves as a mooring line to their classic releases of the ‘60s and ‘70s (‘Sea Songs & Shanties,’ ‘Blow The Man Down,’ etc). 1. The Rambling Sailor 2. The Dreadnought (Bound Away) 3. Rock'n' Row Me Over 4. Salvation Army Band Girl 5. Jack and the Bear Skin 6. Short Jacket and White Trousers 7. The Good Ship Anny 8. Fire Marengo 9. Some Old Salty 10. The Mermaid's Song 11. The Lady and the Lantern 12. Young Susan on Board of a Man-of-War 13. Deep Blue Sea