The Paddy Westers shanteying style is strongly influenced by the singing and music of Stan Hugill, the last shantyman from the end of the sailing age, at the beginning of the 20th century. Hugill sang in the manner of the shanty men he served with and we strive to continue that tradition. With percussive accentuation of the beat, created by yodel like “hitches”, yelps, and yells, our songs draw forth the bygone era of the great age of sail. Singing and playing in the unabashed style associated with folk music, Strings and Things brings a rousing refreshing style to a music too long associated with pretty harmonies and subdued voices.

Richard Burbank (concertina and button accordion) began to study sea shanties and sailor’s ballads in 1994. Soon afterwards, beginning a tenure as cook on the Schooner Timberwind out of Camden, Maine, he began developing his repertoire of sea songs over a five-year schooner cooking career. Not only did he sing to entertain the passengers, but also utilized the sea shanties in their original context, as working songs to coordinate and ease the physical work raising anchor with a windlass or hauling at the halyards to raise sails. In 1998, Richard produced The Shanty Chef, a CD of twenty sea shanties. Joining him was a chorus of local Maine schooner crews. He was one of two sea-music acts representing the United States at the Fete de Chansom de Marin 1999, a major sea-music festival on the north coast of Brittany in Paimpol, France. During this festival Richard received the Capitaine Hayet Trophy for the best English language working shanty competition.

Don DePoy (guitar and vocals) moved to Maine in 1989. He continued his music endeavors in bluegrass: playing with several local bands, wrote and performed a two-act bluegrass play Roots & Branches, finished his doctoral studies, and served as Executive Producer for Mainely Bluegrass, a 26-part TV series airing over public television in New England. In 1999, Don renewed his sailing life, earned his USCG Captain License. During the Summer months, Don worked as a Charter Boat Captain aboard the sloop Gafia, sailing from Belfast Harbor, Maine. He met Richard in 1999 and they started a life-long friendship. They started playing together on the Belfast waterfront and the fusion of traditional sea shanties with mountain music led to gigs all around the Maine and New Hampshire coast. Incidentally, Richard with a friend's help introduced Martha to Don in 2000. Their debut CD was Cape Horn Gale in 2001. In 2002, as the Paddy Westers, Richard and Don performed at the Mystic Sea Festival to an enthusiastic audience. They continued to tour around New England until moved back to Virginia in 2006. This CD showcases what they started calling SeaGrass.

Breakneck Mountain’s Company’s Comin’ is the group’s debut 1991 recording. The group first got together at the 1990 “Salty Dog” festival in Cambridge, Maine at a late night jam session and have been picking together ever since. Breakneck Mountain is a real place. It was the sight of the annual Breakneck Mountain Bluegrass Festival (1984-1995) for eleven years, hosted by Joe and Nellie Kennedy, two of the group’s founding members. Joe and Nellie live in Harmony, Maine.

Joe plays harmonica and was introduced to bluegrass by the “Circle Be Unbroken” album.

Nellie, Joe's wife, plays upright bass and was raised on country music. She began her bluegrass career in the early 1970’s.

The other founding member are

Don DePoy. He grew up in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in a family band that has five generations of mountain music tradition. In 1989 Don and his family moved to Newburgh, Maine to enjoy the country life. He plays both banjo and guitar characteristic of his native state of Virginia.

Ken Brooks, of Glenburn, Maine, joined the band shortly after the group was founded. His rhythm guitar provides a graceful foundation for the group’s music. His easy vocal is quintessential bluegrass. Rounding out the group is

Bill Thibodeau. Bill comes from a nationally recognized Maine bluegrass family. With his mandolin, guitar and fiddle, he adds the perfect rhythm and smooth style to the band. Bill lives in Bangor, Maine.

2018 UPDATE: Joe and Nellie Kennedy still reside in Harmony, Maine.

Ken and Jane Brooks now live in Athens, Maine and often team up with Joe and Nellie to perform as Brooks and Kennedy.

Don DePoy and wife Martha Hills now reside in Don’s childhood home in Swoope, Virginia. They tour regionally as Me & Martha and when in Maine they team up with Joe and Nellie as Three Yankees and a Hillbilly.

Bill Thibodeau lives in Cumberland, Rhode Island and continues to dazzle with his instrument virtuosity in Rock Hearts Band.

Track Order

1 Old Man In The Shanty (3:09) 1,5,4-A,C,E,F,G

2 Age (2:55) 3,4,2-A,C,E,F,G

3 Sea Of Heartbreak (3:12) 3,4,2-A,C,E,F,G

4 It Seems There’s Nothing I Can Do (2:30) 4,2,3- A,C,E,F,G

5 Lost All Your Love (4:04) 1,4,3-A,B,C,E,F,G

6 Gone, Gone, Gone (2:54) 1,3,4-A,C,E,F,G,I

7 Old Country Church (3:29) 2,4,3,1-A,C,E,F,G,I

8 Whispering Waters (3:09) 1,5,4-A,C,E,F,G

9 Running Wild (2:54) 4,3-A,C,E,F,H

10 Higgins Stream - Inst. (3:19) A,B,C,E,F,G,H

11 The Singer (3:03) 4,2,3-A,D,E,F,G

12 Dark Hollow (2:51) 3,4,2-A,C,E,F,G

13 All I Ever Want (2:45) 1,4,3-A,B,D,E,F,G,H

14 Company’s Comin’ (2:59) 2,4,1-A,C,E,F,G

Breakneck Mountain Band (Alphabetically)

1. Kenny Brooks A - Rhythm Guitar B - Lead Guitar

2. Don DePoy C - Banjo D - Lead Guitar

3. Joe Kennedy E – Harmonica

4. Nellie Kennedy F - Bass Fiddle

5. Bill Thibodeau G - Mandolin H - Fiddle I - Lead Guitar

Breakneck Mountain Band Members Current Contact Information

Joe Kennedy - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008103991589

Nellie Kennedy - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nellie.kennedy.3?ref=br_rs

Don DePoy - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/me.and.martha

Ken Brooks - P.O. Box 62, Athens, ME 04912

Bill Thibodeau - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bill.thibodeau3

Production Credits

Produced by Don DePoy and Bill Thibodeau

Recording Engineer Jim England

Special thanks to Jeff for lending his ear.

Recorded at Cold Moon Studio in Bangor, Maine, June 1991.

Cassette #: Skyline Records #109 CD # Skyline Media #109

Copyright: © 1991. D.DePoy © 2018. D.DePoy

All songs BMI except as noted.

“Higgins Stream” and “Whispering Waters” B. Thibodeau