News Release

Annapolis Maritime Museum / 723 Second St / Annapolis, MD 21403
Contact: Jeff Holland / 410-295-0104

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Sept. 2, 2010

Annapolis Maritime Museum presents Tom Lewis in Concert
Thursday, Oct. 7, 8-10 p.m.

Tom Lewis, Sea Dog Emeritus

It’s been several years since Tom Lewis visited the Chesapeake, bringing with him his penchant for sea music old and new, his strong vocals and whimsical instrumentation (from button box to ukulele). And local fans are delighted to have him back again.

A resident of the Pacific Northwest, Tom travels the world performing for folk clubs, town hall audiences and sea festivals, always to rave reviews. He’s even crafted a number of songs himself that have drifted into the sea chantey canon: “The Sailor’s Prayer,” “I’m Marching Inland,” “A Sailor Ain’t a Sailor,” just to name a few.

As winner of the inaugural “Trophée Stan Hugill,” French fans dub Tom “The Springsteen of Sea Chanteys.” Old Songs Festival (Altamont, N.Y.) declares, “This man knows the sea ... from the bottom up!” Living Tradition (www.folkmusic.net, U.K.) says, “Although I always knew he was good, I was not quite prepared for HOW good.” Twenty-four years in the British Royal Navy “provides him with that vitally authentic stance with which to tackle nautical song.”

Tom’s repertoire—from traditional sea shanties to songs fashioned from his own seafaring background—pulls his audience onboard for a voyage by turns reflective, dramatic and humorous. Though he hails from Canada these days, Tom was born in Northern Ireland, and his Celtic heritage shines through in his clear, strong voice, evoking quiet sorrow for a fisherman lost to the sea just as honestly as it powers out a shanty “to be heard above the gales.”

More than just a singer, Tom is a dramatic raconteur, holding audiences spellbound with his delightful stories of life in the Queen’s navy or his ramblings along the folk music trail. Poetry plays into his performances as well—this is a man of words, spoken or sung. But it’s his powerful vocal style and infectious humor, his ability simply to entertain, which keeps audiences coming back again ... and again.

Tickets: $15 in advance; $20 at the door. Online ticket sales will be available soon.

PARKING: There’s plenty of parking available at the Horn Point Harbor Marina, 105 Eastern Ave. Eastern Avenue. It is tthe last cross street before you reach the Museum on Second Street. Turn left. You will see the marina parking lot on your right. After parking, walk back one half block along Eastern Avenue to Second Street, turn left and walk two short blocks to the Museum.  

SPECIAL NOTE: This is the opening day of the Annapolis Sailboat Show, so expect crowded restaurants and a congested downtown area.

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