Portage Library Sea Shanty Sing-along

Saturday, September 06, 2025
2:00pm – 3:30pm

Join us for a Saturday afternoon of sea shanty sing-alongs! No previous experience or singing skills necessary. Everyone will learn together.

Portage District Library
300 Library Lane
Portage, Michigan 49002

Registration Required.

Assemble your crew and prepare to hoist the anchor! Great Lakes-based shantyman Ben Traverse will lead a rousing sea shanty sing-along at the Portage District Library. This is an opportunity to connect with a centuries-old tradition of communal singing—right in your own port of call.

It makes sense that sea shanties would become a viral TikTok sensation during the COVID-19 pandemic; They’re simple songs designed to be sung with community. In a time where we were separated from our own, it made us feel a little closer. Sea shanties are a unique tradition with deep roots in African American, English, and Irish cultures, yielding an infectious repertoire of singalongs that have helped people accomplish a common goal since the 1500s.

Traverse is a renowned interpreter of traditional music from the Great Lakes region and beyond, known for their powerful voice and deep knowledge of folk traditions. Whether you’re a seasoned chanteyman or a landlubber looking for adventure, Ben’s inclusive approach will have you singing along to “Roll the Old Chariot” and “Haul Away Joe” before you know it. No experience necessary – Pirates weren’t good singers, and you don’t have to be either!

Sailors live forever in their songs. Come sing with us and be part of the legend.

This is a one-time event.