Janie Meneely & Rob van Sante

Rough as a riot, soft as sea spray, international duo Janie Meneely and Rob van Sante bring a breath of salt air to any stage. Their collaborative effort, marked by evocative instrumentals, strong vocals and original arrangements support an array of mostly maritime, mostly new material.

Singer/songwriter Janie Meneely brings her nautical perspective to the world of folk music and storytelling, celebrating the maritime history, characters, and traditions of the Chesapeake Bay region where she was born and raised. From the somber Oyster Wife about the infamous Chesapeake Bay oyster wars to the turn-about tale of ladies on the loose in Twiddles, her songs inform as much as they entertain, chronicling the stories of Bay watermen or poking fun at sailors’ traditions.

In 2015, she partnered with Dutch-born guitarist Rob van Sante who lends his knack for melodies and flair for vocal harmony to Meneely’s compositions. Commonly seen performing with the likes of Alan Reid (of The Battlefield Band) or John Conolly (who penned the maritime favorite Fiddler’s Green), Rob draws deep from the well of traditional music, often supplanting his virtuoso guitar with spellbinding a cappella renditions of gems he’s collected during a lifetime of performing around the world.

Whether they sing about the past or the present, the Bay or Beyond, Janie Meneely and Rob van Sante are delighted to share a few hours of music, merriment and (sometimes) mayhem. Be ready to sing along.

Janie Meneely Website