“THERE is no other band as hard-working, as talented, diverse and surprising as these guys.”
High praise indeed from Katie Richards of Old Time Sailors, who will be sailing into Englefield Live with the group next month. They fuse traditional seafaring music – and some newer classics – with modern influences such as punk, ska, heavy metal and rock.
They will be joining The Lightning Seeds and Madness at Englefield House for an outdoor spectacular and Katie can’t wait to bring their blend of music to you.
“There are 21 amazing musicians with an amazing repertoire … prepare to be blown away,” Katie promises.
“In the world we live in right now, we all need a bit of a joy, and a good night out … young, old, everybody.”
Old Time Sailors promise a family-friendly show, with a crew in pirate gear, and a blend of folk and shanty songs. Add in audience participation and the opportunity to join a conga, and you have the perfect blend for a fun performance.
It takes place on Friday, July 19, the first of four solid days of music coming to the Englefield estate courtesy of Heritage Live.
The weekend includes Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics, and Elbow, plus special guests. On Monday, July 22, there will be Flackstock. This extra festival celebrates the life of Caroline Flack with comedy, dance and musical acts, while raising funds for mental health charities.
Katie hopes people will come along to Heritage Live as part of their support for live music.
“It is at risk of dying out,” she warns. “We are losing festivals and venues daily.
“There are hugely talented performers out there. If we don’t keep paying to support them, people will lose the opportunity to see live music in amazing venues.”
Katie can’t wait for the Old Time Sailors to be part of Englefield Live.
“Who wouldn’t want to perform on stage with Madness,” she says. “They’re iconic. We’ve grown up listening to them, you’d have to have your head in the sand over the past couple of decades not to know them. It is a huge draw for us.”
Performing outdoors for Heritage Live is another big draw for them. “We were part of it last year (at another location) and it was just fantastic,” Katie says.
“Hopefully we will have sunny days and summer will arrive.”
The band of merry musicians love these outdoor shows, not least as with 21 of them an indoor stage can get cramped.
“There is a very good vibe with audiences when you’re outside,” Katie says. “The British people love a festival and any opportunity to get outside.”
The sailors love walking the plank off stage and getting into the audience, launching conga lines and encouraging people to get involved. It’s more than just a performance for them – they want everyone to feel part of the show.
Katie is full of admiration for them: “It is an absolute joy to see the energy transfer between the band and the audience. And it’s all ages. It really is an infectious joy to be able to witness … it is an absolute highlight.”
The band tour relentlessly.
“It’s a bit more like a circus in some ways,” Katie says. “People join the band for a six-month tour, then return. The musicians can be interchangeable, but we are together.
“We’re more than a band, we’re a family … a crew on a ship.”
For all show info, including venue information and VIP packages visit: www.heritagelive.net
