Pressgang Mutiny Set Sail With Departure, Sailing Centuries-Old Songs Straight Into The Modern World

Toronto’s shantymen Pressgang Mutiny return with Departure, their third full-length album, out March 13, 2026 via Slammin Media and distributed worldwide by Believe. Known for reviving the raw spirit of sea shanties and maritime work songs, the quartet take their biggest step forward yet, honouring centuries-old tradition while reimagining what these songs can sound like today. Departure is rooted in history but built for a global, modern audience. Since forming in 2013, Pressgang Mutiny have treated shanties as living music, not museum pieces. The Toronto-based vocal quartet has traveled extensively across Canada, the Caribbean, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe, learning directly from the people who keep these songs alive and performing everywhere from tall ships to major folk and maritime festivals. Their approach blends scholarship with sweat, respecting the function, rhythm, and communal power that first gave rise to this music.

At its core, Departure explores voyages, both literal and musical. Sea Shanties have always been songs of movement, work, and longing, and this album leans fully into that lineage. Across twenty tracks, Pressgang Mutiny trace the connections between traditional sea songs and other global styles that share the same rhythmic and communal DNA. Irish folk grit and the Afro-Caribbean call and answer shanty form sit alongside Hip-Hop production, elements of Dancehall and Ska, and historical samples, expanding the form without breaking its spine. The album balances classic material with fresh arrangements and never-before-heard lyrical variations shaped by years of research and performance. Tracks like “Old Mick,” “Santiana,” “Haul Away Joe,” and “Rio Grande” retain their muscular, call-and-response drive, while songs such as “Lowlands,” “Mingulay,” and “Deep Blue Sea” highlight the emotional depth and storytelling at the heart of the tradition. Throughout, Pressgang Mutiny’s rich four-part harmony remains the anchor.

Departure also marks a bold step into the world of collaboration. Guest appearances from artists including Carl Harvey of Toots and the Maytals, Toronto Reggae veteran Sunray Grennan, world beat juggling champion DJ Jasper Gahunia, and Toronto Hip-Hop artist Matt Somber reflect the group’s belief that shanties at their core have always been a doorway for cross cultural musical exchange. These contributions do not dilute the tradition, but reinforce its adaptability and continued relevance. Beyond the recordings, Pressgang Mutiny remain dedicated ambassadors for the music they love. They host The Shanty Show, an ongoing podcast spotlighting sea songs and the people who sing them, and regularly lead educational workshops for new and experienced audiences alike. Their work has earned them Official Showcase slots at Folk Music Ontario and Folk Alliance International, along with appearances at major events including Mystic Sea Music Festival, Paimpol Festival du Chants de Marin, Whitby Folk Week, Oban International Shanty Festival, and festivals across Europe and North America.

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With over 400,000 streams to date and a steadily growing global listenership, Pressgang Mutiny enter 2026 with momentum. Departure anchors a major international rollout across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Poland, and Germany, supported by touring, campus and folk radio promotion, targeted digital campaigns, and new visual content. More than a record, Departure is a statement of intent, proof that sea shanties are not relics of the past, but living songs meant to travel, adapt, and be sung together. Pressgang Mutiny are Richard Kott, James McKie, Michael O’Grady, and Stefan Read, alongside DJ Chaotic Vibrance. With Departure, they honour the voices that carried these songs across oceans while pushing them forward into new ports.

For press inquiries, interviews, and review copies, please reach out. -Chad

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Pressgang Mutiny Live

January 4, 2026 - Another Bloody Folk Club, Toronto, ON

January 25, 2026 - Tranzac (Shanty Sing), Toronto, ON

February 22, 2026 - Tranzac (Shanty Sing), Toronto ON

March 14, 2026 - Album Launch, Toronto, ON (Tentative)

March 22, 2026 - Tranzac (Shanty Sing), Toronto, ON

March 26-28, 2026 - Spring Tide Shanty Fest, St. John, NB

March 29, 2026 - Cuckoo’s Nest Folk Club, London, ON

April 12, 2026 – Departure CD Release,

July 31-August 7, 2026 – Sidmouth Folk Week, Sidmouth, UK

August 15, 2026 – Morecambe Maritime Festival, Morecambe, UK

August 21-23, 2026 - FolkEast, Suffolk, UK

August 24-28, 2026 - Whitby Folk Week, Whitby, UK

August 30-31, 2026 - Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Shrewsbury, UK