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, honoring 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 the United States, Canada, 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. 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 Celtic tradition sit alongside touches of reggae, hip-hop cadence, and contemporary vocal production, 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 collaboration. Guest appearances from artists including Carl Harvey of Toots and the Maytals and Toronto hip-hop artist Matt Somber reflect the group’s belief that shanties belong to one of the world’s earliest multicultural musical lineages. 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.