The Official Roaring Forties Web Site

Roaring Forties Shanty Crew

Welcome to the Roaring Forties web site.

The Roaring Forties is a Sydney (Australia) - based folk group renowned for the powerful impact they make singing unaccompanied traditional songs, although they sometimes sing with accompaniment (guitars, bouzouki, whistles). They are strong individual singers and the vigour and interplay of their combined voices makes for a distinctive sound. The songs they choose share that robust quality - telling of real people, their lives and work. Much of their material has been honed by generations of folk singers; other songs are contemporary but composed with respect for the tradition. They are always reinventing themselves, but one thing remains constant – the enjoyment they get from harmony singing and encouraging audience participation – whether the song be about an industrial accident or a waltzing bear.

Sea shanties (also spelt sea chanties) are an important thread in the tapestry of song the Forties weave: but they also sing mining songs, songs of struggle, gospel songs, anti-war songs, bush songs, songs for the sheer joy of singing.

THE ROARING FORTIES have presented a remarkable series of performances over the last 3-5 years: Tolpuddle: the Australian Connection about the lives of early trades unionists transported to Australia; Yarri of Wiradjuri – John Warner's moving song and verse cycle about the flood that destroyed Gundagai in 1852; Shellback Sheila : the working lives of sailors in verse and song by Cicely Fox Smith 1882-1954; and currently they are working on Steelers of NSW – original songs by Robin Connaughton and John Warner about Robin's experiences working in the steel industry. The songs describe episodes of danger, mischief and ratbaggery, starkly contrasting with a deeply compassionate look at the industry's impact on its workers and the indigenous inhabitants of the region.

The Forties have an extensive list of themes they can sing about: sea shanties, whaling songs, forebitters, work songs, union songs, protest songs, humerous songs, god bothering songs, drinking songs; and they can host singing sessions ...
They're also happy to perform in unamplified venues.

The present line-up of the Forties includes: Don Brian, Robin Connaughton, Tom Hanson, Margaret Walters and John Warner.

Don't mistake us for the English Roaring Forties
Note. We are the Australian Shanty and Folk singing group. Please do not mistake us for the English group of the same name, which was only formed as recently as 1995. We assume they took our name as recognition of our immense talent. Margaret, who has joined them in various sessions on her UK tours, says they are a great bunch of guys. They can can be found at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/guestlist/forties/. If you are looking for those young upstarts please give them our regards, and thanks for stopping by.