Shank Painters’ new album, “Spitfire,” is sure to rouse yer inner pirate!

May 1, 2026

Nautical folk group, Shank Painters, is releasing their daring fourth album, Spitfire.

PORTLAND, MAINE - On June 18, Shank Painters will be releasing their strongest studio album to date. Spitfire is a rollicking mix of reimagined traditional sea shanties and folk tunes, genre-bending originals, and floor-stomping rebel songs. The album will be available on all major streaming platforms. Shank Painters will be having an album release show on June 18th at Live at Madrid’s, Portland’s newest 800-capacity live music venue. The show will also feature Troy Bennett, frontman of Bailey’s Mistake and Half Moon Jug Band; and The Mermaids, a dreamy nautical folk-pop trio.

Shank Painters’ single, “South Australia,” exemplifies the band’s mix of originality and traditional shanty sound, and it stands out for its Celtic-inspired ornamentation, instrumentals that make you want to get up and dance, and humorous original lyrics. The hand-painted puppet music video is silly, over the top, and crafted with an attention to detail that shows the passion and humor Shank Painters have brought to Spitfire.

Spitfire, defined as “an individual with a fiery and passionate personality,” lives up to the name. The album makes bold statements on class and revolution, featuring classic Irish rebel songs like “Black and Tans” and “The Foggy Dew.” Original songs “Steal From Everyone You Can (Except From the Band)” and “The Death of a Robber Baron” bring contemporary struggles to a new light while still maintaining traditional roots. This is a time of great political unrest, and Spitfire boldly calls for action while also maintaining hope for the future. This new album also pays tribute to the fiery nature of piracy, celebrating the chaos, beauty, danger, and epic love stories that can be found in a life at sea.

Shank Painters have honed their craft in the last ten years, and it shows in this ambitious new album. The album features Captain NoBeard (Nyx Leibiger) on accordion and piano, bringing a classic piratical feel to the music with sweeping melodies and rollicking riffs. Pirate Charlie (Charlie Swerdlow) adds energy on guitar and vocals, adding distinct flair to original songs with a strong tenor voice and driving guitar. The Fair Rapscallion (Fairen Stark) is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, and is featured playing rhythmic banjo parts, unique flute melodies, and lilting Irish whistle throughout. Her sweet, soulful vocal melodies are both gentle and impassioned, complementing Swerdlow’s vocal range and the many instruments featured. On fiddle, Zetara of the Northern Isles (Zoe Pancic) shines, crafting original and catchy melodies that give the album a distinct Celtic flavor. Finally, Spitfire is the second Shank Painters album to feature guest percussionist Sam Atwood, who expertly plays cajon, tupan, and bodhrán, adding lively rhythms tailored to each unique song. He is also featured on upright bass, a new sound that adds a depth previously unexplored in the Shank Painters’ work.

Spitfire is sure to get listeners singing along, dancing, and yearning for a life at sea.

For more information, promo requests, or to arrange an interview, contact Shank Painters at shankpainters@gmail.com or +1 (207) 420-0737.

The Shank Painters are a pirate-themed folk music band based in Portland, Maine. The band's repertoire consists of traditional folk, original songs, and shanties - work songs that were song on board ships to help sailors keep time. Shanties are treasures of history, preserving the travails and spirit from centuries of seafaring culture. These tunes often feature catchy sing-along refrains, beloved by children and rowdy drunks alike.

Formed in the Summer of 2016 between high school art friends, Shank Painters began as humble street performers, and have since performed at festivals, parties, venues, and bars all over the Northeast. Bringing together voices, accordion, fiddle, banjo, guitar, and percussion, the Shank Painters bring the past alive with their mixture of playful, rollicking, heartbreaking, and hilarious songs.

Band Bio