"What's Castlebay all about? -- Seafaring, the darkness and lightness of the coast of Maine, the rhythm of the tides"
-- Peter Spectre, marine author
Castlebay treats an audience to a musical journey through time and across the Atlantic as they interweave timeless songs, spritely dance tunes, and haunting aires inspired by the spirit of our rich nautical and Celtic heritage. Exuberant vocals are supported by Julia Lane's unique self-taught, award-winning Celtic harp style and Fred Gosbee's expertise on 12 (or 14)-string guitar, violin, viola, and woodwinds. Their deep appreciation for the unique character of their home state of Maine, as well as the Celtic lands, Castlebay blends history, legend and experience into their personable performance style.
Since 1984, Fred Gosbee and Julia Lane have created a body of work that celebrates Maine's maritime heritage and environment. Known for their arrangements of traditional music, they have also received critical praise for their evocative original compositions: Gosbee for his finely crafted narrative ballads and Lane for her imagery and beautiful melodies.
Castlebay has frequently appeared at sea music festivals in both the United States and Europe They have shared their songs and stories on concert stages from Nova Scotia to Florida, where they have delighted audiences of all ages.
Together, Lane and Gosbee have written, recorded, and produced two albums of original music, Song of the Sea and The Ballad of Cappy John. These songs depict the lives of those who live by the sea, not only the deep water sailors but also the shipwrights, coasters, fisherman and their wives. These are the people who established Maine as a maritime legend and who continue to build that legend with their daily lives of skill, hard work and pride.
In 2006 they released a live concert recording of maritime songs, Islands In Time. This CD was recorded in several venues from Maine to North Carolina between 2004 and 2006.
Castlebay tours throughout the year. Bring a taste of Maine to your locale! For current information on our schedule, travel plans, and fees, please contact us.
May there always be safe haven from the storm
May the sun glow softly on your skin
May the stars shine bright
May the dawn come clear
May you always run before the wind
from Run Before the Wind©Julia Lane
Audio Samples
The Mackerel Jig/Out on the Ocean
Stage 33 Live is a welcoming, casual, scrappy but well-mannered, big-hearted, nonprofit, DIY listening room in an industrial-rustic former factory with 40 seats, run by chipper upstart adult volunteers on an island in the rural Vermont village of Bellows Falls on the Connecticut River bordering New Hampshire. Castlebay will do some unusual versions of traditional seasonal songs and a few surprises.
$10 Advance, $12 Door
(EST, UTC-05) (EST, UTC-05)
Riverside Golf and Country Club, 2524 Rothesay Road , Rothesay NB E2H 2K7, Canada
This gala dinner will be punctuated by Scottish songs and tunes.
Past Library Performances
Anderson County Library , Anderson, SC 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019
Avon Free Public Library , Avon, CT 2004, 2005, 2010
Bangor Public Library, Bangor, Maine 2021
Camden Public Library , Camden, Maine 2003, 2005
Citizens Library , Washington, PA 2007, 2008
Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library , Clifton Park, NY 2005, 2007
Collier County Public Library , Naples, FL 2008
Crandall Public Library , Glen Falls, NY 2005
Fairfax Community Library , Fairfax, VT 2004
Jacksonville Public Library , Jacksonville, FL 2021*
Jay Niles Memorial Library , Jay, Maine 2022, 2023
Kennebunk Free Library , Kennebunk, Maine 2004, 2022
Lake Placid Memorial Library , Lake Placid, FL 2019
Lewis Public Library , Corinna, Maine 2002
Lucy Robbins Wells Library , Newington, CT` 2000
Lynn Public Library , Lynn, MA 2009
Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library , Presque Isle, Maine 2012
Memorial Hall Library, Andover, MA 2009
Newport Public Library , Newport, Maine 2022
Northeast Harbor Library , Northeast Harbor, Maine 2003
Peabody Memorial Library , Jonesport, Maine 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017
Pearl River Library , Pearl River, NY 2005, 2007, 2009
Plymouth Public Library , Plymouth, MA 2008, 2009, 2014, 2019, 2023
Ridgefield Library , Ridgefield, CT 2008, 2016, 2022
Rockport Public Library , Rockport, Maine 2017
Rowan Public Library , Salisbury, NC 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020*
Rumford Public Library , Rumford, Maine 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008
Sebring Public Library , Sebring, FL 2013
Simsbury Public Library ,Simsbury, CT 2004
Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME 2022
Smyth Library , Candia, NH 2016
Stewart Free Library, Corinna, Maine 2002, 2008
Topsham Public Library, Topsham, Maine 2023
Warner Library, Sleepy Hollow, NY 2004
Washington County Public Library, Chipley, FL 2014, 2016
Williamsburg Regional Library, Williamsburg, VA 2016
Wilton Library, Wilton, CT 2023
* postponed/canceled by Covid 19
May there always be safe haven from the storm