Every Wednesday in July and August, passengers on the Tall Ship Manitou will get to enjoy an evening of music with Song of the Lakes.
Ingemar Johansson, Lisa Johansson and Michael Sullivan visited IPR's Studio A this week to give a preview of this summer's onboard adventures.
The band has been playing these evening sails for 37 years now.
They began on the Tall Ship Malabar, playing multiple nights a week, and eventually they settled on a regular Wednesday performance. When the Malabar was retired and replaced by the Manitou, they kept their regular weekly onboard gig.
Ingemar Johansson said that, for him, it's primarily about sailing: "It's an awesome thing to go out in West Grand Traverse Bay and go sailing for a couple hours every week."
Contending with the weather is always an adventure.
There have been times when the ship is leaning back and forth and the musicians are trying to hold onto their cases and their instruments while also performing.
"Try doing all of that while playing a flute!" Lisa Johansson said.
They've been drenched by the waves a few times over the years, too.
"If the waves break over the bough, our backs will be soaked," Sullivan said. There are ponchos available, but it can be tricky trying to play a guitar, mandolin, bouzouki or squeezebox underneath a poncho.
If the rain gets too heavy, they'll put their instruments away and sing chanteys.
The members of Song of the Lakes have had some interesting adventures in their 37 years playing aboard tall ships.
They've gone down below in the galley to perform if the rain gets too heavy, and sometimes oblivious passengers have blocked the audience's view by wandering in front of the band to watch crew members go up the mast to the crow's nest.
"The audience entertains us, too," Sullivan said. "You never know what you're going to encounter. It's always a surprise."
The musicians are looking forward to another summer setting sail on West Grand Traverse Bay.
"We try to spread joy to people," Ingemar Johansson said.
Songs performed in Studio A
The Haggis
Poets Say
Me and the Sea
Below, watch the members of Song of the Lakes perform aboard the Tall Ship Manitou back in 2011.
Kelley DiPasquale engineered this edition of Studio A with support from Alex Chuk.
Kacie Brown is IPR's digital content manager.
