ABOUT US
QAR - Our Music, Our Crew, Our Story
From the Norwegian and North Seas, through the Skagerrak, across the Baltic, to the Gulf of Bothnia - the Viking Age through the era of the Hanseatic League and into later centuries - the songs of sailors echoed across the waters.
Stockholm, Amsterdam, Stettin, Gdańsk, and Kingston upon Hull had more in common with each other back then than with the towns deep inland. Bound together by a vast maritime cultural highway, their portside taverns vibrated not only with local tunes, but also with British broadside and penny ballads - songs brought ashore by island mariners, forging a universal language of the coasts.
We perform maritime and Celtic music. Formed in Szczecin (Stettin) in 2022, our five-piece lineup brings together experienced musicians from across the folk scene. Our aim is to perform classic English shanties and forebitters (forecastle songs of leisure) within a lively folk framework. Beyond work songs, we play the spirited Irish, Scottish, and English tunes that would fill the air after hours on the decks of tall ships, brought to life by improvised "foo-foo bands." We capture this heritage using traditional instruments of the Isles: fiddle, melodeon, bagpipes, bodhrán, mandolin, and Irish bouzouki.
Szczecin, Polish roots
In the port city of Szczecin, which once boasted several groups performing sea songs and ballads, maritime tales were rarely heard until recently. However, thanks to sailing singing enthusiasts, the Cutty Sark Tavern has recently come alive with concerts and regular shanty gatherings, and a promising new band that draws from the classics has also emerged.
- szanty24.pl -
Meet the crew
Fiddle
Anna
Professional instrumentalist educated at the music conservatory and the Academy of Arts in Stettin. Delves into the secrets of Scottish-style fiddling. Pedagogue teaching a violin class and a busking performance enthusiast.
Vocals, Mandolin, Irish Bouzouki
MareK
Educated filmmaker, songwriter and the greatest lover of Celtic culture. Creator of music videos, documentary, and narrative films. Formerly playing in the popular folk band "GreenWood". Art director of the QAR
Bass Guitar
Ruslan
A talented bass player, performing professionally in many musical projects ranging from jazz and pop to rock. He feels folk just as deeply. With QAR, he brings incredible drive and pulse.
Bodhran, Melodeon
Bartek
A lover of Irish music, sailing, and spending time with friends. He joins the band occasionally, whenever he has time, and when he does, his bodhran adds a great deal of energy to our songs.
Drums
Marcin
Classically trained percussionist and Academy of Arts graduate with international awards under his belt. Equally at home with symphonic music and energetic folk. Brings precision, power, and a rock-solid drive to the crew.
As a quest - Bagpipes, Tin Whistle
Witold
Certified Bagpiper (PDQB – Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board). A passionate devotee of Scottish and Celtic culture. Both privately and professionally, a teacher of English and a sailor.