Folk singer Gordon Bok is hosting the 10th annual Working on the Water event. This is a gathering of mariners who come together for an afternoon of sharing personal experiences and inspirations of their unique livelihoods through song, poetry, and stories. 

Five ‘presenters’ take the stage for 15-20 minutes each and entertain a paying audience. Past presenters have included fishermen/women, captains of all manner of vessels, members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Marine Patrol, and others. 

This year we are especially interested in hearing from the women who are quietly working on the water. You must be currently making (or previously made) your living working on the water in some capacity, and all your material must be original and presented orally. Free admission for one guest per presenter. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. at Rockland’s Sail, Power, and Steam Museum. Admission of $5/adult - kids under 12 attend free.

The event is patterned after the highly successful Fisherpoets Gathering in Astoria, Oregon.  That event is in its 15th year and has expanded from six presenters at one venue on one night to over 80 presenters at five different venues over the course of a three-day weekend.  Working On The Water has attracted larger audiences every year and has spawned a similar event in Portland called Voices of the Sea, sponsored by the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath.

Interested people or those with questions can please contact Kathy Pease 207-236-2707 or music.timberhead@gmail.com by Oct. 18.  A list of those who have been on stage in the past is at Gordon’s website www.gordonbok.com/special.html