Landing ahead of the upcoming Broadside Hacks label roster tour, London-via-Michigan ballad singer/songwriter Spitzer Space Telescope - real name Dan MacDonald - shares sea shanty ‘Bound For Calais-O’, out today (21st October). Continuing his penchant for direct, Clancy Brothers-inspired folk songwriting, delivering original, trad-inspired compositions with banjo-plucks and thunderous vocal turns, new single ‘Bound For Calais’ sees MacDonald offer his take on the ballads of high-spirited sailors down on the luck, complete with infectious sing-a-long refrains of ‘hi ho hi ho / we’re bound for Calais-o’’.

Speaking more about the track, Dan explains: “Sea shanties have always been a well of inspiration that I come back to over and over again. This song is another love letter to that tradition, specifically the jolly “foc’sle” variety of sea shanties. It features Mareva Lindo singing harmonies.”

Born and raised in St. John’s, Michigan before taking full-time residence in London in last summer as a professional oil painter, MacDonald quickly immersed himself into London’s fertile emerging folk scene, joining forces with underground champions Broadside Hacks to release a brace of EPs, and tour alongside its celebrated roster for the 2nd year running this autumn.

Winning press plaudits from The Times, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, MOJO, Clash, Songlines, Tradfolk, Far Out, KLOF, Americana UK and more, Spitzer Space Telescope continues to build a host of high profile performances: alongside Mercury-nominee Martin Carthy at his celebrated career retrospective last autumn; playing live with Jackson C. Frank’s guitar; heading up the main stage at Green Man with his Bob Dylan tribute, duetting with Clara Mann. Heading up bills at SXSW and Fire In the Mountain Festivals, he’s also shared stages with Shovel Dance Collective, Milkweed, Jerron Paxton and Sam Shackleton.