Batten down your hatches and prepare to weigh anchor!
Whiskey Boat is a Far North Queensland rock shanty Indie band that lures you like a siren’s call. The lasses of Whiskey Boat, joined by their token manservant bassist, deliver toe-tapping shows filled with spilling harmonies, ballads of old and heart starter jigs, all wrapped in a bold nautical theme.
Blending folk tradition with indie energy, Whiskey Boat thrives on audience connection, drawing crowds in with driving rhythms, rich harmonies, and catchy hooks, with acoustic textures including soaring flute, tin whistle, vibrant violin, and the chug of a trusty washboard, keeping everything shipshape.
Sisters Lauren and Melissa Butler craft piratey jigs and indie ballads that explore the wild seas and are regular performers at regional festivals, community events and venues.
In 2025, the band recorded their debut album, capturing the spirit of their live performances and the salt air stories of Far North Queensland. Whether on the main stage or at a sunset session, Whiskey Boat brings rousing energy and a strong sense of place to every performance.
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Ever thought of hosting a Bush Dance?...A fantastic night of live music with fun and audience participation with a mix of Australiana covers and originals throughout the show.
Our Bush dance events are a lively interactive and fun experience filled with traditional Australian country folk music including jigs, reels and waltzes. The band will play specific tunes for different dances like The progressive barn dance, Heel and Toe Polka, Cotton Eye Joe Circle dance, Nutbush, Queensland Back step, Gypsy Tap and the Pride of Erin. They're a great way to immerse yourself in the country's culture and enjoy a memorable community event.
New ALBUM OUT NOW!!!
https://whiskeyboatmusic.com/store
Lauren Butler vocals, acoustic guitar
Melissa Butler vocals, percussion
Sarah Manley flute, tin whistle
Ellen Romanov violin
Adam Roberts bass
Here are some covers you may recognize and we also perform our own original compositions.
Fire down Below (Whiskey Boat)
Ship hit the reef (Whiskey Boat)
Down by the sea (Whiskey Boat)
Morning Noon and night (Whiskey Boat)
Ship of Broken hearts (Whiskey Boat)
Whiskey in a jar (dubliners)
Good fortune (PJ Harvey)
Skyeboat song (Outlander Netflix Series soundtrack)
California dreaming (Mummas and the Pappas)
Bad moon rising (Credence)
Scarborough fair (Simon and Garfunkel)
Dreaming my dreams (The Cranberries)
Drunken Sailor (Trad)
White flag (Dido)
Final countdown (Europe)
Wolf (First Aid Kit)
So cold in Ireland (The Cranberries)
Lighthouse (The Waifs)
Coming round the mountain (trad)
John Kanaka (Skinny Lister)
Under a violet moon (Blackmores Night)
The Wellerman (Nathan Evans)
Johnny Jump up (Christy Moore)
Cruel sister (Pentangle)
Wayfaring stranger (Emmylou Harris)
House of the rising sun (the Animals)
I've been working on the railroad (Trad )
Rye Whiskey (The Pirate Charles)
Dumb things ( Paul Kelly)
Click go the Shears (Slim Dusty)
Home among the gum trees (John Williamson)
South Australia (Fishermans Friend)
Ballad of Cobb and Co (Lionel Long)
Irish washer woman (instrumental)
Bound for Botany Bay
My Bonnie
Belle of Belfast (The Irish Rovers)
Nutbush (Tina Turner)
Gig Highlights
Tablelands Folk festival
Herberton Historical Village Pioneer Weekend
Cairns Festival
Black Mountain Unplugged
Babinda Harvest Festival
Wallaby Creek Festival
Townsville Medieval Festival
Cairns regional Council Carols online Stream
Dallas Steel Support
Lions Den New Years Eve
O'Donnell's Irish bar and Grill St Patrick's Day
Cooktown Discovery Weekend Bush dance
