Music in the Atrium: The Fo'c'sle Four

The Fo’c’sle Four perform a lively program of sea shanties, ballads and other traditional songs connected to Salem, Gloucester and the wider maritime heritage of New England. The concert is part of the Peabody Essex Museum’s Music in the Atrium series, which presents local and visiting performers representing a range of musical traditions.

The quartet includes Bob Strom, Jen Strom, Michael O’Leary and Gary Dolinsky. Their performances combine vocal harmonies with traditional acoustic instrumentation and draw on the seafaring history of Salem and nearby coastal communities. The event is also included in PEM’s Salem 400+ programming.

When: Sunday, November 29, 2026

Showtimes: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Venue: Peabody Essex Museum, Main Atrium

Tickets: Included with museum admission; admission price not stated

Lineup: Bob Strom, Jen Strom, Michael O’Leary and Gary Dolinsky

Music: Sea shanties, traditional maritime songs, historic ballads and other traditional songs from Salem and Gloucester

About the performers: Bob Strom leads the ensemble and is a musician, researcher and author of *Old Salem at Sea in Ballad and Song*. His archival research informs much of the group’s historical repertoire. Jen Strom is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who specializes in traditional fiddle tunes. Michael O’Leary is a singer, storyteller and interpreter of Celtic and maritime songs from Gloucester. Gary Dolinsky is an instrumentalist and vocalist who contributes sea-shanty choruses and accompaniment on concertina and bouzouki.

Series: Music in the Atrium is PEM’s live concert series, featuring local and visiting performers on select Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Sound note: The program includes moderately loud live music.

Program: Part of the museum’s Salem 400+ programming.