Folk Artist Shane Pendergast Shares Poignant Single “Only Drifting By”
Shane Pendergast has folk music in his blood. Growing up in Prince Edward Island as a lifelong musical artist, he hails from a lineage of storytellers and musicians. Drawing inspiration from the landscapes and lore of his Maritime home, and university years in Toronto performing at pubs. Shane’s songs began to take shape, resonating with themes of community, history, and the sea.
In 2020, Shane returned to PEI, where he founded the Jack Pine Folk Club – a monthly gathering inspired by the coffeehouses of the 1960s, featuring a mix of traditional music and poetry. His 2021 album, Second Wind, won Contemporary Roots Album of the Year at the Music PEI Awards while his 2023 live album, The House Before the Bridge, was nominated for Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards.
Shane’s home is nestled next to a river. Whenever he looks out his window, he sees an ever-changing landscape which lent inspiration to the songcraft on “Only Drifting By,” his latest single about significant people in one’s life becoming strangers, and the complex feelings surrounding that.
“I was contemplating the people I have drifted away from over the years,” Shane explains. “It was one of the rare songs for me that was written in one sitting.”
With performances at renowned festivals like Celtic Colours International Festival and Small Halls Australia, Shane has brought his music to audiences across the globe. Currently residing in Corran Ban, PEI, he is set to release his fourth album, Winter Grace, in January 2025.