Jollyship the Whiz-Bang

Brooklyn’s nautical rock wunderkind, Jollyship the Whiz-Bang is (alternately or simultaneously) a puppet troupe, rock band, and theater production company. They have performed in festivals the world over, invited on the renown of their legendary live shows, which incorporate music, puppetry, video and comedy in elaborate spectacles.

Jollyship the Whiz-Bang was conceived in 2002 by playwright Nick Jones and composer Raja Azar. The origin of the group really began with a song, “Pyrate Love,” performed while the two were working for the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus. The warm response to this ballad of rape and murder became the central premise for an expanding musical and theatrical universe. A mission was forged to create a massive live musical pirate puppet sea saga, to be performed in sequential episodes developed and presented over the course of many years. 4 years later, this has yielded 6 full length multimedia productions (or “episodes”) linked sequentially, including several full scale theater productions (Sleepless Fishes, and its sequel Crabquistador: Scavenger of God) as well as generating hours of inventive musical material.

Jollyship the Whiz-Bang has garnered praise in Time Out New York, New York Press, The Onion, FADER, and VICE. In September of 2006, Jollyship performed to sold out crowds in Seattle and Portland (as part of the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art’s TBA Festival) and released an EP, Curse of the Ancient Legend, following their first album Songs to Drown By. In 2005, Jollyship toured Ireland, where they were nominated for “Most Entertaining” (Best Show) at the Dublin Fringe Festival, and were Artists-in-Residence in Bangkok as part of the 1st annual Hoontown Puppet Festival.