Ten minute tea with Afternoon Tea. Spend ten minutes with Afternoon Tea. In the time it takes to boil one kettle, and let one cup of tea steep, we will have your daily art + music fix covered. Take your afternoon tea break with our Afternoon Tea curators.
Today’s tea + soundtrack + visuals curated by Shane Pendergast.
Shane Pendergast has folk music in his blood. Growing up in Prince Edward Island, he hails from a lineage of storytellers and musicians. He began singing and playing guitar at a young age, and performed frequently at small halls across PEI with his family.
Shane moved to Toronto to study Documentary Filmmaking and English at York University. While there, he performed in pubs on weekends, gradually honing his craft and finding his voice as a songwriter. Drawing inspiration from the landscapes and lore of his Maritime home, 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. Under Shane‘s guidance, the Jack Pine stage has become a vibrant hub for folk music, attracting talent from across Canada.
Shane‘s latest single, “Crossing the Bridge,” sparked its conception when he witnessed a seagull eating a starfish; an odd and messy sight, the gull struggled but overcame to get its meal. This made Shane think about the quirks of his home – an idyllic place but its real life rough edges are what makes it interesting. I walk over the bridge every day, but the title “Crossing the Bridge” suggests a shift in perspective. Seeing the beauty in the rough edges, and going with the flow a little more instead of seeking perfection.
Stream + share “Crossing the Bridge” now:
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, early next year.
Fall is a time for settling in, so I chose a delicate and introspective song, “Giving Tree” by one of Prince Edward Island’s finest songwriters, Liam Corcoran. It’s a tender tune with themes of youthful ambition, and coming to appreciate what one has had from the beginning. We embark on wild journeys, but often find the path back to our roots.
One of my favourite visual artists from PEI is Tessa Rose Rankin, and I love this piece, “turn, turn, turn.” The woman with windswept hair, leaves flitting through the air. You can almost feel the season changing, and you wonder what she’s dwelling on as she leans on a rickety fence.
Lady Baker’s Organic Keemun Tea
I grew up drinking strong black tea, so it’s always my go to, especially when summer begins to decline and the first chilly winds come knocking. Lady Baker’s Organic Keemun Tea is a wonderfully robust brew with some smoky notes. It’s perfect for brooding and reflecting on a moody autumn morning.
Tea + Me 