The Navigator’s have become of NL’s most well-known recording and live bands since forming in 2000. Their original writing and compositions inspired some of the music in the now world-famous musical Come From Away, currently playing at the Gander Arts and Culture Centre. Writing hits like Dance and Sing, Pulling Oil From the Sand, and Living in the 709, the band has been presented on multiple TV and Radio programs for over 2 decades. Most recently being featured on the Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown on CNN and 20th Century Fox’s show The Simpsons both in 2019.
With their distinctive blend of traditional and original music the award-winning group has performed and toured all over Canada, the US, and Europe and have released four full award-winning studio CDs. Currently the band consists of the father and son team of Arthur and Aiden O’Brien as vocalists who include acoustic/electric guitar, fiddle, bass, keyboards, piano accordion and bouzouki as instrumentation.
The group often includes well known multi-instrumentalist Dave Fitzpatrick from the Fables on drums and vocals or bass. Darryl Chafe, a Travis-picking aficionado also holds down the low end on the Bass while contributing to guitar duties at some shows. St. John’s native, button accordion phenom Graham Wells adds the vocals, accordion, bodhran, and tin whistle. While founding member and ultra-popular vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Fred Jorgensen recovers from some very serious health issues, the band continues it’s journey but anxiously wait for Fred’s return hopefully in the new year! Jim Kieley a member almost handles many of the drum duties, while Greg Forward of Woody Pojnt, is a contributor on the bass for some of the touring shows.