By Jessica Dillon
Pirates of the Piedmont, a band based in Martinsville, dresses, acts, and sings like pirates, blending music and theatrical fun into performances designed to entertain audiences of all ages.
The group features a rotating cast of musicians and performers, allowing each show to take on a different shape.
“We do sea shanties, pub songs, and originals. We cater to all ages, we do grown-up shows, we do shows that are targeted towards children,” said Greg Hackenberg, the band’s captain and founder.
While the band has a core group, additional members often join for special performances.
“It’s not a set band; sometimes shows are anywhere between two and 11 members,” Hackenberg said.
Pirates of the Piedmont have performed at venues such as Rooster Walk and Mountain Valley Brewing. Hackenberg said the band’s earliest performance came when he approached Mountain Valley about letting his “non-existent band” play.
“At that point, it was made up of Josh and Greg, no one else,” he said. After the show, the venue asked them back, and additional crew members joined. “They thought that looked fun.”
The group plays a wide range of instruments, including Celtic bouzouki, tambourines, accordion, banjo, drum kit, and bass guitar. Audience participation is a key part of the experience.
“We want everybody to feel like they are part of the experience, even if just for a little bit, you get to be a pirate at one of our shows,” Hackenberg said.
The band bills itself as “pirates for hire.”
“We are pirates for hire, if you need us to do your dirty work or high crimes,” Hackenberg said, noting the group can be booked through Facebook and Instagram.
“The band is a diverse group of people,” he added. “The mandolin player plays guitar and sings in a metal band, I was in a punk band in high school, and we have a theatre kid.”
Pirates of the Piedmont have performed at renaissance fairs, bowling alleys, and libraries across Virginia and North Carolina. The group also incorporates literacy into some performances, particularly those geared toward children.
“There’s a book by Melinda Long called ‘How to Become a Pirate,’” Hackenberg said. During children’s shows, the band reads from the book and pauses to sing at key points.
“When we do shows for kids, we try to have little percussion instruments for them, like tambourines and hand drums, so they can participate,” he said.
Hackenberg said his fascination with pirates began in childhood.
“When I was a kid, I had pirate Lego, and the kids in the neighborhood would use sticks for swords and play pirates,” he said. He also credited books such as “Treasure Island” and the film “Muppet Treasure Island” with sustaining that interest.
Before forming Pirates of the Piedmont, Hackenberg performed Irish pub songs with a group called the Jolly Groggers in Erie, Pennsylvania. He also embraced the lesser-known holiday Talk Like a Pirate Day, popularized by humor columnist Dave Barry.
“It’s a silly day where you can talk like a pirate, and dress like a pirate,” he said.
Hackenberg is also a teacher in Martinsville City Public Schools. He said his love of literacy has carried over into his work with students, including reading to every grade level at Albert Harris Elementary to encourage engagement with books.
