Ships to Roam was born in 2005 as the solo project of singer/songwriter Jerome Blankenship. "Funeral Songs & Lullabies", StR's first album was released in 2006 to critical acclaim. Ships to Roam played Portland alongside acts such as Horse Feathers, Kind of Like Spitting, Fernando, Radiation City, McDougall, A Fine Frenzy, Jackalope Saints, and Alela Diane.

In the following years Blankenship wrote new material, raised a family and attempted to find a band. Finally after years of searching, a four piece band that brings an exciting, danceable twist to the music was formed in 2013.
Ships cites influences X, Rogue Wave, The Old 97's and The War on Drugs. "Boxing the Compass" , Ships to Roam's 3rd full length is due out in summer of 2018. Stay tuned!

Praise for Funeral Songs & Lullabies:

"Ships to Roam's is a much darker, quieter, smarter affair. Funeral's tracks would fit well on a mix tape with like-minders such as Iron and Wine and Hayden-or Nick Drake. Don't miss this up and coming Portland talent." Jason Pearson of The Portland Mercury.

Songwriting "Far more moving than anything a Marshall stack could produce." Mark Baumgarten, Willamette Week

"These songs retain a rawness many times lacking in the world of indie folk." Pabst Blue Ribbon, Live and Local.

" Intriguing, catchy diary honest rawness that, somehow, still offers rays of hope." Amy McCullough,
Willamette Week