And Dunedin is fortunate enough to have its very own pirate rock band in the Scurvy Dogs.
Iain Johnston is one of the main blackguards behind the revival of all things pirate, and he says the decision to be a pirate rock band was quite simple.
"It just evolved out of our early songs really, which had a definite nautical theme. We do sing about other things - Anzac remembrance songs, love intrigue songs - but our focus is on piracy, because it is a fun topic to write about and reflects the spirit of the band quite well (rum!!!).
"We have a pretty unique sound, which we call `pirate rock' or sometimes 'pi rock'.
Scottish band Alestorm, who play heavy pirate rock, are becoming quite big overseas, so there is a market there for this type of music and style."
International Talk like a Pirate Day began eight years ago and Johnston says his band celebrates the event regularrrly.
"We have had a lot of good times on the day. Notably a few years ago Victoria University Students Union flew us up to Wellington for a Talk Like a Pirate Day show. And last year we had a great gig with The Bilge Rats from Auckland, with a cool after-party."
However, he says with the day falling on a day sacred for some, there may well be fewer drunken shenanigans and gratuitous walkings of the plank.
"Being a Sunday it will be a more spiritual affair this year, and early starting and finishing for those that have to earn their daily tot of rum."
Although the Dogs began in 2003, the same year as the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie, Johnston says that is merely a conincidence. The Dogs recently recorded an EP with Paul Sammes, called Loyal to None, which will be available for the first time at this show.
He says the band also hopes to record the first ever "pirate rock opera" called Rum, Lies and Cannonfire, which is all written and tells the tale of pirate rogue Jimmy Jack Tarrr.
• See them
Scurvy Dogs, Raw Wenches, The Threads, and Kitten Surprise play at Chick's at Port Chalmers tomorrow from 4pm.
On the web: www.scurvydogs.bandcamp.com www.myspace.com/scurvydogsnz
