Festival Groups
Take a look at who performed at the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival this year!
With performances from 78 groups across various venues, Falmouth was filled with songs of the sea at the three-day festival. There were groups from the UK as well as groups travelling from overseas to be part of the festival.
Thank you to everyone who took part in 2023!
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ACapella Moonshine
ACapella Moonshine is an all –female shanty group living in and around Falmouth.
We have been singing together for many years and, in 2013, were the first all-female group to appear at the Falmouth International Shanty Festival – inspiring other female groups to do the same!
We are very proud to say that we are “multi–generational”; our line – up of ten lovely ladies spans all the ages from 20 somethings to 70 somethings, and all the decades in between, but what unites us is our love of singing rollicking, rousing shanties and telling the tales of our nautical heritage, often from the woman’s perspective.
We sing a blend of shanties, Cornish songs and songs of the sea – many of which we “Moonshine” by adapting the locale and the gender to personalise the songs and set them in our beloved Cornwall. We also sing songs that are unique to us, written by ourselves or close friends to tell a personal story about our love for Cornwall and the sea.
One of our favourite things is to meet other groups and sing along with them. There is no surer way to forget your woes and worries than by a hearty rendition of rumbustious sea shanties!!
Aggie Boys Choir
The Aggie Boys Choir are your go to metamodern shanty ensemble, mixing traditional nautical folk with poetry, instrumentals and a benign attempt at comedy, the group are like none you shall see in Falmouth this year. The band has had many incarnations and were once described as a ‘Swiss army choir’. They have performed at Celtic festivals in Ireland and Brittany, turned their hand to a bit of theatre, managed a Ted Talk and featured on Channel 5’s Cornwall: A Year By The Sea.
Formed ‘neath the low beams of a Goonbell cottage, St Agnes’ unique architecture was key in shaping the resonating tones of the choir. Originally meeting with no intention on public performance a bagus* was bonded, with none bothering to enquire whether ‘twas a sensible act or no. Sam Stephens, who writes the majority of the songs, was inspired to tread this new path after one too many pints at Perranporth shout over a decade ago. Within 12 months the Aggie Boys Choir were thrust into the limelight with their debut cover, Row Row Your Boat.
Sam’s lyrics pay witty homage to the working class legacy of the region, whilst gently mocking outsiders interpretation of what is perhaps perceived as twee Celtic culture. Indeed pasties and jam, mine-stack and harbour, and of course the order of the cream, well it may well seem a postcard provincial novelty reduced to call and response to you and me, but for the choir, the line between humour and heritage is as clear as mizzle on the moor. If you asked them to explain their songs you may well hobble away, brain frazzled, wishing you hadn’t tread that particular cobbled path in the first instance. Forgive them for they know not what they shanty.
*Kernewic for group of friends
Armstrong’s Patent
We are Armstrong’s Patent.
Appingedam is our home port. Speaking of a harbour, our group, made up of 5 men and 1 woman, sing stories about ships, the sea, fishing and about family members waiting for their loved ones to return safely to the harbour!
These shanties & seasongs come from all parts of the world and all have their own character.
A Shanty often has a work rhythm. These songs are sung while working on the ships. The rhythm in the songs supports the work, which often has to be carried out under heavy circumstances.
Armstrong’s Patent rehearses weekly under the guidance of an arranger. We try to renew our repertoire and keep the level high.
We like to have fun and we have a strong bond with each other, which makes us proud of each other and proud of what we show and what we hear. We want our audience to enjoy our songs and that we can make the world a better place.
Armstrong’s Patent travels each year to a number of countries in Europe, England, Germany, Norway and Belgium. That is enjoyment for us and above all a lot of singing and entertaining people. How beautiful can life be?
Every year in August, the Bie Daip Foundation and Armstrong’s Patent organize the International Folk & Seasongs Festival “Bie Daip” and during these days around 30 Folk & Seasong groups can be admired. International, incredibly special groups and above all very accessible and super cozy. The International Folk & Seasonings Festival “Bie Daip” has been a name in Appingedam for more than 20 years and takes place in the center of Appingedam and around the
Nicholas Church and pubs and bars.
For more information visit Armstrong’s Patent Facebook Page
Back Beach Boyz
Putting a smile on people’s faces for 10 years!
Teignmouth’s Back Beach Boyz shanty crew are named after our famous “Back Beach” where everyone meets to watch the sunsets and socialise and our Hawaiian shirts are inspired by the 60’s group the Beach Boys. We were formed on the 1st February 2013 and so 2023 sees us celebrate our 10 year anniversary!
We believe in having fun whilst we are singing and we perform at suitable charity events for free – our 1st album, “Good Libations”, released in 2019, raised £1000 for Macmillan. We are back in the recording studio soon with a view to releasing more material in 2023, much of it written by several members of the band, along with our first ever professional promotional video!
Facebook: Back Beach Boyz Facebook
Twitter: @backbeachboyz
Baldrick’s Plan
And then there were four. Helen Reynolds has joined Peter, Steve and Jinks in Baldrick’s Plan. This brings added interest and complexity to their wonderful harmonies, and recorder and violin to add to Peter’s guitar and mandolin when required.This Penzance based group had to miss last year’s festival to fit in a tour to Germany, but they’ll be back in fine a capella and accompanied form this year. Make sure you catch them at the festival and perhaps pick up a CD or two.
Barnacle Buoys
Barnacle Buoys is a non-profit group of a Capella sea shanty singers based in North Somerset. We exist to enjoy our craft, entertain our audiences and raise money for our chosen charities.
Our principle charities are the Childrens Hospice South West and the RNLI. Falmouth is always our highlight of the year catching up with friends and making new ones.
Facebook- Barnacle Buoys
Barrett’s Privateers
From the deep, resonating notes of the father and son bass to the high notes of the girls, Barrett’s Privateers have delighted audiences throughout Cornwall and well beyond with their broad, rich harmonies.
Based on the Cornish side of the beautiful Tamar Valley, Barrett’s Privateers formed with the desire to maintain their tradition of singing in pubs, whilst creating more polished performances to bring their entertaining brand of acapella singing to brand new audiences. Since forming in 2019, the group have been honoured to perform at a range of events from the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival, to singing under the Christmas garland at Cotehele, to the highly acclaimed Rock Oyster Festival.
2022 was a fantastic year for Barrett’s Privateers. In May, they recorded their debut album, Shed No Tears, at the prestigious Cube Studios and in August, they represented Cornwall at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in Brittany along with seven other Celtic nations, performing each night to a crowd of up to 10,000 people.
Songs of the sea, shanties, traditional folk, Cornish and mining songs all feature regularly on their set lists. Despite being so varied in age, Barrett’s Privateers take each song and make it their own, with each of the voices finding a way to complement its neighbour, through the joy of just singing together.
The power and harmony within their lively performances are both enjoyable and hugely entertaining.
Find us on
Instagram: @barrettsprivateers
Facebook: facebook.com/barrettsprivateers
UTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCGeWF2OS5W-17JU4icaBbkw
Bow Creek
Bow Creek describe themselves as a motley crew, hailing from Holland, Ireland and the U.K. Their rousing set comprises shanties, folk and Irish, peppered with European tunes backed up by guitars, violin & melodeon.
The band members have performed at international festivals, on T.V. and radio, and have accumulated many years of live performance experience around Europe resulting in their varied repertoire. While they haven’t yet made it to the Caribbean – they once made the rafters roar upon the famous pirate ship ‘The Black Pearl’ ah-harr… so they know their spankers from their futtocks!
Contact Bow Creek via Facebook: Bow Creek
Bow Movement
Formed in early 2020 in the village of Kennford, just south of Exeter, Bow Movement inject passion and energy into the West Country shanty scene.
Expect singing with gusto, instrumentation, interesting harmonies and arrangements of shanties, sea songs and folk ancient and modern.
Also expect raucousity, high jinks and off-the-wall humour from an upstart crew that have become a regular and unique feature on festival bills.
Come and enjoy a Bow Movement with us! “
‘It’s nice to have some eye candy around’
Woman in pub
‘The best shanty crew……from England!’
A Cornishman
‘The Take That of the shanty world’
An adoring fan.
‘Not bad for a bunch of bouncers from Mothercare’
Some fella called Brian.
Bryher’s Boys
Since 2017, Bryher’s Boys love of the folk repertoire, both Nautical and Cornish, have proved a hit with audiences both local and international, with over 200 performances clocked up to date in venues as diverse as crowded pubs, weddings, community events, fundraisers and large scale concerts.
The group are particularly proud to have represented Cornwall abroad at the 2019 Festival Interceltique and the 2022 Celtic Gathering and being asked to compose a “G7 Shanty” for the 2021 G7 Summit – performing it live on BBC News, reaching an audience of millions worldwide.
Contacts:
C.A.S.K.
C.A.S.K. (Collings A cappella Shanty Krew) are a daughter and father shanty duo from Teignmouth, in Devon.
Somtimes the mermaid security Dan joins us to lead a few shanties, some of which he has written.
They have performed at various pirate and shanty festivals from Falmouth to Gloucester, but since lockdown they have submitted videos and been involved on live feeds for virtual festivals further afield in Oban Scotland and on the east coast of America for “Weathering The Storm” and Canada for “Festival Des Pirates”, as well as recording music tracks being played on SoundCloud “Couleur Bleue Salee”.
Garbed as mermaid and pirate(s), they have a strikingly different look as well as beautifully blended harmonies.
C.A.S.K fundraise for FND Friends, a charity which helps Kathryn to manage her Functional Neurological Disorder.
They are delighted to be part of the return of the Falmouth International Shanty Festival once again, keeping up the camaraderie and keeping everyone connected.
You may be familiar with Kathryn’s renditions of the “Betty Stogs” shanty (written by “Stamp & Go”) in previous festival finales.
If you enjoy their performance please find, follow and like them:
Cadgwith Singers
The Cadgwith Singers started many years ago in the Pub at Cadgwith with Buller and Hartley. The singing has changed over the years and many of the original singers are now gone, sadly missed, and their voices too. Their parts have been passed on to others who keep the traditional songs going. The songs are also changing a little. What has not changed is the Friday night gathering to sing, well, anything and everything really but always in the same unrehearsed and unique style. Long may this tradition continue.
These days the Cadgwith Singers are to be found singing in clubs, pubs, theatres and rugby matches all over Cornwall, wherever there is a convivial atmosphere and an audience that enjoys the unique, full blooded style of singing that never fails to please. Further afield there have been tours to various S.W. Counties, London, Ireland, France, and the Czech Republic.
All this from a group of people who just get together for the pure enjoyment of singing, and as their late great leader David Muirhead once said “You must remember we’re not a choir, we’re just a group of friends who just get together to sing the songs we love to sing”.
Cape Cornwall Singers
The Cape Cornwall Singers were formed early in 1997 in an attempt to resurrect the singing tradition in the local pubs around St Just. A very familiar sound at weekends and especially during St Just Feast, singing in the town had declined in recent years due mainly to the closure of our local tin mines.
The first of many public appearances came in April 1997, followed by a guest appearance at the Tall Ships concert at Falmouth Castle in July and the Cornish Gorsedd in September of 1998. Brief television appearances, the release of our first CD/cassette tape “Our Beautiful Land” followed by our second CD “Men of Cornwall” in 2000 and the local radio exposure have kept Cape Singers in the public eye. Much of our success is due to the efforts of singer songwriter Harry Glasson who continues to write many of our most popular songs about Cornwall, our people and our traditions.
The Singers have been on many “tours”, the first being the Isles of Scilly in April 1998. In October 1999, we sailed from Swansea to Cork and on to Listowel for three days, then on to Kenmare. On our return to Cornwall we had a request to sing at the Kernewek Lowender (world’s largest Cornish festival in South Australia), so in May 2001, 26 singers with their wives and friends set off for Australia.
Captain Cat and the Sailors
Formed as a one-off for a talent contest in late 2008, Captain Cat and the Sailors are a shanty loving folk band that just keep on going. Based in South Wales, they draw on a range of musical traditions including shanties, working songs, Welsh, Irish and American music to create immersive and engaging musical experiences with their audiences. If you like stories, singing along and sinking beers then they are the band for you.
Twitter: @capcatsailors
Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/captaincatandthesailors/
Some of their music is available on iTunes and Spotify.
Cobweb Crew
The Cobweb Crew were formed in April 2021 by a group of friends who were in the habit of striking up a song whilst enjoying a pint or two at The Cobweb Inn, Boscastle.
Encouraged by landlord Adrian Bright, we usually sing at the Cobweb on a Sunday from 5pm unless otherwise engaged.
We sing a wide spectrum of songs in harmony including shanties and also Cornish songs at every opportunity.
Culdrose Military Wives Choir
Culdrose Military Wives Choir was formed in 2012, inspired by Gareth Malone’s TV series ‘The Choir’; one of the first in the network that today comprises 72 choirs and nearly 2,000 members at British military bases across the UK and overseas.
A registered charity, the Military Wives Choirs bring women with a military connection together to sing, share and support one another.
The Helston-based choir has collaborated on three Military Wives Choirs albums and enjoys performing a diverse repertoire at a variety of occasions, from community events to large-scale venues.
Culdrose Military Wives Choir Facebook
De Kaapstander
Shantykoor De Kaapstander is a dynamic group of approximately thirty enthusiastic singers and musicians, who perform shanties, seasongs and maritime folk songs with their own arrangements and choreographies.
Originating from the historic town of Oudewater, De Kaapstander is well-known at many festivals and is a regular guest at major international festivals, such as the “Festival Maritim” in Bremen-Vegesack and “Bie Daip” in Appingedam.
For the celebration of its twenty-fifth anniversary, the choir makes a tour to the UK culminating of the participation in the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival.
Du Hag Owr
Known as the Roseland Shantymen, after a couple of busy years following our evening with the World Leaders at the G7 in St Ives, this year is a bit more relaxed, although we still have a fairly full programme which suits five old men plus the youngsters, Simon and Brad.
Having fun and raising money for our charities, Childrens Hospice SW and the RNLI still keeps us busy and we now have an Electric Pirate that brings fundraising up to date.
A mix of traditional and our own shanties provides a great evening out and every week brings something new. Looking forward to Falmouth 2023!
Dutch Uncle
The Dutchman, Hans Weehuizen “Dutch Uncle “ gives his workshop How To Play Bones, during the Falmouth International Sea and Shanty Festival Weekend.
Hans is also active with singing sea songs and playing on his one row squeezebox and concertina. One of the oldest instruments to make rhythm are “bones” (bone).
On board ships, there were not many instruments, so the men searched to make simple instruments themselves, from wood or bone.
During the whale fishing there was enough material on hand to make bones (rattle-bones). Today you can’t get whalebones so easily, so people use wood, which works very well. It gives you an extra opportunity to make additionals sounds. To play with bones is divergent of old-fashioned “rattles”. The difference is, how to hold the bones, it gives greater possibilities to play additional rhythms. You often hear bones being played during shanty festivals.
One of the promotors in Europe is Shanty Jack, who uses bones as an accompaniment on his songs.
In America it goes much further, if you visit the Festival in Mystic Seaport, you hear many bone players.
There is even a Rhythm Bones Society, who organize their own Bones Festival. They have members all over the world.
*) The workshop teaches you the first steps of how to play the bones
*) How to hold the bones
*) The first movement with music
*) There is enough learning material to practice
*) On sale, there is a complete course with a coursebook in English, tape and practice bones
*) But you can also make your own bones!
For the workshop schedule, view the festival programme and try ‘HOW TO PLAY THE BONES’. The workshops are of course free of charge.
To find out more about the Bones workshops see:How to Play the Bones Website
Contact: hweehuizen@freeler.nl
Falmouth Shout
The Shout was born in the back room of the legendary Seven Stars in 2002. Having sadly lost some friends and happily found new members in recent years, we are rejuvenated and looking forward to the 19th year of the Festival we started in 2004.
We are, as ever, a group of friends who enjoy a song and a drink and raising funds for our charities, notably the RNLI, Mission for Deep Sea Fishermen and the Cornwall Air Ambulance.
Femmes de la Mer
Femmes de la Mer are a group of women hailing from across Cornwall. Each individual member brings a unique sound to the group, yet it’s their blend of a cappella voices that has gained them recognition amongst the folk and sea shanty communities.
Led by musical director, Claire Ingleheart, this women+ group are known for their rich harmonies and bold interpretations of well known traditional songs as well as newly written shanties celebrating the lives and stories of Cornish women.
As well as launching their first album, Today’s Haul, a beautiful collection of shanties and songs of the sea, they recently appeared on the latest BBC series of Rick Stein Cornwall!
Figurehead
Figurehead are a four-piece, all female shanty group from North Cornwall, who share a love of songs with a traditional, nautical and maritime flavour……or as we say: “If it contains a reference, however slight, to water, we consider it fair game.”
The group originally formed as a bit of fun around a kitchen table for five women that shared a love of sea songs and harmonies. Over the years the personnel may have changed but the love of singing in harmony together and entertaining people with foot stomping songs and shanties remains constant.
Currently the members are Cath, Rachel, Sharon and Gill.
Contact: Gill Jolly gillsjolly@googlemail.com 07767495502
Fisherman’s Friends
Back in the day the Fisherman’s Friends, then unencumbered by fame and fortune, came down from Port Isaac and took part in the joyous very first-ever Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival. Our old mate Trevor was still with us then, and as a fair-sized crowd gathered around us singing on Custom House Quay I remember him dryly remarking, ‘Here, I don’t think we’re as bad as we think we are’. I think that apart from the dreadful Covid years, we’ve only missed one festival, and it really is one of the highlights of the year for us.
The Fisherman’s Friends musical has been touring the country, and we had a cracking weekend with them over in Toronto when the company embarked on a seven week run over there. We’ve been all over the UK since November, and the tour’s been sold right out (no accounting for taste eh!) – excitingly we’ve had a former member re-join us to beef the vocals up a bit, and with the addition of another new talented musician as well as loads of new material, hope that you find that we sound stronger than ever.’
So, all round, the sea shanty is a bit viral at the moment, which for those of us who’ve loved these old songs for years is just the best news possible. With our group members’ long standing connections with the Port Isaac and Padstow RNLI, we are so looking forward to supporting the Institution and performing at Falmouth again, and maybe even getting a sly kiss on the cheek from Betty Stoggs, a proper maid if there ever was one!
Flash Jack
‘Flash’ comes from Georgian slang for a person living on the edge of ‘decent’ society but with a certain style which endeared them to their comrades if not to the authorities. ‘Jack’ is slang for a sailor.
We sing not only ‘straight’ shanties but also ballads, new songs and tunes, songs which show women’s experience of the sea (and seafarers) and songs and tunes reflecting the wider influence of coastal life and the resulting back and forth of songs and tunes between land and sea.
Freddie’s Barnet
Formed in 2018 The Freddies have played at shanty festivals and events from Norfolk to Cornwall raising a smile and a song where we go and money for the RNLI. We’re a friendly trio and we play shanties, folk and singalong classics. We’re often described as ‘different’ which we’re very happy about !
Hay Shantymen
Hay Shantymen are a crew of landlubbers singing rollicking sea shanties on the East Coast of Wales (Hay-on-Wye). Earlier this year we recorded our first album ‘Songs from the Shed’ which is available from our website www.hayshantymen.com
We performed at the Falmouth Shanty Festival in 2022 for the first time and were also privileged to perform at Latitude Festival. To date we have raised over £7,000 for the RNLI. We are thrilled to be back in Falmouth again to entertain and
hope you enjoy our harmonies and banter.
Hit and Miss
Hit and Miss are a young, vibrant, local singing group who keep Cornwall’s musical heritage alive through song.
Hit and Miss were formed after five school friends were heard singing with the regular singers of the Blue Anchor Inn, Helston one Spring evening in 2017. It was pointed out to us that we should form a group to perform for the ‘Helstonbury’ festival in the coming August of that year. This we duly did and after being very well received, we entered in to ‘Helstonbury’ 2018 with a little more rehearsing under our belts. Since then we have gone from strength to strength taking on many other engagements across West Cornwall. We throughly enjoy singing together and are proud of our reputation for rich four-part harmonies.” Samuel Trounson
Kanerien Trozoul
Created in 1991, Kanerien Trozoul have traveled to many festivals and celebrations, in Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, all over Brittany and so many venues in France (Andernos, Caen, Boulogne, Villiers/Loir, Dives / Mer, Martigné…)
We are very happy to be back one more time at the Falmouth Festival. We particularly appreciate this endearing town, its groups and organisers, its pubs, its stages, in particular the crazy atmosphere of the 5 Degree’s Garden, its Saturday morning parade and its streets full of people who enjoy sea shanties.
Ken Stephens
I have been shantying for a lot of years! Including with John Collins, Stan Hugill and Hughie Jones. I write sea songs which people complement me with by singing them!
I have performed in USA, Canada, Europe including Poland as well as major UK festivals including Liverpool and Falmouth. I sing a blend of my own and other popular songs, as well as playing harmonica, button accordion and concertina.
It will be great to have friends and other performers at my performances to help singalong. I am looking forward to returning to Falmouth!
Les Brouilleurs D’Ecoutes
The Brouilleurs d’Écoutes, a Franco-British group were founded late one evening in Corrigans Irish Pub in La Rochelle, SW France way back in June 2005.
Since that date the group’s line-up has evolved with each new member adding their unique musical touch. They alternate between French and English, performing traditional shanties and songs of the sea, of various origins (France, Ireland, England, Brittany, Quebec and Scotland) as well as their own self-penned material.
The group usually performs around their home port of La Rochelle, but is also happy to undertake longer journeys to participate in major festivals in France, Brittany, Holland, Germany, England and Scotland.
We are so pleased to be invited back again to Falmouth for our 4th edition.
A bientôt !
The lineup for 2023
- Martial BERGER, vocals, violin
- Karine BOUFFET, accordion
- Bernard GRENIER, banjo & mandolin
- Franck HEALY, vocals
- Thomas MARSH, lead vocals, guitar & bouzouki
- Stuart McLELLAN, lead vocals, bodhran & percussions
- Véronique ROUCHON, Irish flutes & whistles
For more information, visit Les Brouilleurs D’Ecoutes Facebook Page
Les Vénus du Matelot
THREE VOICES’ MARITIMES SONGS are from Les Sables d’Olonne, France.
Accompanied by a guitar or a cittern, they travel in the universe of the maritime repertoire by adding some personal compositions found in their logbook.
The group takes you on polyphonic seas that are sometimes rough and sometimes moving.
The revisited vocal arrangements refresh traditional sea shanties and bring emotion and originality!
Les Vénus du Matelot are composed of two female voices, a male voice and a guitar. You will find Isa (voice), Christine (voice) and Jean-Louis (voice, guitar and cittern).
For more information, visit Les Vénus du Matelot Website
Longest Johns
The Longest Johns are a Bristol based, a capella folk music band, born out of a mutual love of traditional folk songs and shanties. They rock maritime songs alongside the more unusual and less traditional folk tunes. I doubt any of Bristol’s The Longest Johns ever imagined they would be able to get so far on just four voices.
In a few short years they have gone from singing sea shanties in a kitchen to International folk festivals, tours, TV appearances and gained a huge online following.
As the face of the 2021 sea shanty revival with their track Wellerman, the Johns are reaching millions of new fans all across the globe and showing them just how great these songs can be.
Loose Cannons
Loose Cannons is a group of four, sometimes five, friends who have many years experience singing with other shanty groups. We decided to get together to get back to singing some of the songs we love in a smaller acoustic group, able to rock up and sing in smaller venues without the need for PA gear, a kind of shanty Flying Squad! Our style will be harmonic and entertaining with lots of audience participation but, as our name suggests, you never know what to expect from Loose Cannons! We hope to see you over the weekend and make you smile!
(Image coming soon!)
Lower Deckers
The Lower Deckers are a fun, contemporary shanty group from Shropshire and Herefordshire. Established in 2017, they perform regularly in festivals, pubs and cafes. They’ve sung at the Hereford Fishermans Friends movie premier, toured Northumberland and shanty-rocked Hereford’s River Carnival. Festival appearances include Falmouth, Mevagissey, Weston, Teignmouth & Gloucester.
They are keen charity fundraisers, regularly holding gigs to raise funds for the RNLI, local charities and food banks. The Lower Deckers repertoire embraces traditional Shanties, songs of the sea and sailing, folk songs and more!
They look forward to entertaining you at this years Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival.
Mariners Away
Introducing Mariners Away, one of the South West’ leading and most popular sea shanty crews.
Based on the edge of Dartmoor in mid Devon, MARINERS AWAY were formed in 2008.
Potentially 12-strong (although usually eight or nine), the crew performs throughout the year at events in both Devon and Cornwall including most of the popular shanty festivals, county shows, pub-hosted events and private functions and have been regular performers at Falmouth since 2009.
Last year the crew performed in excess of 40 gigs including a solo event at the prestigious Plough Arts Centre in Great Torrington and a guest appearance at the famous Sidmouth Folk Festival.
Mel Babb
Mel Babb was a founding member of Figurehead and has recently set out on a solo adventure; she has been described as a powerful singer and interpreter of songs with a unique style.
An irrepressible character who is well known on the folk and shanty circuit, Mel loves to share songs with singers and audience alike with a hint of Cornish passion and fun.
Mevagissey Quaynotes
Four-part harmonies and a rich ‘a cappella’ sound, these are the four men of the ‘Mevagissey QuayNotes’. Look out for scurvy serenades, cheeky concertinas, twists on popular shanties, and songs you’ve never heard before….
Formed in 2018, they hail from the scenic fishing harbour of Mevagissey. They perform a wide range of styles, and are seen at all manner of events, from pub sings to full festival concerts. One man to each part, Pete (Bass), Mike (Bari), Daz (2nd Tnr) and Dom (Top Tnr), they have had storming success in Mevagissey, St Ives and Falmouth shanty festivals. Always a striking live performance, don’t miss out!
Molgoggers
The Molgoggers hail from the town of Cobh, located in Cork Harbour on Ireland’s South Coast.
We were formed ten years ago by a great local character, Jimmy Halligan, who sadly sailed for Fiddler’s Green in 2021. We are now a five-strong, a-cappella, all male group that love to meet up and sing a few songs.
We sing a mixture of traditional sea shanties and contemporary maritime songs, all given the Molgogger treatment! We sing for fun and enjoyment and don’t take life too seriously so it’s quite normal to see us taking the mickey out of each other during a performance. The highlights of 2022 were, our fifth visit to Falmouth, the best festival in the world, and our first visit to Electric Picnic, Ireland’s equivalent of Glastonbury. There we sang on the deck of an old trawler, the Salty Dog stage. We are delighted to be returning to both Falmouth and Electric Picnic in 2023. Hope to see you there. All Aboard!
Email: themolgoggers@gmail.com
Events organiser: Jerry O’Driscoll + 353 (0) 86 8891973
General enquiries: John Crone + 353 (0) 86 8329188
Monkeyfists
Monkeyfists: Your local landlocked shanty band
With voices AND instruments, we are all about the fun of the foot-stomping, carousing lark of playing live the songs that brought crews together. Old sea songs and drinking songs: up tempo, sometimes with profanity, lewdness and salty language. An eight-piece band, we have been underway for about nine years. From central England, we pride ourselves on authenticity and fun, sometimes at the expense of accuracy. “So what”, the audience tell us, “You’re ragged and honest”!
Photo Credit – Mike Berry Photography
Month’s Advance
“We answer to the name of Month’s Advance!” Josh and Emily have played together since 2009. While living on an historic ship, they discovered a shared love of sea shanties and combined Emily’s folk fiddle with Josh’s irreverent double bass to underpin their versions of the Age of Sail’s finest salty classics, mixed with originals which they write, as often as possible, at sea. Month’s Advance love Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick, the Dreadnoughts and hanging out in maritime museums, so if you love those things, we hope you’ll love Month’s Advance, too.
Join us on:
Nankersey Male Choir
Nankersey Male Choir – based just across the Penryn River at Flushing.
A male choir composed of individuals from differing jobs and homes, with varied temperaments yet united in their love of music, and when the baton is raised, they are ‘as one”. They sing a varied repertoire of popular, classical, sea shanty and folk songs. Accompanied by Michael Uren and led by their Musical Director, Elaine Tangye.
New members always welcome, Monday 7.30pm Church Hall Flushing.
Nordet
This year will be the eleventh time Nordet have participated in the “Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival”. To celebrate this beautiful anniversary, in addition to many new songs, uilleann pipes will accompany the accordion, the bouzouki, the guitar, the banjo and the violin.
For this occasion, Nordet will be made up of five crew members: Philippe Falquerho, Francis Arzul, Hervé Chevrolier, Pierre Guillemot and Didier Allain, all of them used to having their sea-legs on big stages as well as at parties and cabarets.
For about 30 years Nordet have been performing traditional sea shanties and our own creations. The crew knows how to make people dance or sing in a festive spirit or be moved by a lament. Nordet have sailed from Lorient, their home port, to New York; from Paimpol to Liverpool and from Hoorn to Douarnenez.
Nordet’s energy, voices and instruments will sweep you away in a gale. These four sailors, exuberant and joyful, will embark and allow the public on board, from dead calm seas to storms, from the middle of oceans to the docks, and from Breton taverns to Cornish pubs. Nordet is a warm wind, a friendliness and an ability to mobilize the public. So welcome on board you sailors.
Odds & Sods
Odds n Sods are as the name implies are a group of like-minded friends who enjoy singing together, over the last three years we have raised over £6500 for various local charities.
This will be our second visit to Falmouth and if it’s anything like last year, will be a blast.
Oll An Gwella
A rehearsed acappella chorus “Oll an Gwella” offer superb Cornish, nautical and shanty songs and smiles. Representing Cornwall live on ITV, at the Festival Interceltique in Lorient and from the Boardmaster’s stage, Newquay, their passion for Cornish culture & heritage resonates through their performances at home and abroad including annual appearances at Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival. Performance fees, donations and CD sales have raised more than £40,000 for their adopted charities. Their three charity albums mix good Cornish singing with culture and smiles – three key elements of an Oll an Gwella performance!
Find out more at Oll an Gwella Website
Facebook: Oll an Gwella Facebook
YouTube: All an Gwella You Tube
Pirates of St Piran
The Pirates of St Piran are a rocky, rumbustious pirate band performing all over the West Country at festivals, pubs and pirate-themed events. We perform in our own unique style, dressed in traditional pirate costume. We are a non-profit band and every penny we make from our gigs and music sales goes to charity.
We are regulars at The Falmouth International Shanty Festival, Plymouth Pirate Weekend, The Brixham Pirate Festival, Mevagissey Shanty Festival and The Lost Gardens of Heligan summer events.
See our website for details of where to buy or stream our albums.
Portsmouth Shantymen
The Portsmouth Shantymen have been described as a “power harmony group” who specialize in Sea Songs, but if it’s a good song they’ll give it a go anyway!
They have been in existence since 1978 when the Christchurch Festival unexpectedly found itself without a shanty crew, which almost certainly makes them the longest continually running shanty group in the UK.
Press Gang
Press Gang have been entertaining audiences and making friends around the country since 2012. People seem to like our relaxed and distinctive style, as well as the passion and humour in our performances, and the unique harmonies of our songs and shanties. Formed in 2012 by a group of friends from the St Austell Bay area we’ve sung in pubs, clubs and festivals all over Cornwall and at venues that have varied from a Greenpeace ship to Gatwick Airport to Bristol Balloon Fiesta! We have become regular guests at events such as the Falmouth Shanty Festival, Fowey Royal Regatta, Perranporth’s Loudest Shout, Ilfracombe’s Sea Festival and Lostwithiel’s LostFest. And we’ve crossed the Tamar to perform at shanty festivals as far afield as Harwich, Gloucester and Teignmouth.
We are excited to be able to perform here for our tenth Falmouth Shanty Festival and hope you enjoy our performances!
River Notes
The River Notes have been singing since 2016 and the Falmouth Shanty Festival has become one of our favourite annual gigs! We are a mixed choir of 40 members who sing for the joy of it and always have fun both rehearsing and performing. We still hold our weekly practise sessions at the Falmouth Cricket Club which also gives the singers a chance to refresh their vocal cords at the bar!
As well as shanty and songs of the sea, we sing pop, well-loved rock oldies, Cornish and other folk material and original material by local composers. Essentially anything that is cheering, rousing or toe-tapping! 2022 marked a return to live performance after the ‘covid years’ and the Falmouth Shanty Festival 2022 was the best one yet for the River Notes! This year we have many gigs planned including one on the King Harry Ferry at the crack of dawn with other local choirs accompanied by a brass band ensemble!
We will sing a brand new choir piece written in 2022 called the Platinum Jubilee Dawn Chorus, music by Gareth Churcher and words by Bob Willmot. We are also singing at the Source FM Parklive in June for the first time. Some of the River Notes choir members are also part of the cast of the new musical Bal Maiden which has its first ever performances in November 2023 at the Princess Pavilion, Falmouth. More info at Bal Maiden Musical Website and tickets are available from See Tickets Website.
The River Notes are conducted by Lucetta Radcliffe and accompanied by Nicki Tumbridge and perform in a variety of local settings and events. Please get in touch if you would like us to sing for you. We can be contacted through our facebook page, River Notes Facebook
New members are always welcome.
Rum & Shrub
We are a group of traditional singers from Cornwall with a worldwide reputation for lively singing of shanties, sea songs and folk songs. Performing together since 1991 from the Eastern seaboard of the USA to many places in Western Europe as well as national TV work and many more local events, we take our name from a well-known local drink reputed to have been enjoyed by smugglers and of course we are always delighted to allow you the opportunity to buy us a sample for you to try!
We always look forward to the International Sea Shanty Festival, it’s such a wonderful event and having performed at every single one there is always plenty of good singing to listen to with a terrific atmosphere and an opportunity to meet friends and colleagues old and new. We want you to enjoy our singing so find our venues for the weekend on the programme or festival website and come and watch the show or buy CD’s from the group and from record stores. We’ve even mastered the art of making our music available electronically!
We look forward to making new friends and hearing new songs wherever we go, and we very much hope that you enjoy our singing as much as we do. Just follow the contact links for enquiries and bookings.
Seaweed in the Fruit Locker
Seaweed in the Fruit Locker is an LGBTQIA+ sea shanty choir formed by artist Rhys Morgan; exploring queer motifs within seafaring history and collective performance in marginalised communities through the tradition of shanty singing.The choir have used their lived experience to rework existing shanties and inspire new ones, continuing the tradition of these hybrid folk songs being adapted time and again through generations and across cultures.LINKSIMAGE CREDIT: Dom Moore
Severn Whalers
In 1885 a whale was found on a bank of the River Severn, and more than a century later the Severn Whalers are still looking for another…
A group of four friends from villages along the banks of the Severn that came together six years ago over a common love of sea shanties and songs of the sea.
Amongst our highlights from 2022 were Falmouth Festival Gala Performance, being chosen to sing for the Royal Navy Reserves helping to celebrate 50 years at HMS Flying Fox in Bristol, and a Christmas performance on the SS Great Britain in Bristol Harbour.
Although the Severn Whalers’ chosen charity is Blind Veterans UK, which supports visually impaired ex-servicemen and women, we are also delighted to support the festivals amazing fundraising for the RNLI.
Sheringham Shantymen
The Sheringham Shantymen were launched in 1990 and in 2023 celebrate their 33rd Anniversary. They support the RNLI performing at lifeboat stations around the United Kingdom and Ireland and purchased a lifeboat for the RNLI at Wicklow in 2007. They have travelled widely throughout the UK, Europe, and the USA. The Shantymen have completed over 1,300 public performances, made three videos and recorded seven CD’s. They undertook a concert in aid of Ukraine and raised £5,000 in 2022. They have attended the Falmouth festival since its inception and feel privileged to be invited to perform once again in 2023.
The Sheringham Shantymen Website
Short Drag Roger
Celebrating our 20th year, Short Drag Roger continue to bring shanties and sea songs to the landlocked people of Oxfordshire and further afield. We have performed at shanty and folk festivals all over the UK and Europe as well as pubs, theatres, village shows and other venues closer to home.
We not only sing traditional shanties to our audiences a capella but also more modern sea songs and self-penned numbers.
Simon The Shanty Harpist
Simon The Shanty Harpist, alias Simon J Ellis (author of The Lea Bridge Road Shanty Men) will sing a Mermaid’s Lullaby up Essequibo River while Bound For Australia on board The Rosabella albeit A Long Time Ago. If you wonder Is She Seaworthy Jack? then a Man Overboard would simply Leave Her Johnny Leave Her because you wouldn’t find Brave Molly Of Plymouth on board A Submarine In Luppit unless The Bright Blue Sea around Croydon Bay was full of Herring Cake! Rollicking Sea Shanties on a rollicking harp! All good fun!
Sloop Groggy Dogs
Sloop Groggy Dogs, are probably the finest sea shanty crew from land-locked Milton Keynes.
We are blokes in stripes, with all the moves, songs of nautical adventure, an eclectic mix of instruments and our very own mermaid.
We love singing live and seek full audience participation for an immersive fun experience.
Having performed at festivals around the country and locally, we are helping to raise much needed funds for RNLI, Macmillan, and other worthy causes.
Let us liven up your event – get in touch….
Email: sloopgroggydogs@gmail.com
Website: Sloop Groggy Dogs
Facebook: Sloop Groggy Dogs
Solent Shanty Buoys
The Solent Shanty Buoys are a group of friends who enjoy singing shanties but also some lesser known songs of the sea. They are thoroughly enjoying being able to perform again and will be at Yarmouth and Mudeford festivals as well as Falmouth this year! They do love performing at beer festivals and micro breweries…..can’t think why!! But they perform to a wide range of audiences, always encouraging audience participation.
Spinnaker Shanty
Spinnaker Shanty came into being to perform a prestigious gig aboard HMS Victory, Portsmouth in October 2017. Since then, after some personnel changes, we are now a quartet of three male voices and one female.
We often sing sea-related material that may be slightly distanced from the standard shanty work songs: forebitters or settings of nautical poems, though we can be enticed, with the right audience, to belt out the crowd-pleasers too. Shanties are so catchy.
We sing mainly in our local folk clubs near Portsmouth and have a monthly residency in a bar in nearby Gosport.
For more information visit Spinnaker Shanty Facebook Page
Stuns’ls Shanty Group
Stuns’ls were formed in Mevagissey, Charlestown and Truro Cornish Pilot Gig rowing clubs and named from one our earliest songs “Old Maui”. Stuns’ls is sailors slang for the Studding Sail, an extra sail that can be hauled out on a square-rigged vessel’s yardarm to run in light winds.
We are a light-hearted bunch, who doesn’t take life to seriously and have a lust for harmonies, always seeking out that extra note. Over the last two years we have had the honour of singing for King Charles and the Queen consult, played a part in Rick Steins Cornwall (2021), and are the voices for Visit Cornwall’s G7 campaign, whilst also performing for German TV and singing at the Bremen International Shanty Festival in Germany.
We strive to make those chords ring and to put a smile on spectators faces, whilst ensuring that we promote Cornish harmonies and songs of the sea.
Suitcase Singers
The Suitcase Singers – are a 50 strong community choir led by Musical Director, Claire Ingleheart and based in Penryn. Being by the sea, they have a love for shanties and folk songs, old and new and have a rich repertoire of traditional Cornish songs and contemporary songs that reflect the incredible stories of our Cornish heritage.
Swinging the Lead
‘ Swinging the Lead ‘ began singing sea songs and sea shanties in 2010 and are based in North West Kent on the banks of the tidal River Thames at Gravesend.
They have been the resident shanty crew on the famous tea clipper ‘Cutty Sark’ at her dry berth in Greenwich since 2011. With regular appearances at sea shanty festivals, Simon, Joe, Andy, Pete, Dave and TC have cemented their reputation and place in the worldwide sea shanty community.
Most of the members have sea-going experience including on tall ships and all have a keen interest in the sea and maritime matters.
The musical offering ranges from unaccompanied traditional shanties through to self-penned contemporary sea songs.
Tavy Tars
The Tavy Tars were formed to celebrate the launch of our first local Gig and are 20 years old this year.
We enjoy performing in our pub at Bere Ferrers, at local primary and old folks’ homes, at Plymouth Pirate Festival and Tavistock Music festival, but will always travel further for a Shanty Festival.
We are really looking forward to Falmouth again this year, it will be our 14th appearance!
The 5 Men Not Called Matt
The Five Men Not Called Matt say hi to all our friends old and new. It will be great to see, hear and sing with you again at good old Falmouth in 2023
We will be singing around the town, in pubs, on stage, on the pavement, in the shower, wherever !.
So, see you at Falmouth join in, raise the roof, lets make it a great weekend out
Mine’s a pint or three of whatever’s going please. (Singing is very thirsty work)
We are:
- Tim Hauge
- Andy Powell
- Michele Welborn
- Ian Welborn
- Brian Peckett
- Rob Scott
- John New
Brian for the Five Men Not Called Matt.
The Five Men Not Called Matt Facebook
The 85ers
The 85ers are formed from 6 active lifeboat crew from RNLI Portishead. The station is based on the North Somerset coast of the Bristol Channel/Severn Estuary
The group have been together for a few years, performing at local charity events and a few sea shanty festivals across the South West. Falmouth was a highlight last year – despite the wind and sideways rain causing its challenges!
We are incredibly excited to be returning to Falmouth to come and sing again! As crew on an inshore lifeboat, we know first-hand how events such as these keep us safe at sea. Thank you!
The Chantry Buoys
The Chantry Buoys are the original East Devon Shanty boyband!
We are comprised of 8 local men, from mainly Colyton, who get together to sing locally, and sometimes far away, and have fun. We love shanty singing and also singing other well known songs of the sea. We have performed at several well known shanty festivals, including Falmouth, Teignmouth and we sing at various events such as Lyme Regis Lifeboat week, Beer regatta week and Sidmouth Sea Fest.
We always sing in the Quay of Sea!!
The Countrymen
The Countrymen are a Cornish Folk Rock Harmony Group from Launceston.
Five seasoned musicians with tight four-part harmony vocals and a token Cornishman. With a relaxed and light-hearted presentation style they take the audience on a journey through the history and culture of Cornwall, featuring their own arrangements of traditional and contemporary songs, as well as original material. Interspersed with the occasional pop cover to lighten the mood when required, there is no mistaking that to a man, they love their county with a passion.
Now in their sixth year, they have been becoming increasingly popular across both Devon & Cornwall with appearances on both radio and TV and numerous festival appearances including The Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival, The Rock Oyster Festival, Falmouth Week, Bridport Folk Festival and Little Orchard Festival.
2023 will see the band take on a fourth concert tour of both Cornwall and Devon entitled “Bal Maiden” which is the track title to one of the new tracks for a third forthcoming album..
“If you get the chance to see these guys (The Countrymen) in concert then take it, you will not be disappointed”
Harry Glasson
Social media
Video Clips
The Exmouth Shanty Men
The Exmouth Shanty Men formed in 2007 to keep alive the maritime traditions of their home port, and still entertain monthly at the nearest pub to the former docks. Their fun filled stage show, “Tall Ships and Tavern Tales” is proving popular in Devon village halls, as a profit sharing fund raiser.
The buoys have enjoyed bookings at major UK folk festivals, including Sidmouth, Shrewsbury, Towersea and Warwick, and visit Europe frequently to sing in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany. They have twice been pleased to win the Stan Hugill Trophy, for the most authentic shanties, in Krakow, Poland.
The Following Seas
The Following Seas shanty group was formed in 2022 to provide music for the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury to Fairwinds Mission Centre and more generally to the Shanty Festival of that year. In the end, he didn’t show up, but the choir still sang. Following this slightly ill-omened beginning, the group has reformed for this year, but now to take part in the festival more generally.
The group ranges in age from 20s through to 70s, and while many of its members are associated with music-making in King Charles the Martyr Church in the centre of Falmouth, not all are. The group’s unique selling-point(s) are its inclusion of new arrangements of existing shanties that combine a folk and Jazz vibe, of classical songs with a nautical flavour (including solos) and a rigorous approach to harmony that sees the group split occasionally into as many as 8 parts.
The group is led by Richard Bailey, who also serves as Director of Music at KCM.
The Great Sea Choir
The Great Sea Choir are a 40 strong mixed voice a cappella choir based in Plymouth directed by Julu Irvine and Heg Brignall of folk duo Suthering. The choir are known for their intricate and rhythmic arrangements and the high quality of their singing. Despite being a mixed-ability group of un-auditioned singers, the choir create an impressive and professional sound, brilliantly executing a wide range of folk music; from unique modern takes on traditional songs to textured, choral interpretations of contemporary music. Their sense of community, which is at the heart of what they do, shines through in their singing. This is a vibrant choir with a fresh take on folk arrangements, singing in up to eight-part harmony. Their songs are moving, exciting and delivered with passion.
“The Great Sea Choir put on a truly captivating show – the kind you only achieve when every single member is absolutely committed to the performance. Riveting and original, we look forward to our next encounter!” – Gilmore and Roberts BBC Radio 2 folk award nominees
The Harry Browns of Bristol
We are a fine body of singers, with big hearts and big smiles. We are perhaps the longest serving purveyors of sea shantiesand sea songs in the UK today. We like to sing well and are renown for our harmonies, musical arrangements and for being
full of surprises. Most importantly we want people to enjoy our music!
We hope to see you soon!
The Jolly Strumpets
The Jolly Strumpets are proud to be part of an ever-growing group of women singing songs of the sea. If you’ve ever wondered what the women-folk fill their time with while the lads are off a’ rovin’, or what REALLY happened with that maid in Amsterdam, make sure that The Jolly Strumpets are on your itinerary for the festival. Serving up a mix of humour, beautiful harmonies and rollicking sing-a-longs, they are a group not to be missed.
The Lemonaires
Male voice singing is a great passion for Cornishmen and The Lemonaires are no exception.
The Lemonaires are an Acapella group based in Mylor Bridge near Falmouth. Singing of Cornwall, fishing, farming, and mining with the passion you would expect from proud Celtic men, also like a good ole shanty or two.
Happily performing in pubs, clubs, at special celebrations, back in shanty festivals across Cornwall, Caravan and Holiday parks, private residences, in churches, in fact anywhere that brings a smile to the faces of anyone appreciating what can loosely be described as Cornish or Celtic Folk Music.
The Mermaid of Padstow by Gareth Cooper
The story of a mermaid, a man, and a dangerous stretch of sand off the Cornish coast. A brand-new, one-man adaptation of the classic Cornish folktale, featuring 5 bespoke sing-along folk songs and beer!
The Navy Larks – Starboard Watch
The Oggymen
If our history forms the people we are, then it is the places we inhabit that shape the people we become. Our love for the history and the community of our hometown, Falmouth, is intense but unsentimental. As we grew up, it was folk songs that bound us to this special place. Our fathers sung them in male voice choirs, our brothers sung them at Falmouth Working Boat regattas, our sisters sung them at Pilot Gig Races and we all tried to sing them down the pub…
For over a decade, The Oggymen have championed contemporary Cornish folk music and celebrated those songs that bind Cornish people to their community and to their past. We are known for our tight harmonies and rousing performances that convey the rugged beauty of the Duchy and celebrate her peerless industrial heritage. The Oggymen’s performances at this year’s Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival will feature new musical arrangements that will captivate the heart of the every Cornishman or Cousin Jack.
The Old Gaffers
From South Devon, The Old Gaffers have been rocking assorted boats and all sorts of other stages since 2010. With our own brand of humour, no nonsense, no gimmicks, sea shanties and sea songs we have entertained audiences at festivals and concerts the length and breadth of the country. We’ve been on national and local TV and radio, recorded 4 CDs and featured on a few other people’s CDs
We have morphed into the present crew of 9 with an average age of 48 (sorry that should be waist size) and a groupie fan base of well over one; we are going from strength to strength! We’re pleased to have raised thousands of pounds for charity including, but not exclusively, the RNLI, Devon Air Ambulance, Prostate Cancer UK, Children’s Hospice SW, Help For Heroes and had a great time doing it. Are you in need of some entertainment? Do you need a bit of a lift? Then put us on your must see list!
The Primary School Sea Shanty Singers
Children in local schools have been learning and singing sea shanties together and are looking forward to coming to sing together in this year’s festival. Over the last couple of months, Alice Browning from Little Bird Music and ASONE Music Hub’s Primary School & Community Engagement Lead for Mid Cornwall, has been visiting many local schools to teach a collection of songs and to explore the history of shanty singing. On the morning of Saturday 17th children from Constantine Primary, Kennall Vale Primary, Penryn Primary Academy and Mylor Bridge Community Primary School will be coming together to form and perform as The Primary School Sea Shanty Singers!
The Silver Darlings
The Silver Darlings are a 6-piece, all-female shanty crew from Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Living on the estuary of the River Thames, with tales of the working river seeped in our history and bearing witness to the ongoing industries of cockling and fishing, we are naturally drawn to singing shanties and songs of the sea in a unique way, capturing the traditional nature of these songs and weaving in 2- and 3-part a Capella harmonies.
The crew was formed in 2017 and have been making waves in local and international festivals since their inception, and at such iconic venues as the Golden Hinde and the Cutty Sark. The girls have performed live on national radio and their debut album, Maiden Voyage, received a 4 star review from Folk London. Live performances are enthusiastic and engaging, with the audience positively encouraged to join in and sing along.
For more information, visit The Silver Darlings Website
The Steepholmers
The Steepholmers formed in Weston-super-Mare in early summer 2018, with a little help from a certain popular video game with a nautical theme (seriously!). We are the organisers of the Weston-super-Mare Sea Shanty and Folk Music Festival https://www.wsmshantyfest.com
We meet every Wednesday for rehearsal and perform a range of popular sea shanties and sea songs, always remaining keen on learning new ones to enhance our repertoire.
We perform in public for community groups, in pubs, in bars, and at Sea Shanty Festivals around the UK. We play every 3rd Wednesday with invited friends our regular monthly ‘Shanty Night’ in Fork ‘n’ Ale, Weston-super-Mare.
Toby Webb
I’m a 22-year-old singer songwriter from Falmouth, Cornwall. I’ve been writing, playing the guitar, and singing since I was 12 years old and only recently started gigging.
Since the pandemic I’ve been inspired by close local Cornish friends, local shanty groups and the singer songwriters Harry Glasson & Will Keating to love where I live. I write songs about Cornwall and about a girl who knows all the words to pretty much every single shanty song…
Treizhadenn
Treizhadenn is a Breton group (Crossing in English) from the Paris area.
Composed of musicians (vocals, chromatic accordion, guitar, flutes, saxophone, Bombardes, bass and percussions), Treizhadenn is fourteen years old. We perform throughout France and abroad, Wales and Cornwall. Our repertoire is almost exclusively composed of group creations (music and lyrics) and it is dedicated to the sea, sailors and Brittany.
Most of them are dance tunes from different terroirs of Brittany and Celtic countries.
We have created three CDs and for more details you can visit our website, where you will find videos and CD extracts.
Wareham Whalers
Wareham Whalers have been together now for over 18 years. We enjoy singing a wide range of shanties, songs of the sea as well as a number of songs composed by members of our crew. We adopt the style that sailors would have used nearly 200 hundred years ago when working. So we sing with no accompaniment and where appropriate put in the stresses that would have signalled a pull on the heavy ropes.
Whilst singing we raise money for local charities including the RNLI, regularly singing for their lifeboat naming ceremonies at their headquarters in Poole.
We enjoy performing our own concerts and singing at festivals both in this country and in France. We also enjoy putting on workshops to explain the origins and practical uses of shanties and simply getting other people involved and interested.
Call us to book us. Most of our income goes to local charities, and not to ourselves.
Wellington Wailers
Hailed as ‘Sea Shanty Favourites’ in their native West Sussex, the Wellington Wailers were formed in 2012 by a small group of likeminded ‘sea dogs’ interested in singing traditional shanties. Their repertoire has expanded to include a number of ‘fore-bitters’ and more bawdy favourites.
The Wailers regularly fundraise for the RNLI, contributing over £6,000 to-date. At last year’s Festival they achieved the largest bucket collection, totalling £888!
Their performances focus on humour and enjoyment, with a harmonious and rousing sound that fans adore. Everyone is encouraged to join in with any mischief and shenanigans that the Wailers embark on.
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Decide which venues you want to visit
Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival takes place across the whole town in a variety of pubs, restaurants, outdoor spaces and venues, meaning there is a concert to suit everyone.
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Visitor information
Plan your visit to the festival
Taking place at various locations throughout the town, from pubs and bars to historic courtyards and quays, check out our visitor information section for information on travel, accommodation and food and drink.
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