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Winter is barely out of the way but we’re already booking artists for this year’s festival – 11th-13th October 2019! There’s plenty more to be added to the roster over the next few months.
For a full listing of the confirmed artists, see the Artists page
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Latest News
Treasure Hunt Results
Congratulations to all the winners: Hazel Prosser, Adam Rudland, Alex Sandquest joint first children The Mayflowers 1st Adults 19/20 Andy...
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Treasure Hunt Results
Congratulations to all the winners: Hazel Prosser, Adam Rudland, Alex Sandquest joint first children The Mayflowers 1st Adults 19/20 Andy...
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Christmas Treasure Hunt 2023
We will be running a Treasure Hunt again this year on 30th December at the Alma Inn. Start the challenge anytime between...
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Cakes’n’Shanties
Join us on the Green opposite the New Bell on Sunday 23rd July 2023. Starts at 11am
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Coronation Capers
On Sunday 7th May 2023, a day after the King's Coronation, the Harwich Shanty Festival committee gracefully put on Coronation...
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Shanty Marathon
Pam, Jon and the rest of the organising committee are now taking a well-deserved rest after their 26 hour marathon!...
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Updated: Christmas Murder Mystery
Thanks to everyone who braved the somewhat inclement weather on 30th December and turned out for our Murder Mystery event....
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Summer Shanties On The Pier
We were last able to hold our popular Summer Shanty sessions back in 2019, but have re-instated them for 2022!...
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Capstan Full Strength
Capstan Full Strength are a six strong vocal harmony group who have sung songs of the sea, land and work...
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Telegraph Community Choir
Another London based group, Telegraph Community Choir will be visiting us for the second time this year. They recently celebrated...
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Tyburn Road
Dave and Ian sing mainly maritime sets together as Tyburn Road and have become a regular fixture at HISF. With...
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Old Gaffers
A performance from Old Gaffers from South Devon is always inclusive and engaging and delivered with their own brand of...
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London Sea Shanty Collective
The London Sea Shanty Collective is a community choir who sing shanties and maritime songs with one eye to tradition...
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Hans Weehuizen
Hans is a regular performer at our Festival now and in addition to singing and playing concertina/melodeon he will be...
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Ken Stephens
Singer, concertina player and author of several contemporary shanties often mistaken for traditional, Ken is a relaxed entertaining and knowledgeable...
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Hog Eye Men
The Hog Eye Men join us once again from London to sing authentic shanties in a traditional manner. All members...
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Swinging the Lead
One of our popular regulars, Swinging the Lead join us once again, having now expanded into a six-piece band. Their...
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Charlotte & Spong
Tireless supporters of the Festival, Charlotte and Spong will be entertaining us over the weekend with their beautiful arrangements of...
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Malcolm Ward & Pete Stockwell
Malcolm and Pete, both well established figures on the Kent Folk scene, will be performing together at HISF with a...
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Salt Water & Beer
Another Essex crew from Maldon, Salt Water and Beer have been singing together for a number of years. They have...
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Felix Stowaways
Visiting again from across the seas, well the Orwell, are popular local group Felix Stowaways, who are blessed with the...
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Shötley Crüe
Another crew formed directly as a result of the Harwich Shanty Festival, Shötley Crüe have now been singing together for...
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Motley Crew
From just along the Essex coast in Brightlingsea, Motley Crew are a very popular local group whose performances are always...
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Mains’l Haul
Mains’l Haul join us again from Maldon, a little further down the Essex Coast. They sing a lively mix of...
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Harwich Shanty Crew
Formed from a workshop at our Festival back in 2010, Harwich Shanty Crew are now much in demand locally and...
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Golden Rivets
A home-grown Harwich group, the Golden Rivets have been performing together for many years. Their performances are upbeat and inclusive.
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Rattlin’ Winches
Local Buoys, sorry boys, Ben, Len and Roy must be the hardest working shanty singers at the Festival this year...
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Naze Shanty Crew
Naze Shanty Crew founded the Harwich International Shanty Festival after casting envious glances across the bay from Walton-on-the-Naze. Now none...
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Becky Graham
Becky is the daughter of festival stalwart Pete Stockwell and is proud to carry on the tradition of singing songs...
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Les Corsaires de la Vesdre
From Limbourg in Belgium, Les Corsaires are keen travellers and have appeared at maritime festivals throughout Europe. They sing in...
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Dick Miles
Dick Miles has been singing and playing music since he was 13 and lived for many years in East Anglia...
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Alan Whitbread
We’re always pleased to welcome Alan back to Harwich. His performances are lively, inclusive and entertaining and make the shanties...
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Exmouth Shanty Men
Devon’s “original buoy band”, The Exmouth Shanty Men, formed in 2007 to breathe new life into the maritime heritage of...
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Jim Radford
One of the diminishing numbers of survivors from WW2, Jim worked on the Naval Wartime Rescue Tug Service, based in...
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Men Overboard
“Za Bortom!” (Men Overboard!) Men Overboard, from St. Petersburg, Russia, made a big impression on their first visit to Harwich last...
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Treasure Hunt Results - Congratulations to all the winners: Hazel Prosser, Adam Rudland, Alex Sandquest joint first children The Mayflowers 1st Adults 19/20 Andy & Maggie Schooler 2nd 18/20, Peter & Sheila Davis plus […]