Columbines are an all-female trio who have played extensively within the East Anglian folk scene for the past few years.They are known for their striking use of close harmony singing […]

The Jack Tars are an energetic Yorkshire-based Shanty band specialising in traditional seafaring songs and British/Irish folk staples. The Tars are ready to transport audiences back in time to the […]

Named after one of the deep sea channels off the coast of Harwich, Black Deep have been singing together with their present line-up since 2021. But all five members boast […]

Swinging the Lead began singing together in 2010 and are based on the banks of the River Thames at Gravesend. They have been the resident Shanty Crew on the famous […]

From Zwolle in the Netherlands, Shantycrew Buitenboord have been singing together for over 20 years. They perform a capella shanties and drinking songs at Festivals, pubs, ships and marinas both […]

Hans is a familiar face at HISF and indeed at many other festivals in the UK and further afield. Join Hans at one of his “Learn to Play the Bones” […]

From Leeuwarden in the Netherlands the crew have been singing together as a mixed crew for the last two years, singing both at home and abroad. They perform a mixture […]

Hailing from Wivenhoe in Essex, The Hoolies are much in demand for their entertaining mix of traditional shanties and songs of the sea with lively musical accompaniment. They combine a […]

From just down the Essex coast and also singing with the crew of the same name, Hoy Boy (Peter Purnell) is a young(‘ish) enthusiastic a capella Sea Shanty Soloist with […]

London based, the Hog Eye Men sing at events in the capital and beyond. They host a monthly sea song and shanty session in central London and are a resident […]

A short trip down the Essex coast to Maldon on the Blackwater estuary finds the shanty crew Mains’l Haul. Formed in 2014, the group sing mainly unaccompanied, but also play […]

The Snotteldogs are a Margate based folk band born out of a love for performing uplifting, accessible and rollocking good songs. They sing with harmony and passion!

Shotley Wailers are a mixed, locally inspired shanty singing group accompanied by guitar, harmonica, melodeon and percussion. They sing out to Shotley, Felixstowe and Harwich Harbour every Monday night at […]

Shötley Crüe are a 7 piece pocket choir who with their own unique arrangements, have been singing shanties and songs about the sea since 2014. Never more than 70 miles […]

A mixed community choir based in Hackney, the London Collective love singing together, keeping shanties and songs of the sea alive and hauling. Most of their material is arranged, sometimes […]

Harwich Sing Tendring Voices is a community choir all about the love of singing. They have groups for all ages and abilities but love to come together and perform as […]

ShantyFolk are a landlocked a capella shanty crew based in the Sudbury area of South Suffolk, who love singing shanties but also like to weave in the occasional folk song, […]

Having made their debut last year, Suffolk based duo Craig & Phil are delighted to be returning to Harwich in 2023. They sing in harmony a variety of familiar and […]

Salt Water and Beer were formed in 1995, and have been singing together ever since in the Maldon area and surrounds, even venturing as far afield as Harwich! As well […]

Another home grown Harwich Town group, the Rattlin’ Winches have been singing together for several years now and are all keen exponents of the shanty tradition, performing at many local […]

Pete Stockwell and Dave Ellis, one time Double Trouble and Forebitter (for people with good memories) have reformed as 2 Bitts. If it’s vaguely damp they’ll sing and play it!

Pot of Gold has spent the last year performing in their home of East Anglia, Cornwall’s Port Isaac Shanty Festival and the Cutty Sark Shanty Festival, London.  Expect inclusive, laid […]

Based in the Burnhams, birthplace of Admiral Nelson, Nelson’s Shantymen are a diverse group of enthusiasts, driven in equal measure by a love of singing and a desire to keep […]

Just along the coast in Brightlingsea, Motley Crew have been singing together now for a number of years and gained a loyal following for their entertaining performances. They are much […]

Isle ‘ave a Shanty are a 6 piece shanty crew based on the Isle of Ely. They specialise in traditional songs from the sea and the country in a folk […]

Roger and Liz return to the festival with lively interpretations of maritime songs, often accompanied by accordion or whistle. They will also be running the popular “Learn to Sing in […]

Chris has been singing shanties virtually all his adult life and was a founder member of The Shanty Crew, back in the days when shanties were very much a niche […]

Dave, Andy, John, Tony, and Stephen were all students at the London Nautical School. Several went to sea after leaving school and some have recently crewed together on the tall […]

An accomplished concertina player, Ken sings sometimes solo and sometimes alongside Hans during the festival programme. He is the author of many well known modern sea songs, tunes and shanties […]

The home town Shanty Crew of the festival was born out of a workshop run at a very early HISF. They now perform at many events both locally and further […]

This fine group of shanty singers from just over the water in Suffolk have been making a name for themselves for several years now, attending clubs and festivals and holding […]

Popular local group, the Golden Rivets will be performing for us again at the Shanty Festival this year. Accompanied by a variety of instruments they play and sing a lively, upbeat […]

This popular local group have been playing together since the noughties with an ever expanding repertoire and band of members. This will be their second appearance at the Festival with […]

Here’s the line-up for the 2022 Harwich International Shanty Festival 2022! We still have a few more artists to confirm so check back regularly!

We are thrilled to announce that Keith Donnelly will fill the spot left vacant by Les Barker’s immediate retirement. Keith has worked alongside Les in the past and is a festival […]

Crossjack is the name of a small sail at the mizzen mast. It is used to hold a course and this five piece Shanty Crew aim to do just that. […]

With a huge selection of original 19th Century photographs Pepper’s Ghost Magic Lantern Show provides a vivid insight into maritime life in times past. With tall ships, fishing vessels and […]