We were last able to hold our popular Summer Shanty sessions back in 2019, but have re-instated them for 2022!
May 15th was Hoy Boy (video “Randy Dandy Oh”)
June 12th Hoy Boy (Video “Sally Brown”)
July 10th Hoolies from Wivenhoe
August 14th ShantyFolk from Lavenham
September 11th Mick Verrier & Friends This event has been cancelled following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Back in 2019 the season was kicked off by a combo of Naze & Harwich shanty crews:
In a few short years the Longest Johns have gone from singing sea shanties in a kitchen to International folk festivals, tours and TV appearances and have gained a huge online following. Here at Harwich International Shanty Festival we are so pleased to welcome them back as guests, following their transition to stardom. With innovative interpretations of many well known shanties, interspersed with some lesser known gems they delight their many fans and those who are just discovering them.
Another of our most popular performers, Nordet join us again from Lorient in Brittany. They sing shanties and sea songs in French, Breton and English accompanied by guitar, melodeon and now, Uillean pipes. Twenty years of experience has seen them performing all over the world at venues from Village Halls to concert auditoriums. Come and capture some of their magic.
Happy Sam are Graham and Nicky Schofield. Both have been heavily involved with the traditional folk scene for many years. Graham is well known as a fine singer with a strong voice and wide repertoire of songs.
As well as playing for dancing, they run sessions locally and folk events for charity, using many different instruments and jig dolls. Their aim is to always have a lively, friendly fun time.
Capstan Full Strength are a six strong vocal harmony group who have sung songs of the sea, land and work since 1998. Their powerful ‘broadside’ of sound has been welcomed at festivals in Europe, Scandinavia and the British Isles . ‘Capstan FS’ offer an incredibly broad repertoire of maritime songs enhanced with beautiful harmonies and arrangements that will leave you enchanted.
On 1st May we held the second of our Shanty’n’Cake Days. Last year this event was a spectacular success, raising in excess of £500 and providing a great day of entertainment. For 2022 we exceeded ourselves as this has become one of our most popular fundraising events and we were thrilled to raise just over £900 for the Festival. Thanks go to all those who ate cake (!) and all helpers in whatever capacity.
On April 12th the Alma Inn is hosting one of its famous quizzes and this month all profits go towards the Shanty Festival. In their own words the quiz is “a bunch of weird questions, followed by a bunch of unforgettable prizes” and an entertaining evening is guaranteed. Teams of up to 6 people may enter and please register your team with the Alma on 01255 318681. Arrive at 6.30 p.m. for a prompt 7.00 p.m. start.
In common with other online stores you may see a pop-up from your bank when making a donation or buying merchandise on our site; there is nothing to be concerned about and it is designed to combat online fraud. For further information please see your bank’s website or any recent correspondence from your bank. This is due to start from 14th March 2022.
Monkey’s Fist, based in Yorkshire and named after the knot used to heave the first line ashore, is the trio of Steve Flude, Colin Devey and John Horsey. They sing powerful arrangements of sea shanties, forebitters and ballads with close harmonies and guitar, concertina, bodhran and harmonica accompaniment. They have performed at clubs and festivals across the UK, together with festivals in Ireland, Germany and Holland.
From La Rochelle in France, Les Brouilleurs d’Écoutes describe themselves as a Franco-British group with an Irish flavour. Their upbeat multi-instrumental approach to shanties has earned them a strong following both in their home country and abroad. Les Brouilleurs d’Écoutes made a huge impression on their first visit to Harwich and we are pleased to welcome them back.
We are deeply saddened to report the death on 21st February of the lovely Alan Storey, talented musician and multi instrumentalist with popular local group Golden Rivets. He and the Rivets have supported our Festival from the very beginning and his presence in the local community will be sorely missed. A true gentleman, Alan is a well known figure at many local events and it is hard to believe he will no longer be with us. He is pictured here at a previous Shanty Festival, playing on board SB Victor, surrounded by the other band members. RIP Alan
We are thrilled and honoured to have received our Pride of Tendring Award at a glittering awards ceremony at the Princes Theatre, Clacton on 11th February.
Woohoo! HISF has won the Essex Section of the East Anglian Festival of the Year. Announced last night on BBC Radio Norfolk/Suffolk. We are thrilled at this honour. Thanks everyone who voted for us!!!!
Many people will already have heard this news, but for those of you who have not, we are sorry to tell you that the lovely Jan Buijs from Scheepsfolk sadly died in December. Scheepsfolk were a great hit at our Festival in 2018 and Jan and Catharina came along as a duo in 2019. The group are a lively, talented, colourful and popular band throughout the Netherlands as well as the rest of the world and we all mourn his loss.
Our 2021 T-Shirts have been reduced from £15 to £8 in our first ever New Year Sale! Sizes Medium & XL are available from our T-Shirt page.
https://harwichshantyfestival.co.uk/2021-shanty-t-shirts/
We’ll be meeting on the green on Kings Quay Street (near the New Bell) for our second cake sale and perhaps a few shanties!
Get those grey cells working and help us raise some money for the Shanty Festival on a Tuesday evening in the Alma. More details in a future newsletter
Please submit any entries to our photo competition by 31st March 2022. We want you to send us your photos of any HISF event. It doesn’t have to be just a photograph of shanty singers at the Festival, but has to represent the kind of things our Festival covers, so you could consider for example, our fundraising events, or perhaps the Redoubt events over the Shanty Weekend.
Entries have to be at least 1MB quality and will be used to produce a Shanty Calendar for 2023, an item which we hope to reintroduce to our merchandise stock. The winning photographers will of course receive a copy of the calendar and will be invited to our exclusive Friends Reception on the Friday afternoon of the next Festival.
Please email to info@harwichshantyfestival.co.uk
We are running a photo competition, with a closing date of 31st March 2022. We want you to send us your photos of any HISF event. It doesn’t have to be just a photograph of shanty singers at the Festival, but has to represent the kind of things our Festival covers, so you could consider for example, our fundraising events, or perhaps the Redoubt events over the Shanty Weekend.
Entries have to be at least 1MB quality and will be used to produce a Shanty Calendar for 2023, an item which we hope to reintroduce to our merchandise stock. The winning photographers will of course receive a copy of the calendar and will be invited to our exclusive Friends Reception on the Friday afternoon of the next Festival.
The closing date has now passed. Many thanks to the participants.
Save the Day & Solve the Crime!
Many thanks to everyone who took part (13 teams!)
If you didn’t manage to attend but would like to make a donation of £5 then please click the PayPal button below (you don’t need a PayPal account)
[wpecpp name=”Fundraiser Donation ” price=”5″ align=”left”]
On 30th of December we invite all amateur sleuths to solve our mystery – someone was killed but who was it, where was it and which weapon was used?
We’ll be hiding the clues around Historic Harwich – when you find the three correct clues you should take your answers straight to the adjudicators in the Alma. Please replace all clues for the next unsuspecting sleuth! PLUS there are spot prizes for children & adults, keep these and exchange them at the Alma for your prize.
Sleuths should arrive the at Alma Inn from midday onwards to receive the instructions and a map before being leaving. You are being timed so everyone has a fair chance!
Return to the Alma immediately if you have found the correct who/where/which answers to claim your top prize! Evidence is required!
Save time on the day by buying your tickets in advance:
| Tickets are no longer available |
Please note that the family ticket only applies to single or paired adults (plus up to 4 accompanying children). Any further adults must hold a separate ticket.
Click image to open a larger version
POSTPONED
Unfortunately we have had to take the decision to postpone our Murder Mystery event. Apologies for the short notice but we have been watching the situation closely and felt we had no choice. Watch out for a revised date when it’s a better time to hold the event.
Save the Day & Solve the Crime!
On 28th of December we invite all amateur sleuths to solve our mystery – someone was killed but who was it, where was it and which weapon was used?
We’ll be hiding the clues around Historic Harwich – when you find the three correct clues you should take your answers straight to the adjudicators in the Alma. Please replace all clues for the next unsuspecting sleuth! PLUS there are spot prizes for children & adults, keep these and exchange them at the Alma for your prize.
How to find the clues … you will need the What 3 Words app on your phone or mobile device.
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For Android devices, download & install from the Play Store iPhone users should head to the App Store To test the app, go to the following: ///nuzzling.barmaid.stays |
Sleuths should arrive the at Alma Inn from midday onwards but you won’t be released to find the clues until 1pm, so everyone has a fair chance! We’ll give you a list of What 3 Words locations and you need to check them – in any order you wish! Return to the Alma immediately if you have found the winning clue to claim your top prize! Evidence is required!
Save time on the day by buying your tickets in advance:
| Adults are £5 each | Not currently available |
| Family tickets £10 (1 or 2 Adults plus up to 4 children) |
Not currently available |
Please note that the family ticket only applies to single or paired adults (plus up to 4 accompanying children). Any further adults must hold a separate ticket.
If you’ve never heard of What 3 Words then a simple explanation is needed!
The idea is that every 3m square (almost 10ft in old money!) has been allocated a set of words. This can pin the location of a place, or a person, down to a street corner or a particular bench along Harwich Quay. It is in use by the emergency services and by vehicle rescue operators, so if you regularly travel then it could literally be a life-saver! The app is free to install but will use some of your data allowance when you open it unless you’re on a wifi connection.
Most buildings have multiple What 3 Words squares so sometimes a very appropriate set of words can be found – can you find ///ending.spelled.attention ?
The Treasure Hunt will be held on 17th April.
Many thanks to Freya at ITV Anglia for the video.
Join us in Outpart Eastward, near the New Bell Inn, for cakes & shanties on August Bank Holiday Monday – 30th August 2021 11am – 5pm
Join us on Bank Holiday Monday 30th August for Cakes & Shanties
Outpart Eastward, adjacent to the New Bell Inn.
Johnson Girls were all set to come to our 2020 Festival, representing the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts as part of our Mayflower celebrations. Travel uncertainties and increased costs make their Atlantic crossing impossible this year, but we are very much hoping that this world renowned Shanty group can join us via the wonders of Live Streaming.
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 style as well as putting a folk twist on some modern classics! They may come from a landlocked county but they bring their own style to both traditional and self penned songs.
ShantyFolk are a landlocked, acapella shanty group from the Lavenham area; they have been singing together since 2014 when, as members of a local choir, they sought to do ‘something different’ for a charity concert. Since then they have helped raise a significant amount for various good causes including the RNLI. 2021 will mark their debut at HISF.
Another crew formed directly as a result of the Harwich Shanty Festival, Shötley Crüe have now been singing together for nearly 6 years and have performed at a number of Festivals and clubs around the country. They are now resident band at a monthly Folk club in South London.
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 events. This busy trio also sing with other Harwich crews, so look carefully and you may spot them more than once over the weekend.
Now embarking on their 5th year together, Pot of Gold have gained an enviable reputation for singing traditional, and not so traditional, shanties and songs of the sea, in their own unique style.
Expect a totally inclusive, laid-back, entertaining session, full of great songs, fantastic harmonies, humour, brilliant musicianship and audience participation – the complete experience that has entertained audiences from Kings Lynn to The Minack Theatre and many places in between. And for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, Pot of Gold are proud to say they have a crew member who will sign their songs.
From our local waters of Essex, Hoy Boy (Peter Purnell) is a young(‘ish) enthusiastic acapella Sea Shanty Soloist with a passion for Maritime Folk Music. Specialising in rousing uplifting shanties from the golden age of sail that will have you joining in with gusto.
This will be the second appearance for The Hoolies from Wivenhoe on the Colne Estuary. Now well established as part of the shanty community, they are in much demand locally for their lively and entertaining versions of traditional and contemporary sea songs.
Long time devotee of all things maritime, Pete has been singing sea songs and shanties for as long as any of us can remember and leads the shanty session at Broadstairs Folk Festival every year. He has been a supporter of our Festival since the beginning and we look forward to welcoming him back in 2021.
An inveterate singer of shanties and folk songs, Malcolm has been performing at clubs and festivals for many years. With a melodious voice and sympathetic accompaniment on concertina, Malcolm joins with Pete Stockwell for most gigs here at Harwich International Shanty Festival.
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 set of shanties and sea songs.
Felix Stowaways are a busy and popular Shanty Crew, performing at many local events and holding a successful annual “ShantyCafé” in their home town of Felixstowe. They have been singing together for a number of years and are welcome attendees at HISF.
Also from Maldon, Salt Water & Beer have been singing together for a number of years. Originally singing for beer on Maldon Quay they now sing for beer at events much further afield, including our own Harwich International Shanty Festival.
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 a variety of instruments including melodeon, guitar, concertina and recorder. The group sing mainly at festivals, regattas and sailing clubs and have become regulars at HISF.
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 in demand locally and have performed at numerous events, often raising money for charity, particularly the RNLI.
London Shanty Crew the Hog Eye Men sing at events all over the Capital City. They also host a monthly sea song and shanty session in central London and like Swinging the Lead, have a regular slot on board the Cutty Sark. The crew are keen to keep these great songs alive, singing them as they used to be sung: simply, boldly and loudly.
Founders of the Harwich International Shanty Festival and enthusiastic promoters of maritime music, the Naze Shanty Crew are thrilled to be performing together again after their enforced rest. Veterans of several maritime festivals at home and abroad, Harwich remains of course, their favourite
Accompanied by fiddle, mandolin and concertina, Charlotte and Spong have an original take on many traditional shanties and also include some contemporary material in their varied sets. This year they will be joined by Allan and Rene for another entertaining Magic Lantern Show. Featuring original photographs of 19th Century maritime life on a genuine Magic Lantern projector, this is a show not to be missed.
This all female crew from the Southend area made a great impression at our 2019 Festival and are set to do the same again as they join us in 2021. They are rapidly making a name for themselves, both locally and further afield, with great voices and lively performances.
Hans is a familiar face at HISF and indeed at many other festivals in the UK. Join Hans at one of his “Learn to Play the Bones” workshops, or catch him as he sings Dutch and English shanties, accompanied by concertina or melodeon.
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 afield with a dedicated and expanding group of singers and wide repertoire of sea songs and shanties, some self penned.
Kentish band, Swinging the Lead join us once again with an ever expanding line up! They are regular singers on board the famous tea clipper, the Cutty Sark and also regulars at many festivals and events around the UK. They sing an entertaining mixture of traditional and contemporary maritime songs, including some written by members of the band. Swinging the Lead have been performing together for over ten years and are welcome regulars at HISF.
From the South Hams area of Devon, Old Gaffers are representing their nearby towns of Plymouth and Dartmouth. This is the Gaffers second visit to Harwich and their previous performances made them an instant hit. A large repertoire of sea songs and shanties, professional delivery and easy going style make them a popular choice at venues both locally and further afield.
An accomplished concertina player, Ken sings sometimes solo and sometimes alongside Hans during the Festival programme. In addition, Ken is the author of many well known modern sea songs and shanties and we have a special concert showcasing his contribution to the maritime tradition.
Another first for us, Act of Mutiny hail from Leiden in the Netherlands, the town where many of the Pilgrims settled before making that historic crossing. The group has a versatile repertoire of traditional and modern shanties, singing mainly in English, sometimes French or Spanish and often accompanied by guitar, banjo, flute, cello and percussion. Look forward to some lively performances.
For the past 30 years or more, Shanty Jack (Pete Hayselden) has been a regular fixture at Shanty Festivals both in the UK and abroad. He spent a large part of his life working on Tugs in the Humber and was instrumental in establishing the Hull Sea Fever Festival. This is his first visit to us here in Harwich, he represents the three towns of Boston, Gainsborough and Immingham in his adopted home county of Lincolnshire.
We are so pleased to welcome the talented Kimber’s Men back to our Festival this year. Their superb harmonies and great arrangements make them one of the most sought after Shanty Groups in the land. And as true Yorkshire men they are representing the town of Austerfield, Doncaster as part of our Mayflower celebrations.
Our 2021 Festival features a rather special theme of the Mayflower. Most of you will know that the year 2020 was intended to be a celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the voyage of the Mayflower to the New World. Harwich town as the birthplace of both the Mayflower Ship and its Master Christopher Jones, is an important part of that story.
Many towns in England, but also in the Netherlands and of course the U.S.A were planning a joint celebration of this historic occasion, with commemorative events scheduled to take place throughout the year. We all know what happened to that! However there are still hopes to salvage something of this historic occasion and many towns are still staging some events connected to the Mayflower Story.
Here at Harwich International Shanty Festival we have managed to secure Shanty Singers and Crews to represent most of the Mayflower Towns and we have several special events and concerts lined up following this theme. Our Guest List below indicates which Artists are representing a particular Mayflower Town and we look forward to welcoming you to the series of special concerts we have lined up.
Apologies to the many Artists we were unable to host this year. I’m sure you all appreciate what a difficult year it has been for all aspects of the Arts and the music industry. Let’s all support this Festival and start to get events back on track.
As you’ll no doubt realise we can’t announce any artists for our planned 2021 Festival yet! Once the year progresses and the health situation stabilises, then … news will appear here!
It is with shock and sadness that we report the death of Amaury Villain, whom many will remember as the Accordionist with Brise Glace, from Montreal, who went down a storm at our 2019 Festival. Amaury was just 45 years old and we send love and condolences to the band, his friends and family.
“At last the 2020 Treasure Hunt!”
Remember 2020? Hmmm, maybe not. Anyway, we promised we would reschedule the Treasure Hunt as soon as the we could – and that brings us to the first weekend after pub gardens can re-open! We are of course grateful to Nick at the Alma for his kind offer to host this event.
Firstly (and most importantly) the Treasure Hunt is wholly dependant on the Coronavirus Rules that pertain on 17th April. Please remember that masks are still currently required whilst you are moving around in the pub. Also, please keep an eye on this page and our social media accounts for the latest news and any updates.
The short info:
Save time by buying your ticket in advance. Please save/print your confirmation email.
Online tickets are no longer available.
Please buy your ticket at The Alma
The long version:
To collect clues please enter the Alma through the gate at 26, Kings Head Street (to the right of the Alma front doors). Please do not use the Eastgate St entrance.
The gate leads into the new Alma garden. For information, this is soon to be a new seafood restaurant, Lambard’s Salt House. Watch out for a poster on the gate. Here you will find a large heated marquee where you can collect clue sheets between 1200 -1300.
There is table service here for drinks and food and a one way system takes Treasure Hunters out through the door of No. 26, back into Kings Head Street. There are toilet facilities too, so no need to enter the Alma Inn at all.
Completed sheets are due back at the Alma between 1430 and 1500 and competitors should bring their sheets back to the Alma. Please enter the pub through the front door and walk through to the back garden of the Alma (which is also heated). We hope to have all sheets marked and the results ready by 1530. Whilst waiting for results people can take a seat in either of the outdoor areas and again food and drinks are available via table service only.
Many thanks to Nick May and the Alma staff for their fantastic support.
You can contact the pub to book a meal via their website www.almaharwich.co.uk
Our Mayflower CD is currently out of stock
The Harwich Ship
In 2014 Harwich International Shanty Festival ran a very special project commissioning new songs to commemorate the town’s connections to the Mayflower and its Master, Christopher Jones, who was born and lived in Harwich. We had a fantastic response with some 17 new songs written and a unique concert showcasing the songs. This CD comprises the fruits of everyone’s labours. Unfortunately there are a few songs not able to be represented here, not because of lack of excellence but because the vagaries of a live performance means that occasionally the sound quality is not sufficient.
We apologise to those artists not featured, but hope everyone will agree that the songs which do feature show a wide variety of interesting takes on the subject matter. We very much hope that not only will some of these songs be taken up and sung in clubs and pubs around the land, but that they will awaken an interest in the history of the Mayflower and its voyage to the New World. Harwich can rightly be proud of its heritage and of the fact that such an important aspect of it is now recorded in song.
Thanks go to all artists who took part in this project, including: John Conolly, Old Wild Rovers, Malcolm Ward, Naze Shanty Crew, Alan Lake, Ian Roper & Mick Rogers, Swinging the Lead, Peter Hunt, Bob Watson, Mick Verrier, Alan Whitbread, Gerald Donaldson, Michael Fitzgerald & The Chantey Cabin.
Out of stock
Our 2019 Shanty Festival CD features 24 artists who played Harwich Sea Shanty Festival in 2019
See below for purchase options
Back in 2019 we recorded some of the performances from artists appearing at that year’s festival:
Alan Whitbread
Armstrong’s Patent
Baggyrinkle
Brise Glace
Chris Roche
Dan McKinnon
Dutch Uncle
Geoff Higginbottom
Hog Eye Men
Jim Radford
Ken Stevens
Mains’l Haul
Malcolm Ward
Mollyhawks
Motley Crew
Naze Shanty Crew
New Scorpian Band
Pete McCelland
Salt Water & Beer
Sheringham Shanty Men
Shotley Crue
Swinging The Lead
Sloop Groggy Dogs
Tyburn Road
Sadly a few of these artists are no longer with us.
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