An engaging Nova Scotian performer with a glorious baritone voice, dextrous guitar work and intelligent, well-observed story-songs, Dan McKinnon’s performances bring alive the history and spirit of our collective past. He has appeared at Festivals and clubs throughout Canada and the USA, Great Britain and Australia.

Four singers and musicians from France singing traditional songs of sea and river, Carapata combine the talents of Bérengère Le Cain, Emmanuel Pariselle, Séverin Valière and Miguel Biard (whom some of you might recognise from a previous incarnation!)  Playing a variety of instruments including fiddle, accordion, guitar and concertina, Carapata combine their musical talents with superb voices and an in-depth knowledge of French maritime songs.

Geoff Higginbottom has been singing Sea Shanties since the day he first went paddling at Blackpool.

As well as singing shanties, he has a vast amount of knowledge on the subject gleaned from his holiday job in 1975 working on Heaton Park boating lake. 

Geoff sings very loudly, because he can and accompanies himself on guitar and mandola as well as singing unaccompanied. He  becomes a duo when joined on stage by Woody the dancing doll (pictured) who is quite clearly the brains of the outfit.

Make sure you bring your singing voice to any of his concerts (and possibly ear defenders).

North Cape have been singing acapella shanties and sea songs in harmony since 1995. They perform all over their native Poland and have won prizes at several national competitions. This will be their second visit to Harwich after a gap of a few years and we are very pleased to welcome them back.

Hailing from the well-known fishing port of Oxford, Short Drag Roger like nothing better than travelling the country and beyond, singing traditional and not so traditional sea shanties. In the 17 years of their existence they have attended a variety of functions, countries and Festivals. They say they will sing to anyone, anywhere, anytime at the “Drop of a Hat” and challenge you to try it and see what happens!

Dick Miles has been singing and playing music since he was 13 and lived for many years in East Anglia before moving to the Republic of Ireland. He particularly loves the English concertina as an accompaniment and has written 2 tutor books for this instrument. A regular at maritime and folk festivals this is Dick’s first visit to Harwich.

From Limbourg in Belgium, Les Corsaires are keen travellers and have appeared at maritime festivals throughout Europe. They sing in several different languages and believe it is important that both audience and singers should have fun.

Tres Hombres Shanty Crew from Eindhoven in the Netherlands sing traditional shanties, sea songs and forebitters in surprisingly close harmony. They are also proud ambassadors of www.fairtransport.eu the emission free shipping company.

The Rogue Shanty Buoys are an energetic acapella sea shanties group.

They sing authentic sea shanties and songs, their own original songs and “shantyfied” versions of contemporary songs with a raucous, humorous and passionate delivery that will captivate, entertain and educate you.

The group hail from Lowestoft– a town boasting a rich cultural history in the tradition of seafarers; fishermen and sailors where men have earned a living (honest and otherwise) from the Sea since before the Middle Ages.

Following popular performances at last year’s festival, the group will be here for all three days this year – DON’T MISS THEM.

Becky is the daughter of festival stalwart Pete Stockwell and is proud to carry on the tradition of singing songs of the sea. She has performed all over the country with acapella quartet The Witches Of Elswick and now enjoys doing so as a solo performer. She will also be treating us to some nautical tunes on fiddle and melodeon

The Norfolk Broads are a 4-piece female ensemble who enjoy singing low-pitched sea shanties and folk songs in close harmony. Born in Norfolk, formed in Cornwall, they live and sing in London but hold the East Anglian skies in their hearts and voices. This will be their first visit to Harwich and we look forward to hosting them.

We are delighted to welcome Slow Loris back to the Festival again (2018). Always extremely popular in our music venues, Slow Loris will also be performing the Friday night show on board Sailing Barge Victor. Full details in our programme. Don’t miss them.

Scheepsfolk are a four piece maritime folk band from the west coast of the Netherlands. Singing and playing both new and traditional songs, their performances are full of energy and take influence from a variety of musical genres. The band play an impressive variety of instruments, including guitar, banjo, mandolin, washboard, accordion and double bass and are well known at maritime events throughout Europe. They are looking forward to their first visit to Harwich.

Shep Woolley has been entertaining the crowds since performing at the local working men’s club as a young boy. Through Country & Western, Jazz, Skiffle and Rock’n’Roll he progressed to stand up comedy and a spell in the Royal Navy lent a nautical slant to his material. A professional musician of many years standing, Shep now combines an entertaining mix of comedy, monologues, sea songs and shanties for his maritime bookings. Don’t miss him!

Our first group from Finland, Tidens Brus in fact hail from the Aland Islands, between Finland and Sweden. Roughly translated “Aland” means “Land of Water” so it is hardly surprising that there is a tradition of singing songs of the sea. The four members of the group sing in harmony, sometimes accompanied by guitar, whistle and percussion.

From that well know seafaring county of Wiltshire, Friggitt have been performing maritime songs together since 2007. They entertain with a range of instruments and have appeared at a variety of sea and riverside events.

This will be Derek’s second visit to Harwich International Shanty Festival. Last time he came as part of the trio “Three Sheets to the Wind”, but in 2016 he appears in his own right. Derek has many years’ experience of singing folk and sea songs, has toured extensively and written several songs, some of which are so well absorbed into the folk tradition that others attribute them to that well known writer Anon.

Our first group from Belgium, Corsaires de la Vesdre are named after the River where they live, close to the borders with Germany and Holland. Their aim is to share their music with as wide an audience as possible and they love to sing outdoors in an authentic maritime setting. Catch them around the town this year.