Harwich International Shanty Festival

Massed Shanty 2024
2024-10-13 15:30 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | St Nicholas Church, 67 Church Street, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3DR, United Kingdom
We’ll gather in St Nicholas Church for the official end of our festival. A large number of our festival artists will perform in a finale concert. Entry is free, there is a closing collection. Doors open 1515hrs.

Grand Opening
2024-10-11 11:30 - 12:00 | Ha’Penny Pier, The Quay, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3HH, United Kingdom
Led by Town Crier, Richard Bench and Sue Daish, High Sheriff of Harwich.

2024 festival
2024-10-11 - 2024-10-13 | Multiple venues, Harwich, United Kingdom
The 2024 Festival runs Friday 11 to Sunday 13 October 2024. A full programme is now available via our web store

Cakes & Shanties
2024-05-26 10:00 - 16:00 | The Green, Outpart Eastward, Outpart Eastward, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3ER, United Kingdom
Our popular Cake Sale with Shanties will be taking place this year on Sunday 26th May, starting around 10.00 a.m. As ever there will be a delicious array of cakes to purchase, some Shanty Merchandise and of course musical entertainment. More details will follow closer to the event, but be sure to put the date in your diary now.

Massed Shanty
2023-10-15 15:30 - 17:00 | St Nicholas Church, 67 Church Street, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3DR, United Kingdom
We will close the festival on Sunday afternoon with a massed shanty in St Nicholas Church. This is a great opportunity to see a large selection of the artists who have played over the weekend.

Saturday 14th October
2023-10-14 | Multiple venues, Harwich, United Kingdom
The Saturday of the festival is the busiest day for events, sessions, trains, workshops, talks and much more. There’s over a hundred free events but please buy a programme to see what’s available (and to support us!)
https://harwichshantyfestival.co.uk/tickets/

Grand Opening
2023-10-13 11:30 - 12:00 | Ha’Penny Pier, The Quay, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3HH, United Kingdom
Join us on Ha’Penny Pier for the Grand Opening with Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord Lieutenant of Essex

Welcome Session & Singaround
2023-10-12 20:00 - 23:00 | Harwich Town Sailing Club, Angelgate, Harwich, Essex, Co12 3EJ, United Kingdom
This is our annual meet-and-greet session for locals and early arrivals at the Harwich Town Sailing Club

Cakes'n'Shanties
2023-07-23 11:00 - 17:00 | New Bell Inn, Outpart Eastward, Harwich, Essex, CO12, United Kingdom
Join us on the Green opposite the New Bell Inn on Sunday 23rd July for this year
Enjoy the shanties and buy cakes!

Coronation Capers
2023-05-07 13:30 - 17:00 | Multiple venues, Harwich, United Kingdom
Coronation Capers on Harwich Green 2023
A Celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III
Programme for May 7th 2023
Harwich Green
1330-1430
Welcome by Harwich Town Crier
May Song – Staines Morris
National Anthem
Maypole Dances
Circassian Circle for everyone
May Song – Hail, Hail the First of May
Salute to King Charles
Farewell by Harwich Town Crier
1430-1630 Celebratory Music & Song around Historic Harwich

1700 Ha’Penny Pier Grand Finale All Groups

Shanty Marathon
2023-04-28 12:00 - 2023-04-29 14:00 | Alma Inn, The Alma Inn, Kings Head Street, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3EE, United Kingdom
It is now nearly 12 years since Harwich International Shanty Festival held their first Shanty Marathon event and it remains a fond memory for many – in a masochistic sort of way!
The time is ripe for a second record breaking attempt.
There will be 26 hours of continuous shanties and sea songs in the Alma Inn Harwich starting 12.00 on Friday 28th April and ending 14.00 Saturday 29th April.
Songs will be sung in shifts on a rota basis and no-one is expected to stay up for the entire 26 hours, unless of course they want to.
Insomniacs are of course particularly welcome!
This will be a fundraising venture for the Shanty Festival, but the emphasis is on FUNdraising with raffles, forfeits, spot prizes, shanty bingo and more to pass the time when not singing.
Everyone is welcome, from large shanty crews to solo singers, with or without any previous shanty, or indeed singing experience.
The idea is to keep the singing going and last time brought in some interesting gems from folks who had never heard of shanties before.
We will have words available if required.
You do not have to register in advance to attend, although an indication of likely interest would be helpful and does not commit you in any way.
There are still rooms available in the Alma if required (https://emea.littlehotelier.com/properties/thealmainn ) and the bar will be open for the entire duration.
An added bonus is the Real Ale Festival taking place at the same time.
Contact info@harwichshantyfestival.co.uk for more information.

Massed Shanty
2022-10-09 15:30 - 17:00 | St Nicholas Church, 67 Church Street, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3DR, United Kingdom
The Massed Shanty is the official closing event of the Harwich Shanty Festival. Over ninety minutes many of the artists who have performed over the weekend will step onto the stage at St Nicholas Church one last time.
The MC is John Wright and doors open at 1515hrs
Closing remarks will be made by many, supported by Nigel Spencer MBE
Please note that the bottom of Church Street is currently closed. For access from the Redoubt or Harwich Town Station, continue up West Street past Pieseas Chip Shop until you reach Ferry Motors and Church Lane. Turn to the right and you will be facing the St Nicholas.

Festival Day 3 - Sunday
2022-10-09 | Multiple venues, Harwich, United Kingdom
Sunday summary – details are in the programme!
Ha’Penny Pier has music from 1100.
The Redoubt opens at 1000 for tours then for music at 1100. There is a sword display around 1330.
Various pubs and other venues open at 11am with music from opening or midday.
There are ticketed talks, presentations, concerts and intimate sessions. Ticket sales close 7pm Wednesday, otherwise at Ha’Penny Pier Visitor Centre or on the door if any tickets remain.
There’s also 50+ free scheduled events during the day. Other spontaneous musical or theatrical events may also happen! Watch out for the busking spots.
Please buy a programme for full details.

Time & Tide Bell
2022-10-08 11:00 - 11:30 | Low Lighthouse, Low Lighthouse, Harbour Crescent, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3NL
The Harwich Time & Tide Bell is due to be inaugurated on Saturday 8th October 2022 near the Low Lighthouse (Maritime Museum) Time has now been confirmed as 1100-1130.

Festival Day 2 - Saturday
2022-10-08 | Multiple venues, Harwich, United Kingdom
Saturday summary – details are in the programme!
Ha’Penny Pier has music from 1130.
Time & Tide Bell inauguration is at 1130 by the Low Lighthouse (Maritime Museum)
The Redoubt opens at 1000 for tours then for music at 1100. There is a skirmish on Harwich Beach at 1400 or stay at the redoubt for some theatre action!
Various pubs open at 11am with music from opening or midday.
There are ticketed talks, presentations, concerts and intimate sessions. Ticket sales close 7pm Wednesday, otherwise at Ha’Penny Pier Visitor Centre or on the door if any tickets remain.
There’s also 70+free scheduled events during the day. Other spontaneous musical or theatrical events may also happen! Watch out for the busking spots.
Please buy a programme for full details.

Festival Official Opening
2022-10-07 11:45 - 12:00 | Ha’Penny Pier, The Quay, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3HH, United Kingdom
The 2022 Harwich International Sea Shanty festival will be opened by Jenny Tolhurst, the Lord Lieutenant of Essex. Please join us on Ha’Penny Pier just after 1130 on Friday 7th October to join in the official occasion. Shanties will be sung!
Nigel Spencer officially opened the 2021 Festival.

2022 Festival
2022-10-07 - 2022-10-09 | Multiple venues, Harwich, United Kingdom
For full details of the Festival we recommend you buy a Souvenir Programme, which includes an hour by hour guide as well as venue and artist information. There’s over a hundred free events, details in the Programme.

Festival Day 1 - Friday
2022-10-07 | Multiple venues, Harwich, United Kingdom
Friday summary – details are in the programme!
The Grand Opening is on Ha’Penny Pier from 1130. Music follows from midday.
The Redoubt opens at 11am for tours then for music at midday
Various pubs open at 11am/midday with music from midday.
There are ticketed talks, presentations, concerts and intimate sessions. Ticket sales close 7pm Wednesday, otherwise at Ha’Penny Pier Visitor Centre or on the door if any tickets remain.
There’s also 33 free events during the day including a Shanty Competition. Other spontaneous musical or theatrical events may also happen!
Please buy a programme for full details.

Canx: Summer Sunday Shanties
2022-09-11 12:00 - 14:00 | Ha’Penny Pier, The Quay, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3HH, United Kingdom
Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth we have decided to cancel this event.
We are grateful to Mick Verrier & Friends who will close our season of Summer Shanties on Ha’Penny Pier.

Summer Sunday Shanties
2022-08-14 12:00 - 14:30 | Ha’Penny Pier, The Quay, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3HH, United Kingdom
Join ShantyFolk from Lavenham on Ha’Penny Pier for an afternoon of shanties in the sunshine
Please note timings are approximate and the weather may have other ideas!

Summer Sunday Shanties
2022-07-10 12:00 - 14:30 | Ha’Penny Pier, The Quay, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3HH, United Kingdom
Join the Hoolies from Wivenhoe on Ha’Penny Pier for an afternoon of Shanties in the sunshine.
Please note timings are approximate and the weather may have other ideas!

Summer Shanties On The Pier
2022-06-12 13:00 - 15:00 | Ha’Penny Pier, The Quay, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3HH, United Kingdom
Join Hoy Boy for a shanty session on Ha’Penny Pier, Harwich, this Sunday!

Cakes & Shanties 2022
2022-05-01 11:00 - 16:30 | Essex
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!

Photo Competition Deadline
2022-03-31 | Essex
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

2021 Festival
2021-10-08 - 2021-10-10 | Multiple venues, Harwich, United Kingdom
Book the dates – we are planning to put on a festival!
Full details This Years Festival

Cancelled: Shanty Sundays - The Hoolies
2020-04-12 11:30 - 13:30 | Pier Hotel, The Quay, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3HH, United Kingdom
Please note that this event was cancelled due to the closure of the Pier Hotel. We hope to re-arrange it whenever this becomes possible.
The Hoolies from Wivenhoe will join us for Shanty Sundays on Easter Sunday, 12th April

Shanty Sundays - Naze Shanty
2020-03-08 11:30 - 13:30 | Pier Hotel, The Quay, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3HH, United Kingdom
With Naze Shanty
Join us in the Navyard Bar of the Pier Hotel for a Sunday lunchtime shanty session.

Shanty Sundays
2020-02-09 11:30 - 13:30 | Pier Hotel, The Quay, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3HH, United Kingdom
With the Rattlin’ Winches

Shanty Sundays
2020-01-12 11:30 - 13:30 | Pier Hotel, The Quay, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3HH, United Kingdom
This is hoped to be the first of a series of Shanty themed sessions in the Pier Hotel on Harwich’s historic quayside.

Summer Shanties On The Pier
2019-09-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Ha’Penny Pier, The Quay, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3HH, United Kingdom
Summer Shanties On The Pier presents Pot of Gold from Swaffham. Do go along to see them if you can. All starting around about midday. And thanks to all the groups who have volunteered to support the Festival in this way.
