The Falmouth International Sea
Shanty Festival, to be held over three days from the 17 June, is predicted to be the
biggest yet. 27 acts will take part, including Cornwall’s famous Fishermen’s
Friends, winners of the Radio 2 Folk Awards Good
Tradition title and runners up for Best
Group.

Billed as the largest free festival of maritime music on the
planet and sponsored once again by Skinner’s Brewery of Truro, the three
day festival will open on Friday 17 June and profits will be donated to the
RNLI.

Now
in its seventh year, the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival has donated
more than £20,000 to the RNLI, which as a charity relies on public support. As
Festival founder and a shanty man himself with the group Falmouth Shout, John
Warren says it’s a good mix:

‘Sea
shanties were used to inspire and help sailors as they set about mundane and
physically tough jobs like hauling ropes to unfurl sails, or to heave up the
anchor on the old sailing ships. They might not need this musical stimulation
on a lifeboat these days, but they do still need the money to support the
lifesaving work of the RNLI’s volunteer crews and lifeguards. So what
better way to raise funds, than to provide a superb weekend of shanty
singing?’

This
year’s festival line up includes groups from as far away as Norway,
Holland and France and will even feature special performances aboard the
replica of the 15th century merchant sailing ship The Matthew*. These and many of the hugely
popular local acts, will perform on three main stages across the town of
Falmouth (Events Square, The Moor and Custom House Quay). There will also be
lively outbreaks of shanty singing in local pubs and clubs and as far up river
as the beautiful National Trust owned Trelissick Gardens.

More information: Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival