After three years, the phenomenal and award-winning Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival is back live in Falmouth, Cornwall, bigger and better than ever.
From Friday June 17 to Sunday, June 19, more than 70 local, national and international sea shanty groups will perform in over 25 venues, in what has become the largest free maritime music festival in Europe.
Sea shanty groups will come together to perform on stages, in cafes, pubs, hotels, and community venues, bringing the history, heritage, and culture of maritime song to life in this vibrant Cornish port.
Thousands of people are expected to attend the festival
With more than 50,000 visitors expected, the organisers have added an additional stage venue at Church Street Car Park, which overlooks the stunning Falmouth harbour. This new area will be packed with live performances as well as an arts and crafts market over the weekend.
By Friday evening, the festival will be in full swing, with shanty singers having arrived from around the UK and across the continent.
Planned to coincide is the Falmouth Classics regatta, one of the largest heritage sailing events in the UK. With more than 150 boats attending, the itinerary will include racing as well as onshore events, culminating in the spectacular parade of sail on the final day, Sunday 19th June.
The festival will kick off at the Skinners Stage on Discovery Quay (Events Square), from 1pm on Friday June 17, where European groups will be hosting their Breton Bash. Colourful and fun this is a great opportunity for bands associated with the Breton culture and language to come together to celebrate seafaring and its associated music.
The festival will also host several all-female shanty groups including Femmes de la Mer from Cornwall. Fresh from touring with renowned musician Ben Howard, they will be performing their unique blend of a capella harmonies which has established their strong reputation within the folk and sea shanty communities.
Shanty festival fixture Betty Stogs
It is a welcome return of the festival to Falmouth, following a required cancellation of the 2020 and 2021events, due to Covid. The festival’s charity partner for 2022 will once again be the RNLI.
Richard Gates, Festival Chairman said: “The International Sea Shanty Festival gets bigger and better every year, and we are delighted to be able to bring the event back live to our special town this year.
"The festival is a brilliant example of community engagement, with hundreds of volunteers, organisations and businesses coming together with the shanty organising group to make it happen. From hosting the world’s media at the G7 Summit, to the acclaimed Falmouth Oyster Festival, Falmouth is a dynamic and creative destination, which punches well above its weight, attracting people from all around the world for its coast, excellent food and drink scene, bustling high street and community spirit.”
For information on the festival including the detailed schedule, visit the website, www.falmouthseashanty.co.uk.
For information on the Falmouth Classics visit the website, www.falmouthclassics.org.uk
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