Fisherman’s Friends

The movie “Fisherman’s Friends” is in the cinemas now and bringing coastal life and shanty singing into the public eye. We went to see the film yesterday: very good, lots of laugh-out-loud moments and of course wonderful lusty singing.

The Fisherman’s Friends shanty singers were “discovered” some years ago now and despite national fame are still singing in their native St. Ives. However there are lots of other shanty groups, many based in Devon.  If you like what you see in the film, why not head to Sandays for the Teign Shanty festival in September where the scenery and the singing is just as good!

On Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September 2019, at various venues in Teignmouth and Shaldon, will be heard around 20 shanty groups providing over 70 hours of “free to attend” shanty singing. Confirmed crews so far are Alan Whitbread; Anchors Aweigh; Back Beach Boyz; Baldrick’s Plan; Barnacle Buoys; Dorset Wrecks; Exmouth Shantymen; Figurehead; The Last Watch; LocTup Together; The Longest Johns; Mariners Away; Missin’ Tackle; The Nauti Bouys; The Old Gaffers; The Press Gang; The Severn Whalers; Stamp and Go; Stuns’l; Tavy Tars.

Of course you can catch sessions from these groups at any time of the year. We have seen both the Exmouth Shanty Men and the Back Beach Boyz recently and they are great fun as well as great singers.