Demise of maritime festivals

Subject: Demise of maritime festivals
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 03:57 PM

On checking out the Bitter End site and other festival guides, It appears that there are less Maritime / Shanty festivals in the UK this year.
          Is there a general demise of these festivals and is it due to lack of funding or are the festival goers generally fed up with Shanty festivals and hearing the same Shanty groups singing the same set of Shanties year after year ?

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 04:38 PM

I think it is due to lackof funding and also to lack of imaginative booking policy,
GOOD Maritime festivals,like lANCASTER,didnt just book shanty singers,but also singers like myself who sang a wide variety of sea songs,,Variety.is the essence,.
over the years at Lancaster,I saw John Connolly,Tim Laycock,CyrilTawney,louis Killen ,BrianPeters,Richard Grainger,DickMiles,RoyClinging,DebraCowan,HughieJones,RoyHarris,DamienBarber,SidKipperJimEldon,KeithKendrickGeoffHigginbotham,TaffyThomas,

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 06:12 PM

That would be "fewer" not "less"

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 06:26 PM

Oh no..the Maritime Festivals are reaching their demise. The Folk Clubs are collapsing....anything else? Everything changes over time and either evolves into something else or dies. I believe the music will live on!!!!
Keep music live!
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: Blowzabella
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 07:04 PM

Think on ... this Guest could be an elected Councillor, looking to see what the response is to this question, so that he/she can consider whether or not to vote to cut / start a maritime festival.

Never forget that it is not just 'folk' enthusiasts / practitioners / afficionados who read this site.

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: Schantieman
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 05:31 AM

In Liverpool, the Mersey Shanty Festival didn't run last year because (I think) of the 'big dig'. This year the powers that be are putting no money into shanties/sea songs during the city's 800th birthday celebrations and the same seems likely (not) to happen next year when we're the so-called Capital of Culture.

I know Jack Coutts id trying to do something about it; I and many others more illustrious have offered help, but I'm not optimistic.

Steve

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: Sugwash
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 05:36 AM

Quote — That would be "fewer" not "less"

That sentence requires a full stop.

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 05:37 AM

my experience,is that Maritime festivals are not in decline.For the last two years I have been booked at Scarborough Sea Fest,the festival has been a major success,many people have gone to Scarborough ,who wouldnt otherwise.
I appeared many times at Lancaster Maritime festival,and saw the event mushroom,into one of the biggest easter attractions in the North West.
I understand that this year Lancaster was the quietest it has been for many years,and that businesses, Bed and Breakfasts,were complaining that the festival had gone to Glasson Dock,Glasson Dock was certainly packed to capacity.
well run maritime festivals like Lancaster have proved how popular they are.

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: GUEST,Chalkie
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 07:42 AM

I think that the last few years has seen a decline in numbers of people attending maritime festivals in this country. It can not be put down to people singing the same songs year after year as most festivals have a variety of artists appearing, both maritime folk artists and shanty crews - most of which mix shanties with maritime folk anyway. Most of the line ups that I've seen in recent years only include two or three actual shanty crews anyway.

At Lancaster the uncertainty of the festival going ahead for the last few years has not helped. The event is always at Easter, a major Bank Holiday for most people, and as such if there is doubt over the festival going ahead then people will book early elsewhere.

I remember first performing at Lancaster in the late 90's maybe 98 and in our first spot in The Three Mariners it was packed out and we had to push through to get to the fireplace to sing and it was the same at the other venues. Certainly, the last few years there has not been anything like the same number of attendances, although I'm told this year at Glasson Dock it was very well attended, though on a much smaller scale. Less people at a smaller venue still looks full.

Scarborough, at the main stage on the dock side most of the seats are taken up but in the pubs most of the audience just happen to be there. However, Scarborough I think has the prospect of becoming a very good festival and I would encourage anyone who has not been before to give it a try - this year it starts on the 20th of July.

Both these venues would I believe be better attended if the audience were given an opprotunity to have a go themselves in one of the pubs, like they do at Hull in the Minerva. An artist goes in, does a half hour spot, it's then thrown out to the audience for 20/30 minutes and then another artist comes in. It works well. I think sometimes organisers forget that most of the audience, be it folk or maritime folk like to have a go themselves - it's how most of us got started - and don't allow for one of the venue's to be used for the occaisional singaround and as such some people don't go if they can't have a go themselves somewhere.

Just a few thoughts

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 07:53 AM

The "guest" who initiated this thread evidently already has a poor opinion opinion of maritime festivals and is looking for reinforcement. He or she should be "deep-sixed."

"The same songs over and over again..."

Grumble, grumble.

I've never heard "Drunken Sailor" sung the same way twice!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: Blowzabella
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 08:24 AM

To my knowledge (and it is good knowledge) the attendance at Lancaster has always been pretty level - we know this from the numbers of visitors at the Museum - and I don't think that the festival was on a much smaller scale this year, at Glasson. There were less pub sessions but the music was more accessible.

The uncertainty over Lancaster's future doesn't seem to have had a major impact on those people who were regular attenders - and the numbers attending has not been a factor in its uncertain future - that is a different issue.

There has to be more to the event than just shanty singing - not a broad enough appeal for a local authority funded event BUT - if there is shanty singing, it should be given a proper status and the artists not treated as musical wallpaper. The organisers are creating a whole scenario - something which will create a mood and, hopefully, provide something for everyone. Lancaster isn't a folk festival, or a shanty festival as such - it can't be for the reason mentioned above - it is a Maritime Festival, with sea songs and shanties at the heart of the event - but it has to provide a broader spectrum of attractions. The move to Glasson provided an excellent backdrop and allowed an opportunity to have Kipperman (an exhibition about the history of the herring fisheries) / Coracles / more outdoor entertainment - all strictly themed.

I have been to some maritime festivals where there was no maritime music at all - these were more like jamborees with boats / fun fair etc and no sense of exploring a culture.

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: villandeleted
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 09:37 AM

Well here is one that has actually been going on for some years, and is expanding this year 2007, as per the following link.

Hull's Maritime Festival (incorporating Hull's International sea shanty festival)


So "The demise" is probably far from the truth. Maybe the poorest ones are the ones not surviving.

UK

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: Greg B
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 09:58 AM

Charley, you've heard Drunken Sailor done the same way over
and over again, it's just that when one gets to be of a certain
age it seems new every time...

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: GUEST,buspassed
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 10:10 AM

Apparently this years Hull Shanty weekend will feature the 'Bounty' replica in dock especially for the occasion.

No! The 'Snickers' or 'Mars' will not be appearing !!!

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 10:29 AM

Of course I should have mentioned Scarborough will have the Grand Turk,so it looks like both Hull and Scarborough should be good.Dick Miles[philistine]

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 10:54 AM

Check out the website for the Whitehaven Maritime Festival in Cumbria. It's a three day extravaganza and starts tomorrow (15th June) until Sunday.

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: Blowzabella
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 02:24 PM

As Guest didn't leave the website, I've found it .... you tell me, what do you think?

Whitehaven Maritime Festival

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 04:58 PM

I,ve supported and performed at the Lancaster Maritime Festival for many years.    The year prior to the so called modernisation and refurbishment of the Three Mariners ( still grieving for the old) I was enjoying a singaround with some singer friends in the Three Mariners on the Thursday evening when I was rebuked by one of the festival staff.   He shouted " The festival doesn,t start until tomorrow, this singaround is nothing to do with the festival"
                  Good start to the weekend I thought.

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: mick p r.m s.c
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 05:11 PM

Come to The Falmouth Shanty Festival this week-end. I will guanantee you will not hear "Drunken Sailor" performed the same way twice and that goes for all the other Shanties/Sea-songs and Folk songs that will be sung over the three days.Funding is a problem with most (if not all festivals),but I believe that is a sign of the times and our unsung heros "The Festival Committee" who work from the moment a festival finishes to begin fund raising,organizing next years festival,should be given the thanks they deserve. FREE festivals, such as Falmouth must be a Nightmare too organize.

By the way,I am not on any committee of any kind.Too much like hard work to me.

                   Cheers all, Mick.                               See you at Falmouth, ITS FREE, just buy a song book.

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: Blowzabella
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 07:06 PM

Guest, guest - i think that you will find that this was because the pub did not have a music license, other than the one which had been applied for by the festival, therefore, as there were more than two people performing (as was the rule at the time), it had to be pointed out - in case any one was in there who might have been out to make trouble. I recall the event and no-one was 'rebuked' - it was merely pointed out - in a humourous manner.

No-one stopped the singaround, as I recall ... and it all carried on as it had been - but it wasn't part of the festival because it couldn' be - as the festival had applied for a license from the Friday to the Monday - and this was the Thursday. If there had been any problem with the license, it could have meant major problems for the festival.

Sorry if it spolied your weekend.

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 05:26 AM

whitehaven maritime festival,appears to have very few shanty singers,I see one group mentioned,theSeaDogs.,That is all I can find.

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: GUEST,Helen
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 05:30 AM

Four 'n' Aft are also appearing at Whitehaven. We'll be there from 7.30pm tonight.

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: Blowzabella
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 05:32 AM

If I'd known you would be there, I would have made plans to go, Helen.

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 05:57 AM

Maritime festivals,are in my opinion,a wonderful way of bringing people to appreciate folk related music,topeople who would have nevergone to a folk club or festival,
at Lancaster I have seen many children being entertatined by Punch and judy,Pace Eggers,and childrens entertainers,hopefully these children[through exposure] wiill develop an interest in Maritime music,learn more about their history,and hopefully learn to love and play folk /traditional /home made music.

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: nutty
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 06:26 AM

I'm heartened by the amount of coverage that the Whitehaven Maritime Festival has received from the BBC over the past couple of days.

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: GUEST,helen
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 07:36 AM

Thanks, Blowzabella - I appreciate the thought! See you somewhere soon.

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: GUEST,Chris - Four 'n' Aft
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 08:41 AM

As Helen has already said, we will be there from 7:30 this evening. Apart from the scheduled spots we have been given, our brief for Saturday and Sunday daytime is to choose our own places to sing, i.e. on the dockside, on the ships, by the bar!!, etc. We have worked this way before at the Gt Yarmouth Maritime festival and it's a great way to get the shanties and maritime songs out to people who would not normally go into a concert or pub situation to listen and it always draws a good crowd. I know the weather's not brilliant but it would be good to see some of you up there. We could share umbrellas!!

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 06:19 AM

could IT just be that the Bitter End website,good that it is, should not be assumed as fully comprehensive,for instance neither of my two cds,AroundTheHarbourtown,and Nautical and ,are listed . http://www.dickmiles.com

Subject: RE: Demise of maritime festivals
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 06:24 AM

correction ,the Bitter End website,Does now include,my details,thanks Alan.
it may be that the original Poster as Val suggested has an agenda.