Chris - the name 'shanty festival' can be misleading, but the many shanty festivals up and down the country have a similar format. I suppose 'maritime song festival' wouldn't help the general public understand what really goes on. Shanty crews sing mostly shanties, but there are many other acts who sing maritime songs about fishing, whaling, barges or songs featuring sailors ashore. There are stacks of songs that mention sailors. I've even sung Lyle Lovett's If I Had A Boat on the basis that it's an unrequited sailing song!

For many years Maggie and I have run the Saturday night singaround on the basis that it doesn't have to be maritime songs. Indeed, it used to be termed the 'Anti-Shanty' for this reason, although Maggie and I sing lots of maritime songs. We'll have this session in the Minerva on Saturday night as usual. We've also arranged for a room for a tune session thoughout the weekend, but we don't expect them to only play the Sailor's Hornpipe or the Full-Rigged Ship!

I know what you mean though, mate. If I have to listen to that one about John Kanaka's knackers again...