International festival of the sea

Subject: International festival of the sea
From: sledge
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 05:19 AM

The 23rd to 27th August this year see Portsmouth (uk) host the international festival of the sea. Lots of tall ships are expected to be there as are some replica historical ships.

I suppose there will be a fair amount of tat as there usualy is at such events but the hook that caught my eye is the 30 or so shanty and folk acts that have been booked to perform, either on set stages or as wandering minstrels. Because of this I fully intend going, its very local to me so not doing so would be somewhat negligent.

Its over a bank holidaay weekend so it will probably bucket down but we might be lucky in which case the mudcat shirt or badge should be on view in case any catters fancy a tot or two of grog, or beer, or anything really, I'm easy, yes the rumors are probably true.

Cheers

Sledge

Subject: RE: International festival of the sea
From: fat B****rd
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 08:02 AM

I was there a few years ago, saw a tasty group sing "Poor Old Horse", enjoyed walking about in general, was amazed at the exorbitant prices charged by some of the concessionaries, put off by the VERY long queues for the various attractions but comforted by the fact that I got in free. Enjoy...

Subject: RE: International festival of the sea
From: Julia
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 09:42 AM

We have performed at the two previous International Festivals of the Sea (in Bristol in '96 and Portsmouth in '98) In both cases there were about 1000(!) musicians and other performers hired, really! This time the advance press says there will be 2000 performers, so I dare say there will be at least 30 shanty groups there.

'Tis a massive thing. I will be there with Castlebay, probably the only group that features a Celtic harp.

Subject: RE: International festival of the sea
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 12:18 PM

Any it's a lovely Celtic harp made by Julia's husband and playing partner Fred Gosbie.

I can't begin to imagine the havoc and confusion possible with 30 shanty groups in one old port city but if someone provides me some details I'd be willing to draft some verses. In the meantime here's an opening broadside:

There were ten and twenty shanty groups bound for Portsmouth Town.
After ten and twenty hours they lay shit-faced on the ground,

Chorus:

Singing haul-a-way me halyards, holla-baloo-belay!
We'll be friggin' in the riggin' before the break of day!
Feel free to add your own.;-)

Subject: RE: International festival of the sea
From: kendall
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 02:14 PM

I wonder why these promoters seldom hire men who have actually gone to sea?

Subject: RE: International festival of the sea
From: SINSULL
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 02:57 PM

Kendall,
I think Cranky Yankee will be there performing. He went to sea.

Subject: RE: International festival of the sea
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 09:08 AM

There should also be a group of old crimps there singing nostalgic verses about the exploits of Shanghai Brown and other notorious shipping masters.

Subject: RE: International festival of the sea
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 12:22 PM

I took the good ship Skipjack to Bristol, and the last Portsmouth, but I'm pretty washed up with festiva, to be honest. What they seek to celebrate is, by definition, false. A festival of the sea, celebrated on land. The International label is a big story, as the mother festival of them all, Brest, attracts ten times the punters, and those do's are horror bags, and only get bearable when the fleet and the crowds thin out in Douarnenez.

I wouldn't stump up a groat to get into these do's, and if I wanted to hear 30 shanty choirs, I couldn't, as they'll clash. Much better to do Hull, or any other shanty festival.

Sorry to sound crabby, but the public don't get to see what I think is the good stuff, which are the sessions that take place on the bigger boats late into the night, especially the Hookers. I've never played as a payed musician, though. My comments are only as a session player.

Skipjack

Subject: RE: International festival of the sea
From: sledge
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 01:58 PM

Skipjack, a little unrealistic when you are trying to reach out to the public and not just a special interest group. The public might not hear the good stuff and what they do hear will be on land but how many punters could you get on a ship in a way they could enjoy it and how many of those could be safely accomodated "at sea" without it becomming a minority instererest holiday of sorts. If the public were to see the good stuff as you prefer it, that would probably turn the Hull, Swansea and Liverpool events into the kind of nightmare you make Brest sound, 300,000 people plus would drown out more than the singing. As far as 30 shanty groups all singing at the same time and drowning each other out I don't see that, 30 groups singing for 4 days at the same time and at the same venue, don't see that

As far as the International label go's ships attending from at least 8 nations kind of fits the bill in my book, not as big as Brest say but from your picture of the event maybe its big enough. Its also not just booze laden Brits that get off those ferries these days, a great many Spaniards and French do, amongst others, why not give them something to enjoy.

Portsmouth, as have many other cities has undergone a lot of change in recent years, the biggest employer, the MOD has reduced the numbers it looks after so the slack has to be taken up somewhere, events like this are part of that rebuilding.

Its also a good job that you wouldn't spend your four pence on this, as the tickets must have gone up in price somewhat.

Regards

Sledge

Subject: RE: International festival of the sea
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 06:32 PM

Sledge, you make some valid points. I guess I'm just too close to it not to be cynical. Knowing one of the organisers, I have suspected, in the past, personal gain to be the prime mover, and have grown tired of Jolly Jack Tar PLC. I admit I cannot argue rationally, and I'm sure the vast majority of the punters will have a smashing day out.

This picture of a really angry, passionate man has come back to me. I was sitting on a slipway up the river in Douarnenez, noticing sunburn on the top of my head for the first time, when I was hailed by an English toff in a Drascombe. He was keen to learn my opinion of the festival. It was my first, in France, and I gave an upbeat reply. He then launched into a polemic about how his festival, started with a few friends, had been hijacked by all these bastards, with their agendas, and their greed etc. I'm pretty sure he ended up stamping on his cheescutter hat. Jeez, he was hissing. I think he was a journo, but lived in Brittany.

I think that's were I was infected with the need to carp about other peoples boat party efforts. Bad trait. Sorry. Enjoy.

Skipjack

Subject: RE: International festival of the sea
From: Martina Ryan
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 01:00 PM

Anyone got any idea what shanty acts are actually performing in Portsmouth. I'm planning to travel from Ireland to a festival before the end of the Summer. At the moment, Hull looks more likely, but if Portsmouth has some attractive acts ...

Martina

Subject: RE: International festival of the sea
From: sledge
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 03:24 PM

The web site is suitibly vague on whats on I shall try the folks at home for more info.

Cheers

Sledge

Subject: RE: International festival of the sea
From: Julia
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 10:51 PM

Just for the record, at the last Portsmouth festival they had Johnny Collins, Tom Lewis,The Shanty Crew (Chris Roche et al), Rum and Shrub,Baggywrinkle (Swansea Shantymen), The Portsmouth Shantymen, Bob Webb, Long John Silver, Shanty Gruppe Breitling (Germany), Harry Brown Shantymen(Bristol), Bosun's Call, Landlocked(Doncaster), Mollyhawks (Norwich), Hughie Jones, Jean Paul Ferrec & Christian Desnos(France), Shanty Jack, Armstrong's Patent(Holland), Forbitter (Liverpool), Les Souilles de Fond Cale(Brittany), Czerty Refy, The Cromer Smugglers, Shep Woolley, among others including Reggae and Maori music There were literally hundreds of vessels from viking longships to chinese junques, to Thames barges to the Mir, Sedov and Kruzenshtern, the Matthew, etc etc as well as a lot of motorcraft

It is a "Festival of the Sea", in a variety of manifestations, not just shanties and sailing ships

By the way, Kendall, regarding "qualifications" for singing various songs, You do credit to the Massacre of Glencoe, yet I don't believe you've had the personal experience of having your immediate family viciously murdered...

Subject: RE: International festival of the sea
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Aug 01 - 04:56 PM

Sounds like some keepers in this line-up. But I'm disappointed, no verses to my challenge, just gripes. ;-)