The Rise and Fall of Shanty Festivals

Subject: RE: The Rise and Fall of Shanty Festivals
From: The Sandman
Date: 04 May 11 - 12:50 PM

yes, and dont forget Scarborough Sea Fest, JULY 15 16 17

Subject: RE: The Rise and Fall of Shanty Festivals
From: Sailor Ron
Date: 04 May 11 - 11:46 AM

" Lancaster is Dead, long live Ellesmere Port!" After the death, by politians, of Lancaster, Trimrig& a Doxy & Locked up together organised theEaster Ellesmere Port Shanty Festival, It was great!

Subject: RE: The Rise and Fall of Shanty Festivals
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 May 11 - 10:17 AM

Refresh...

(Would rather like to hear anyone's thoughts on what I posted.)

Linn

Subject: RE: The Rise and Fall of Shanty Festivals
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 May 11 - 06:46 AM

A number of years ago at the Saturday open sing at the Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival (Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA), a reporter for a local rag was interviewing me and asked, "Who ARE all these people? How do they know all the words?"

That year the open sing was jam packed with a lot of people NOT in the local folk or sea music community (brought in by our advertising, posters and articles in the paper). Most of them, actually, I'd never seen before. And they were all lustily singing along on the choruses and one group of strangers actually led a Drop Kick Murphys song later in the session.

Basically, I think people enjoy SINGING and there are not many acceptable outlets for singing in public. If you walk down the street singing, people cross the street and don't make eye contact. If you sing at work, co-workers complain. So...you can sing in church...or you can attend a festival singalong, some folk performances or, if you're really lucky, a session (like our 30 year old weekly trad session at The Press Room) where singing along or even leading a song is encouraged.

And as for "knowing all the words" -- shanties (a call and response type work songs), in particular, were created with an easy to sing along with chorus.

Just my four cents (inflation) worth...

Linn

Subject: RE: The Rise and Fall of Shanty Festivals
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 01 May 11 - 01:38 PM

Interesting people, the inhabitants of Hull. They don't like being told what they can and can't do. So they're having a Shanty Festival come what may. What do you expect from the city that told Charles I to bugger off and inadvertantly gave us a working democracy?

Subject: RE: The Rise and Fall of Shanty Festivals
From: Skipper Jack
Date: 01 May 11 - 12:27 PM

In the early days of the Swansea Festival, there was a school shanty group called The "Nipper Jacks" who proved to be a popular attraction for the festival.
Steve,
It's great to hear that Hull Shanty Festival has been rescued!
Here's hoping that the Swansea Festival will have similar success next year?

Subject: RE: The Rise and Fall of Shanty Festivals
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 05:39 PM

Terrace chants and chanties do have something in common in that they both have another purpose other than entertainment. They are both also easily improvised to well-known relatively simple tunes and both very much 'of the people', rather than 'for the people'. Sounds like your lad has his head screwed on right, (or lass as the case may be).

Subject: RE: The Rise and Fall of Shanty Festivals
From: GUEST,glueman
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 04:10 PM

Dead keen shanty singers in our house. Even the teenager who hates anything and everything not football related knocks out a fair old shanty.

Subject: RE: The Rise and Fall of Shanty Festivals
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 04:07 PM

Eyup,
Hull Shanty Festival has been rescued by enthusiastic locals and they've even managed to get some support from the council and local traders. Good on 'em!

Subject: The Rise and Fall of Shanty Festivals
From: GUEST,Skipper Jack
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 09:09 AM

It was heartening to see some new shanty festivals on the 2011 festivals programme.
Unfortunately, some of the old favourites have been scuppered through the lack of financial support.
Such is the case of "Sea Swansea Festival" which was planned for the 13th-14th August 2011.
But there is a faint hope that it will be back next year?

We'd love to have your views on the current situation?

Dave Robinson.