The Performers

I am a solo singer/guitarist performing covers of songs by, The Eagles, Ralph McTell, John Denver, The Animals, Billy Joel, Darius Rucker and similar artists. 

Since retiring I can be found most weeks performing on the WsM Open Mic scene and like to support local charity events. 

Ailsa and Nick present carefully chosen traditional songs and vivid original compositions. Blending Ailsa’s powerful, engaging singing with Nick’s intricately crafted guitar arrangements, their storytelling brings out the joy, hope and heartache of this rich repertoire. They also love a toe-tapping chorus or two!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1PEIMh6bTwEuMY0WbHX5AvC4ogpITqGlE

The Barrel Seagals are a spirited all-female crew based in Bude, Cornwall, known for bringing a fresh and joyful voice to the Shanty music scene. 

Their repertoire celebrates both heritage and innovation: they deliver unique interpretations of traditional sea shanties through a female lens, alongside original songs inspired by Cornish legends. They also champion the work of local Cornish women songwriters, including the iconic Brenda Wootton. 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10009401964700

Throw away your perceptions of the Shanty scene and get ready to be energised, amused and enthused by this four-man crew from the Exe estuary.

Delivering a mix of traditional and new shanties with an eye on the future and a nod to the past, BDH are sure to get audiences singing, all the way home

https://www.facebook.com/groups/313437380555784/?ref=share

Hailing from landlocked South Wales, Beaufort Scale shanty group provide tight harmonies and rousing fun, proving we are the boyos to watch!

Hailing from landlocked South Wales, Beaufort Scale shanty group provide tight harmonies and rousing fun, proving we are the boyos to watch!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1WXwrhCbuBTwMbgX2V8d9Yu8_FVGwwr3W

acoustic artist from weston 

The Blessèd Crow are father and daughter Tim and Iona Crahart. Their high energy stage presence and brilliant harmonies mark them out as a vibrant force on the folk circuit. Expect some great guitar work, blinding bouzouki and the insistent beat of Iona’s bodhran. They draw their songwriting inspiration from folklore, protest and spiritual themes. Catch them live and it’ll stay long in the memory.

https://linktr.ee/theblessedcrow

Bois Y Bryn (Boys of the Mount) are a shanty and folk band based in Cwmbran, South Wales and bring a fusion of our two great heritages of the British Isles … the world renown harmonious singing of the valleys of Wales with the shanties of our great sea-faring nation along with a spattering of folk. e cover all sorts of events with the emphasis very much on supporting various charities as well as private functions and including TV appearances for Channel 4 and BBC. https://www.facebook.com/boisyb

Bradley The Solo Shantyman is a one of a kind performer who sings shanties from old and new to traditional and modern. Bradley brings the shanty show to you.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1oapj_QM1e63p1nEGEEhC59hs9ncpWPg6

We are a pirate singing group, all strong singers in our own right who have sung together in different combinations for many years. We love a good ol’ sing and a belly laugh. We don’t take ourselves too seriously and want our audiences to join in the fun as well.Some of our songs you’ll know and some you won’t, but we’re sure you’ll pick them up quickly as they are mainly shanty-style chorus songs.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Do-oFzZcvNnCM3bkAtQsbvJOjpycrYUm

C.A.S.K. (Collings A cappella Shanty Krew) are a Daughter and Father shanty duo from Teignmouth 

https://www.facebook.com/CaskShantyDuo/

Captain Crusty and the Pickled Herrings are a comic shanty group made of a team of *Cornish fishermen. *Disclaimer they are fake Cornishmen as are actually all women cunningly disguised with beards, trying to make it big in the shanty circuit. 

www.captaincrusty.co.uk    

armelita is a well-regarded singer and guitarist based in Weston-super-Mare, originally from the Philippines. Renowned for her warm vocals and heartfelt performances, she delivers a rich blend of folk-inspired and popular songs from the UK, the US, and her native homeland.

A familiar presence on the local music scene, Carmelita regularly performs at open mic nights, pubs, halls, and clubs across the region. 

Ceri was born in Swansea and lives in Barnstaple, North Devon. He grew up listening to shanties and folk songs. He organised (and regularly attends) a monthly shanty/folk night at his local pub and performs annually at Pryorfest, a charity festival in Somerset. Ceri sings traditional and contemporary shanties and songs of the sea.

 shanty2 - Copy - Ceri Stafford.jpg - Google Drive 

The Crumble Brothers are an acappella duo performing traditional folk songs, sea songs, political songs and what might be described as quirky stuff. We are serious about making good music, especially when it comes to our harmonies. But we try not to take ourselves too seriously, and usually have a lot of fun with our audience. 

The Frampton Shantymen formed in 2012, having discovered that shanties are one of the quickest ways to get an enti re pub singing along. Since then, the group has grown in size, repertoire and reputati on. We regularly sing around the region and wider afield, entertaining crowds at events ranging from national folk and shanty festivals to local pubs; village fetes to weddings.  Sea Shanties Bristol Frampton Shantymen 

FRIGGITT   are a shanty trio from Wiltshire who perform all sorts of songs connected   with the sea and sailors. As well as traditional and contemporary songs we   also have some original compositions by the band members and songs written   for us by others. A good half of our songs are unaccompanied and the rest   feature guitar, ukulele, bass and harmonica.     

(1) Facebook 

The Gloucester Diamonds has been a well-known shanty group for several decades. The latest line-up is the original founder member; Rod Penlington, lead singer and guitar, Flash (AKA Les  Griffiths) vocals; and our latest recruit Niki Burge, more vocals. 

 Diamonds Weston 2025 - Gillian Bowmer.jpg - Google Drive 

Harbour Buoys - Brixham enjoy singing from a very eclectic mix of songs from shanties to sea songs, from folk to popular songs. Their love of music comes through in what they do with two singers accompanied by guitar as well as mandolin. In 202 4 they did a mini tour of the Scillies and all enjoy the festival scene.  IMG_9916 2 - Alasdair Anderson.jpeg - Google Drive 

We are a fine body of singers, with big hearts and smiles. The Harry Browns of Bristol enjoy sharing their love of shanty and songs of the sea with varied audiences both far and wide.   www.harrybrowns.co.uk

High & Dry have been singing together for over10 years now and we enjoy

getting together for a beer, a chat and to hone our singing skills and harmonies around some shanties and songs of the sea. The line-up is generally a group of 6 to 10.

 Facebook 

Hooligan's Rule sing and play acoustic music on guitar, fiddle, mandolin and bodhran and have played many festivals all over the country. Although usually characterised by a driving rhythm and strong vocals they also sing songs with a more tender nature, and love to get audiences singing along!  Facebook 

From Eastern waters of Essex, Hoy Boy is a young('ish) enthusiastic acapella Sea Shanty Soloist with a passion for Maritime Folk Music. Specialising in rousing uplifting shanties from the golden age of sail that will have you joining in with gusto. https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZ6sao7QW/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Loyal supporters of Weston Shanty, The Hoy Shanty Crew perform traditionally-based renditions of shanties, folk and drinking songs with a rousing touchhttps://www.facebook.com/hoycrew

Jamie Robinson has worked on large sailing ships all his life. On all of his travels he has had his trusty concertina with him. He would regularly busk in whatever port he landed in to supplement his meagre sailors wages. His songs and shanties have been heard in sailor's bars and on quaysides around the world and his music has the genuine authenticity of someone who has spent a life at sea.

 IMG_0687 2 - jamie robinson.jpeg - Google Drive 

The Kilkenny Bay Steamers are a 4 part mixed shanty crew ( more ladies than men). We sing traditional sea shanties all arranged by ourselves and some with our own lyrics. We always sing with a smile and always get the audience to sing along and smile with us

www.kilkennybaysteamers.com

Kings Pond Shantymen were formed in 2001 and over the years have performed at many events in their home patch of Hampshire and Surrey in England as well as further afield. Our repertoire covers a wide range of shanty types: long and short hauls, pumping and capstan as well as forebitters and whaling songs. In addition to the maritime material we also perform a few folk ballads, drinking songs and odd ditties https://www.kingspondshantymen.org.uk/

The Aude Shantymen are based in the area of Limoux and Mirepoix in the Aude and Ariege departments of France and meet regularly to sing sea and folk songs. Formed around 12 years ago we perform in ports at the eastern end of the Med. donating funds to the SNSM, the French equivalent of the RNLI. We also raise   funds for the RNLI. 

www.theaudeshantymen.blogspot.com

London sea shanty collective are a non audition community choir who love to sing song about the sea and explore maritime history. 

www.Londonseashantycollective.com

The Lower Deckers are a fun, contemporary shanty group who hail from the landlocked counties of Shropshire and Herefordshire.  . Following their first gig raising money for the RNLI in 2017, this fun and feel good crew have gone from strength to strength and now  fundraise for many local charities. They have been  festival favourites at  Falmouth , Mevagissey, Weston Super Mare, and Portishead to name just a few. https://www.facebook.com/groups/191439294788502/?ref=share

Mains'l Haul Shanty Crew is a group of singers formed in 2014, specializing in sea shanties that were originally designed to motivate sailors during their work. They primarily perform unaccompanied, using instruments like the melodeon, guitar, concertina, and recorder. The crew aims to create a lively atmosphere for audience participation while enjoying music together. 

 Facebook 

We are all members of Chalice Morris Men , based in Brent Knoll  , Somerset. Some of us have been singing together for more than 40 years.

We sing A Capella English Folk Song , Sea shanties , comedy with intermittent melodeonistas. We have a wide ranging repertoire to suit Festivals , wassails , weddings , Christmas shows and even Funerals . We dance and sing  ,weekly , at different Pubs in Somerset , from April to September.

www.chalicemorris.org

Young at heart and bursting with cheerful energy, the New River Shanty Crew bring you community singing at its very best. Expect rousing choruses, soulful harmonies, and the occasional very silly song.

https://newrivershantycrew.co.uk/

The October Effect are a semi acoustic band operating as a duo but up to a 4 piece band (cajon not drums) 

Www.facebook.com/reel/739854878572319

Original, energetic folk rock with eclectic, psychedelic vibes from a Bristol-based five piece band combining guitar, piano, fiddle, banjo, bass and drums; rousing celtic stomps and sea shanties combine with wistful ballads of yore and acid folkiness. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/1GDDoUR5VN/

Poole Me Hearties were formed at Lilliput Sailing Club in 2019. We perform traditional sea shanties and other seafaring songs in a unique style with a range of acoustic instruments including accordion, fiddle, flute and mandolin.

Combined with an array of harmonies, Poole Me Hearties sound like no other shanty band. www.poolemehearties.com

We are a crew of mates who just love to sing traditional working shanties along with more modern maritime songs and Bristol sea shanties.  Our mantra is "Fun and Friendship, Melody and Mirth"; we sing anything with a nautical theme and a good tune or a good lyric, but our priority is to enjoy ourselves and to entertain our audiences.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.pobshantycrew.co.uk/

PQA Weston Super Mare is a weekend performing arts school for children which offers performing arts sessions which combine acting, singing, dancing lessons, filming, and comedy.  Our weekend performing arts classes include a Comedy & Drama class, Musical Theatre class and Film & Television class for kids and young people aged 4-18.https://www.facebook.com/share/14SHTnxQQgx/

Sailor V is a Dorset based folk and shanty band consisting of high energy vocals guitar bass banjo flute and cahon.

Facebook 

Scarlett returns to the Shanty and Folk Festival for a second year but this time as a solo artist with her own guitar.https://www.instagram.com/scarlettdavidson_music?igsh=cHc4N3R0aHV5cWRz  

Scrimshanker Shanty are from Gosport on the south coast. They were formed in 2025  from a group of experienced singers and musicians. They perform all the classic sea shanties with some other material accompanied by guitar, banjo and whistle. The emphasis is always on audience participation and fun!  https://www.facebook.com/share/1DCY3scx3f/

All our performances are free, but we use our music to raise funds for all charities, including the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) of which we are registered fundraisers and volunteers.

 The Shantyjacs - Singing Shanties and Sea Songs with Audience Participation | The Shantyjacs 

We are a breakaway couple of rebels from the Quantock Sea shanty crew experimenting with shanty and melodeon accompaniment. We sing mostly traditional shanties and some folk songs 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1fDIwGNxlvpPCLo9VNjAPbP3Hzk1_33SJ

We are Clive Brooks and Des Patalong.
We sing shanties and maritime songs, mostly upbeat but with some quieter items to give variety to our performances. You can expect to hear strong and different harmonies as they are a feature of our singing.

www.sharpasrazors.com 

After 22 years singing together, Short Drag Roger continue to bring shanties and sea songs to the landlocked people of Oxfordshire and further afield.  With our unique close harmonies, we have performed at shanty and folk festivals all over the UK and Europe as well as pubs, theatres, village shows and other venues closer to home.  We not only sing traditional shanties to our audiences a capella, but also more modern sea songs and a  self-penned numbers.  

www.shortdragroger.co.uk

We are a newly formed Shanty group with a passion for singing, proudly connected to our roots as members of Côr Meibion Morlais, a renowned Welsh male choir. Our official debut took place in Canterbury in August 2025, following lively and well-received unofficial performances at the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival in both 2024 and 2025.

 https://drive.google.com/open?id=1t9u05zfSKNcXEcyhAHTfbsDwnHYlCNAg    

Spinnaker Shanty started in 2017 under the name of 'Wooton Creek' for a corporate function on HMS Victory. E gave had a couple of line-up changes but our current members are Bernice Pottle, Ted Fitzgerald, Keith Grover and Andy Jackson (he's the good looking one). We have performed at numerous festivals and regularly sing at pubs in Gosport and Old Portsmouth.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Cf2jkE2jv/

Start of Time are an acoustic group from Weston-super-Mare formed from the ashes of two popular local groups. The six-piece band put their own twist on well-known songs, using guitars, mandolin, ukulele and cajon. Expect

harmonies, questionable puns and unique takes on everything from traditional songs to Pink Floyd 

 Facebook 

The Steven Paris Agreement is an American folk music band, inspired by a variety of great artists, such as Nina Simone, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Josh White, Pentangle and many others. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ApJx3wTe35N47nWHr1u03kHMk-6vOTUC    

A capella band from Weston-Super-Mare. We are the resident shanty group at the Fork n Ale Taproom, in Weston-super-Mare, performing at our regular 3rd Wednesday monthly 'Shanty Night'. We also perform for community groups, events, weddings, birthdays and festivals.  We take no fee for performing and, instead, collect donations for the RNLI in 

Weston-super-Mare and our local Lions Club.  

The Steepholmers Shanty Band is a registered charity

The Steepholmers | Facebook 

We take classic, mainly English, traditional folk songs and "punk them up". We also take more modern songs and "folk them up". We aim to give everyone something that they will recognise...We are loud. The original Swing Riots were a series of disturbances in the rural counties of England in 1830. Expect to have a good time…

 The Swing Rioters 

The Tawny Shantymen hale from Pill, North Somerset, well known for its maritime and pilotage history with nearby Bristol. Singing sea shanties and other maritime based songs, the repertoire includes some original songs about the nautical history of Pill.     

Facebook 

We are the popular Somerset duo featuring  Julie Meikle (clarinet, bass clarinet and vocals) and Mel Reeves (guitar and vocals).

Friends for longer than they wish to remember – or divulge – they play largely self-penned acoustic music . Their songs will take you from the Scottish Highlands to Brazil – the Somerset Levels to Cuba – the Irish Sea to Exmoor. Their unique blend of sounds and stories has delighted audiences up and down the  Julie Meikle & Mel Reeves - Sea Mist and Sunlight 

Waves of Harmony are a group of ladies from Weston-super-Mare and surrounding areas who sing in the a-capella style, usually in 4-part harmony. We love to entertain and share our enjoyment with audiences far and wide.

www.wavesofharmony.co.uk

43years old, Played in various irish bands, guitar fiddle and banjo. Toured across Europe with ceili house band. 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1hpZ5VYfg0wRGnVKGcFFC16PBMsYEUMpx    

Wyrd Kin are sibling duo Chris Wemyss (Guitar, Octave Mandola, Cittern, Vocals) and Jenny McCalmont (Whistles, Harmonium, Vocals). Playing folk music from the heart with a strong connection to the earth, nature, and the human condition.   Having played professionally separately for many years they have finally come together to rekindle their folk roots and pen harmony laden songs that tread the path between the old world and the new.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585836727428