11 Oct Harwich International Shanty Festival hailed a success
Top sea shanty crews from the UK and overseas joined together at the Harwich International Shanty Festival on 8-10 October to celebrate all things shanty.
Harwich old town was alive with music and song as shanty artists from across the globe converged on the town to perform the best of shanty. To celebrate the town’s maritime history the festival also included street theatre, pirates and a ship’s surgeon!
Children also learnt the art of playing ‘the bones’ as well as watching kippers being smoked and craftsmen creating a wooden bust for a ship.
Organising the festival was Pam Fitzgerald, she was delighted with the success of this year’s event. She says: “We had over 7000 people visit the festival this year, which well surpassed our expectations. Visitors wanted to hear live music again and the streets of Harwich were alive with music and song. Our shanty crew from the Netherlands, ‘Act of Mutiny’ proved a real hit, lots of fun and very versatile.”
The county’s tourism body Visit Essex has been running a campaign ‘The Essex Coast’ to spread awareness of the variety of things to see and do along the county’s 350-mile coastline. Catherine Harrison, Tourism
Campaigns Officer, Visit Essex said: “The Harwich International Shanty Festival is a great example of the diverse attractions we offer visitors along our stunning coastline. It’s wonderful to hear and see so many people enjoying the historic shanty tradition and celebrate our county’s maritime heritage.”
To discover more, visit www.visitessex.com/whats-on/harwich-international-shanty-festival
