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Harwich International Shanty Festival 2021
20th October 2021
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.
PICTURE CAPTION
Celebrating the launch of the Harwich International Shanty Festival is from left to right:
Tony Brooks, Old Gaffer, Shanty Crew Kingsbridge; Paul Hallett, pirate; Nigel Spencer MBE, Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the County of Essex with granddaughter Thomasina Dorling; Pam Fitzgerald, Festival Organiser; Mark Pritchard, Old Gaffer, Shanty Crew; Catherine Harrison, Tourism Campaigns Officer, Visit Essex; Kevin Session, Old Gaffer, Shanty Crew.
