DMaritime raw folk from France

unkerquebased Sur les Docks, exponents of maritime raw folk, were promoting their latest 12-track CD at the Sweeps Festival in Rochester at the end of April. Je serai Docker (I’d be a Docker) is more melodic than their usual fast and furious style, yet still a foot-tapping feast for the ears – listen to a sample of Dans les Tavernes du Port on the band’s website.

The seven French musicians and singers plus ace violinist Graham Knibbs from Kent are well-known on this side of The English Channel, with a strong following at the Sweeps and

Faversham Hop Festival

(Editor: As my faded Sur les Docks t-shirt attests,

I’ve been a fan since my first encounter with them at the Prince of Wales, now closed, in Strood, Kent, over a decade ago. Do they deserve a spot in Pirate Plunder’s ‘Shantyman’ section? In response to that question

I present their manager, Cap’tain Shish).

More information from www.surlesdocks.com

Roaring success for Shanty Marathon!

The second Shanty Marathon in aid of the Harwich Shanty Festival took place at the town’s Alma Inn from 28-29 April and was a highly successful event! There were 26 hours of nonstop shanties and a total of 388 were sung altogether, with shanty crew Mains’l Haul from Maldon singing the most at 58. A shanty was sung

by Nigel Spencer,

the

Deputy Lord Lieutenant

of Essex, and one by two Dutchmen who had never encountered a shanty before!

Some popular shanties were sung several times over the weekend and even the song Being a Pirate (You can’t be a pirate with all of your parts) was included. Everyone had a really good time and the atmosphere was electric! A raffle took place each day and there was a stall selling badges and other festival merchandise.

Forfeits were regularly put on the wall to add to the fun, where anyone singing wearing a stripy top or a Breton cap, for instance, or using the word ‘belay’ in their shanty had to make a small donation.

Everyone entered into the spirit of the occasion and about £750 was collected towards this year’s festival, which will take place from 13-15 October.

More information from www.harwichshantyfestival. co.uk