Shantyman

St Ives group on Channel 5 show

Following their recent appearance on Susan Calman’s Grand Week by the Sea on Channel 5, shanty group Bamaluz Bootleggers are now booked to perform at the St Ives September Festival. During the programme, the Bootleggers performed their own take on ‘Hevva’ by Tir ha Tavas, the duo of Dave and Delia Brotherton, who are also based in St Ives.

The mixed voice group, named after a small beach in St Ives, was formed in January, 2015, as an off-shoot of the Town Band to perform sea shanties and Cornish folk songs. It will take part, together with the Brotherton duo, in St Ives Entertains, a Festival charity event at The Guildhall on Friday, 17 September, in aid of the St Ives Community Land Trust.

Tickets can be bought online at www. stivesseptemberfestival. co.uk and from tourist information centres throughout Cornwall.

Susan Calman fronts up the Bamaluz boys and girls at St Ives during her Grand Week by the Sea on Channel 5.

Brian of Holcombe –a shantyman for all seasons

Shanty groups have been in the news this Summer, both in the news and on TV travel programmes, but it should be recognised that shantymen (and women) have long played an important role in entertaining crowds at Pirate Festivals, as well as other events, in every season of the year.

In addition to wellknown groups, there are also individuals that have turned shanties into their way of life and Brian of Holcombe from Devon is a doyen of the genre. He is a professional entertainer, who offers organisers of events or parties a very different experience for their visitors or guests, holding any audience spellbound with both his traditional maritime songs and engaging tales of the sea.

The shantyman can provide a range of packages to cater for various age groups, number of guests and type of venue. He also has his own YouTube Channel: www.youtube. com/c/BrianOf HolcombeShantyman

Brian has an abiding passion to promote the shanties and sea songs that are such an important part of Britain’s maritime heritage, which has led him to conduct shanty workshops. He has also participated in team building exercises and is even willing to entertain landlubbers at corporate events where he will welcome delegates and provide nautical entertainment during breaks in proceedings! More information from: www.facebook. com/groups/ shantymenofdevon/

Sea shanties welcome world leaders

When a group of world leaders, including the US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, arrived for the annual G7 summit at Carbis Bay, Cornwall, from 11-13 June, they did so to the sound of traditional working songs of the sea. Shanties are enjoying a high profile since the success of ‘Soon may the Wellerman come’ on TikTok and given their popularity in Cornwall, it seemed appropriate that two shanty groups were on hand to welcome the British Government’s guests to the county.

Standing on the Prince of Wales Pier in Falmouth, Bryer’s Boys serenaded onlookers with the song ‘Lamorna’, which has been a standard for Cornish folk singers since the ‘60s. The 11-strong ensemble is noted for its trademark style of free harmony to achieve a beautifully sonorous sound.

After a BBQ on the beach at Carbis Bay, some of the world’ most powerful men and their partners gathered around a fire pit to enjoy marshmallows and drink buttered rum while being entertained by Du Hag Owr (Black and Gold in the Cornish language).

Formed at a campsite in Portscatho in 2009 when the owners were looking for people to sing sea shanties for tourists, these shantymen often perform at the Hidden Hut in Portscatho, whose owner, Simon Stallard, had prepared the BBQ for the G7 visitors. He had earlier approached Du Hag Owr to sing and founder Allan Collins was quick to accept what would be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Bryer’s Boys

Harwich International Shanty Festival October 8-10th 2021

Follow Us On Our Website Or The News Letter, Facebook and Twitter For the Latest News!