3 minute read
Shantyman
Shoreham shantymen at Falmouth ’23
The Wellington Wailers are delighted to be performing once again at the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival, which takes place takes place from 16-18 June, next year. This Cornish event usually attracts in excess of 65,000 visitors to see over 70 shanty groups at various locations throughout the town, from pubs and bars to historic courtyards and quays.
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They started life in The Sussex Yacht club at Shoreham-by-Sea when a small group of likeminded seadogs decided to resurrect the singing of traditional sea shanties. That was six years ago; since then the ship’s company has expanded and when fully manned, the crew can now muster 16 men.
The crew re-located to The Duke of Wellington pub on Brighton Road, hence their choice of name. Once the members learnt that they were to get free beer in return for singing shanties in a regular monthly slot, the move was unanimously agreed. For the most part they still stick to singing the good old, crowd-pleasing, rousing shanties, with emphasis on close harmony, but have also injected one or two more humorous songs that have a piratical slant into their repertoire.
The Wailers have performed locally at countless gigs, festivals and charitable events, not forgetting their monthly shanty evenings at The Duke of Wellington. However, the main event of the Wailers’ year has now become appearing at the festival in Falmouth. They were first invited to attend in 2014 and feel privileged that they have now become regular guests at the event, appearing alongside of such artists as Fisherman’s Friends and Kimber’s Men.
Two CDs have been issued by the Wailers: ‘High Tide and Low Life’ in 2017; and ‘Welly Boots and Shanties’ in 2020. They are pleased to report that both selling well, particularly as £5.00 of each CD sold goes to the Shoreham Lifeboat of the RNLI. More information from www.thewellingtonwailers.com
Cap’n Davy’s dance based on ‘Drink’
Carshalton, Surrey-based dance troupe Madder Mill Molly (a form of Morris dancing from East Anglia) has just choreographed a dance based on the rumbustious ditty ‘Drink’ from pirate metal band Alestorm that can be found on their album called Sunset on the Golden Age.
Historically, Molly dances were performed on a day known as Plough Monday. This was the first Monday after Epiphany (or twelfth night) and was the first day after Christmas that ploughboys were meant to return to work, so they didn’t! Instead, they decorated a plough and pushed it round the village, calling at the houses of those richer than themselves to beg for money. If the householders weren’t forthcoming with donations then they threatened to plough up their gardens!
Cap’n Davy’s Dance embodies a number of figures associated with the days of sail (Editor: I rather like the title). More information from www.maddermolly.co.uk
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