Artists M-P

Based in Maldon Mains'l Haul are a group of enthusiastic singers of shanties and songs of the sea. Drawn together by a love of traditional music they have been singing together for more than 10 years. We sing mostly unaccompanied but also play concertinas, recorder and guitar. 

Monkey's Fist, based in Yorkshire and named after the knot used to heave the first line ashore, is the trio of Steve Flude, Colin Devey and John Horsey. They sing powerful arrangements of sea shanties, forebitters and ballads with guitar, concertina, bodhran and harmonica accompaniment. They have performed across the UK, together with festivals in Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and the Baltic Shanty Festival in the Aaland Islands. 

Brightlingsea's oldest buoy band, the 13-strong crew formed more than 25 years ago and has sung at festivals, concerts, fetes, regattas and more across East Anglia. Known for their original arrangements and captivating harmonies, the Motleys' lively performances feature a wide range of shanties and sea songs - always a cappella and often with more than a little humour. 

The Mute Swans were formed on the 5th May 2023. After they discovered their home pub, the Swan Inn, would host part of the Shanty Festival that year, they expanded their repertoire, developed a mutinous alter ego, and the rest is history. The have performed across the East of England including at this year's shanty festivals at Leigh-on-Sea and Rowhedge. 

No Hiding Place are a small, male voice a cappella choir based in Bury St Edmunds. They started singing together nearly three years ago and since then have performed a range of 4 part harmony songs including shanties, country, pop and spiritual. They have appeared at several shanty festivals, beer festivals, weddings and at other venues. 

For more than 35 years Nordet have been performing traditional sea shanties and their own songs. The crew know how to make people dance or sing in a festive spirit. Nordet have sailed from Lorient, their home port, to New York; from Paimpol to Liverpool and from Hoorn to Douarnenez. These five sailors, exuberant and joyful, will transport the audience, from dead calm seas to storms, from the middle of oceans to the docks, and from Breton taverns to English pubs. So welcome on board you sailors.

Five man, five microphones, five voices. North Cape started with a fascination with traditional shanties, sea songs, and the rich folklore of 19th century sailors. North Cape have performed across Europe and in 2016 the band organized the first edition of new festival called Shanties in the Opera. In 2026, the band played a concert accompanied by the Opole Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, concluding the celebrations of its 30th anniversary. 

The Orwellermen are a rollicking Sea Shanty Crew who throw open their arms—and their songbooks—to one and all. Twice a month, they gather at the Steamboat Tavern, on the banks of the Orwell, to belt out shanties and songs of the sea. Their practice nights and performances are brimming with energy, and they’ll have you singing along in no time. 

Pete Elliston will be running a number of 'bones' workshops over the weekend. Whale bones were originally used by sailors to provide a percussive, rhythmic accompaniment to songs but nowadays our 'bones' are made from wood. Come and learn how to get the best out of these simple yet surprisingly versatile instruments that can really bring a song to life. 

Pint of Shanty are a mixed a cappella shanty group form the Colne Valley Area. They sing songs, shanties and folk songs which are appropriate to the stories they tell in their performances. They first performed at the festival in 2023 with a musical shanty play “Conqueror”. 

The Portsmouth Shantymen have been described as a “power harmony group” who specialize in Sea Songs. They were formed in 1978 when Christchurch Festival unexpectedly found itself without a Shanty Crew, which almost certainly makes them the longest continually running Shanty Group in the UK. They have performed at festivals, on historic ships, on television and much more, and have travelled to sing all over the UK, the near continent and the USA. Over 45 years later they are still going strong!