Maritime Music Festival 2015

Maritime Music Festival is a Sea Shanty Music event held at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port over Easter weekend  from Friday 3rd until Sunday 5th April 2015 with around 30 acts performing.

Line-up

Acts booked to date include 2 Anchors, Andrew McKay and Carole Etherton, Andy Kenna, Anna Shannon, Cathead, Derek Gifford, Dogwatch, Dutch Uncle (NL), Gaye Anthony, Geoff Higginbottom, Hissyfit, Jim Radford, Jim Saville, Jon Heslop, John Thrall, Les Sulivan, Liam Robinson, Males de Mer (BL), Marrowbones, Monkeys Fist, Nervous Wrecks, Nick Caffrey and Ed McGurk, Nine Tenths Below, Old Gaffers, Pete Grasby, Port Sunlight Sea Dogs, Rapsquillion, Robinson O'Dwyer & Kelly, Roy Clinging & Steerage Class, Scheepsfolk (NL), Sharp as Razors, Shanty Jack, She Shanties, Short Drag Roger, Son of a Gun, The Shanty Crew, Trim Rig and a Doxy, Vagrants Crew, and Yesterdays Men.

Tickets

A one time payment of £6.50 gives access to the museum for all three days. Please remember to gift aid your admission. This ticket covers you for entry for a full year so one ticket covers the cost of the full three days.

Tickets for the two additional evening concerts on the Friday and Saturday  are priced at £11.

They will be on sale in the museum during the event. Evening Concert Tickets can be reserved by email from- festivals (at) shanty.org.uk. They will be held at the festival desk for payment and collection on arrival at the festival.

More info

Shanties were the working songs used on the tall ships of the Merchant Navy, and they were used to keep the rhythm for the many onerous tasks that were needed to keep the sailing ships going. On the sailors' off-duty time they would gather on the fore part of the ship, (the fore hatch) or by the bitts (the posts to which the anchor ropes were made fast), and sing songs of their homes, their girls or going ashore and spending their money on beer and women. These songs became known as forebitters. Such songs are part of maritime history and all the performers heard over the weekend have a passion for keeping them alive.

Workshops and demonstrations

Workshops and demonstrations include woodcarving, knot tying and playing 'the bones'. There will be shows about pirates and navy songs from the age of steam.

On site

There will also be children's activities, face painter, craft stalls, and a gathering of narrow boats. 

Running times

The festival will run from Friday morning until Sunday evening with singing taking place in several areas around the museum. There will be evening concerts on Saturday and Sunday nights. The Sunday will be the last formal day of the gathering, but the museum will welcome survivors and informal activities on the Monday.

Accommodation

This event does not have camping but there are a number of hotels, hostels and guest houses in the area.

More information will be here when available.