International Sea Shanty Festival underway
Tens of thousands of people are expected over the next three days
More than 50,000 visitors are expected to gather in Falmouth for the International Sea Shanty Festival.
The award-winning festival started back in 2004 as a grassroots event with five groups popping up around the town’s Custom House Quay.
Today it is the largest free nautical event in Europe with 85 sea shanty groups from all over the world performing on stages, in cafes, pubs, hotels, and community venues, bringing the history, heritage and culture of maritime song to life in this vibrant Cornish port.
"Vibrant part of Cornwall's musical identity"
Dr Garry Tregidga, a leading member of the Cornish National Music Archive and co-Director of the Institute of Cornish Studies, said: “Cornish music can come in so many forms. From the area's rich folk traditions to music from its brass band and chapel culture along with its inspiration to classical composers. Sea shanties are an increasingly vibrant part of its musical identity."
Richard Gates, Falmouth Town Manager, said: "There's Breton groups coming across from Brittany, they bring a selection of things you might not have heard before. There's quite a selection and mix of groups from all places and all ages."
"Cornish music can come in so many forms"
Alongside the more traditional groups which are heavily male, today there are ‘new world’, typically younger, LGBTQ+, female and international groups taking up sea shanty singing in their own way and style, bringing fresh interpretations to the tradition.
240 local schoolchildren from Falmouth and elsewhere in Cornwall will also be performing alongside a group all the way from Canada.
Richard Gates added: "Take extra time to get here, it will be busy. There's the train, the Park and Float. The car parks fill up very quickly and that is the case across the weekend."