The Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival is probably one of the most Cornish events to happen throughout the year!
This free festival is spread across from Friday until Sunday, featuring pop-up bars and music stages throughout Falmouth town, bringing over 60 sea shanty groups from across the UK, Brittany, Holland, Spain, Canada and Ireland together in a celebration of all things nautical.
With Falmouth’s renowned history as a harbour town (it’s the third deepest natural harbour in the world!), it’s the most fitting place to wander down the streets hearing the sounds of sea songs and stories echoing around you.
We always used to visit this festival regularly, as my dad is a keen tall ship sailor and shanty singer himself, and the festival weekend usually lands right on Father’s Day here in the UK!
He’s now part of the shanty group, Falmouth Shout, and had 5 or 6 gigs with the group throughout the festival on various different stages and in the local pubs and alehouses.
^ Wearing this gorgeous beach-inspired skirt from Revival Retro, designed by vintage seaside artist, Becky Bettesworth!*
My sister and I came along to watch the singing (you can actually spy my dad in the photo above!) and to potter about Falmouth’s bunting-lined streets before meeting for lunch at The Working Boat pub. When we arrived they were singing a shanty named Johnny Come Down to Hilo, with the lyrics going something like this:
“We’re running away around the Cape,
Some to get drunk and some to get laid.
Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man.
Oh, wake ‘er (Wake her!) oh, shake ‘er,(Shake her!)
Shake that gal with the blue dress on.
Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man.
Oh the doors swing in, the doors swing out
And some pass in, while others pass out
Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man.”
– Apparently I had dressed for the occasion pretty well!
^ Necklace from Love Kernow Jewellery*
I don’t often wear skirts and dresses in this retro style, but this gorgeous Becky Bettesworth skirt just seemed so fitting for the shanty festival, with it’s early-mid 1900s vibes and everyone dressed up to enjoy the ocean. I got lots of compliments, and it definitely got me in the summer mood!
Whilst admittedly when I was younger I would resent being made to listen to my dad’s sea shanty tapes on car journeys, and as a teenager I couldn’t think of much worse than being dragged away from my computer to listen to ‘old men sing’, these days I enjoy hearing the songs that must have made an imprint on my brain and remind me of the sea.
My favourite shanties are definitely South Australia and Drop of Nelson’s Blood – they’re so catchy and I love listening to the ensembles singing them at this festival; everyone loves to get involved too!
What are your favourite sea shanties?
* Skirt & necklace are gifted
Unfortunately, the plastic litter left after the festival from food and drink stands was appalling. Much of it blown into the harbour to damage marine life and the environment. Other towns such as Penzance are pledging to become plastic free. Shame on Falmouth for not doing the same. See the video taken next morning by Clean Ocean Sailing available on their Facebook page as they contributed to the clean up including using dogs to remove hundreds of plastic bottles and cups from the harbour. I will not visit Falmouth again until more care is taken of the beautiful harbour and environment.
Oh no that’s such a shame :( You would think that a festival with such a focus around the sea and ocean would take much better care.