Enjoy action-packed weekend as Brancaster Staithe holds Sea Shanty Festival

A popular coastal destination is holding an action-packed sea shanty festival over three days.

Brancaster Staithe is hosting the festival on Friday from 6pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 12noon.

A total of 17 shanty groups will be coming together to share their music and will perform at six destinations in Brancaster Staithe – The Jolly Sailors, The White Horse, the village hall, St Mary’s Church in Deepdale and Brancaster Staithe Sailing Club.

The groups, including Nelson’s Shantymen, Blakeney Old Wild Rovers and Sheringham Shantymen, will be roaming Brancaster Staithe village collecting money in their buckets for local charities along the way.

This year’s festival will be supporting RNLI Wells Next-the-Sea and NCI (National Coastwatch Institution) Brancaster.

The festival kicks off at 6pm at The Jolly Sailors with Hoy Boy from Essex.

There is also a charity lottery with prizes donated by local businesses – tickets are available at the bar at The Jolly Sailors, The White Horse and Brancaster Staithe Sailing Club.

The lottery will be drawn on Sunday at The Jolly Sailors.

Sam Ireson, of Nelson’s Shantyman, said: “We are extremely excited about this now annual event.

“We have a great following in North Norfolk and to organise an event where 17 like-minded shanty groups can sing along to raise funds for local charities is very special.

“A tremendous amount of hard work has gone into organising this year’s festival which is being sponsored by Anglian Country Inns, Holts Auctioneers and Sowerby’s.

“We can’t wait to entertain our audience. Let’s make waves and create unforgettable memories whilst supporting our wonderful community.”

Simon Parkin, general manager at The Jolly Sailors, said: “We are delighted to be hosting this wonderful festival in our village Brancaster Staithe and extremely proud that Nelson’s Shantymen are ‘resident’ at The Jolly Sailors and practise here every Monday evening where the idea of holding this festival originated.

“It is wonderful that this is a fundraising event too and this year all monies raised with be split between Wells RNLI and NCI Brancaster.

“We are truly grateful to all local businesses who have donated prizes for our charity lottery, as well as all the people and venues involved to make the event one of the friendliest shanty festivals there is - a massive thank you to you all. We look forward to welcoming all.”

For more information visit: https://brancasterstaithe-shantyfest.co.uk/programme

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