A wealth of Shanties & Folk Music in Old Leigh Town in Essex – Friday 17th to Sunday 19th May 2024.
This weekend a score of shanty crews will navigate their way from around the UK and Europe, to the atmospheric fishing village of Leigh on Sea to celebrate in the only way they know how – singing songs of the sea.
The event is centred on the Old Leigh Shanty Festival on the historic Strand Wharf, organised by the Leigh on Sea Lions Club in conjunction with the Hoy at Anchor Folk Club and sponsored by Priority Management.
Establishments throughout the Old Town are supporting the Shanty Festival by hosting shanty stages at the Mayflower, the Smack, the Boatyard, the Peter Boat, the Crooked Billet and No 1 Cockleshed.
There will be a shanty singaround Friday evening at The Crooked Billet and a shanty/folk session/concert at the Estuary Club on Saturday night.
Sponsorship by Priority means access to all events is free of charge and the Lions Club of Leigh on Sea will be collecting for the Leigh Endeavour Trust and Southend RNLI.
Shanty Crews will be coming from Arundel, Stony Stratford, Swaffham, Lowestoft, Brightlingsea, Maldon, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Devon, Lavenham, Kent and Leewarden (Holland).