Shanty Weekend 26

WHEN the weather starts to warm up, so does the pace in the friendly old fishing village known as Old Leigh.
The location is perfect for spending a pleasant afternoon sitting with friends in the sun, sipping a glass or three of chilled Prosecco but during Old Leigh Shanty Weekend, there’s certainly some added spice and a touch of the surreal with an invasion by scores of shanty crews from around the country accompanied by pirates and even some English Civil War re-enactors.
The fun and the music starts at The Crooked Billet on Friday 15th May, when their cosy little bar plays host to an evening of joyous folk chorus singing, with an emphasis on everything nautical. Everyone is welcome to join in the singing or just sit back with a pint of real ale and enjoy the harmonies that bounce of the wall and make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.
Late Saturday morning sees Shanty Crews from Cornwall and Somerset, Norfolk and Suffolk, Kent and Oxford, join folk singers, pirates, Lions and the New Model Army to celebrate all that is best in traditional folk music.
The plaintive strains of old maritime songs will be heard emanating from just about every corner of the Old Town, supported by the Leigh Lions on the Festival Stages at Strand Wharf and Victoria Wharf.
Not to be outdone, the Old Town pubs and bars will be hosting shanty stages at Billet Wharf, No 1 Cocklesheds, The Peterboat, The Old Smack and The Mayflower giving the casual visitor a wealth of opportunities to take in the best the shantymen can offer. The afternoon will wind up with performances from the very best local bands and culminate in a Shanty Finale where all of the participating Shanty Crews get together to create an unbelievable acapella experience.
Come Sunday morning, the shanty crew-members that haven’t exhausted their repertoires during the Saturday evening shanty sing-around, will be found repeating the whole extravaganza and will be joined by folk dancers and traditional mummers performing traditional medieval passion plays where St George always slays the unfortunate dragon.
At last year’s Old Leigh Shanty, Leigh Lions Club raised £5,000 from the public for The Leigh Endeavour Trust and RNLI Southend. The Lions hope to do at least as well this time around and will also be offering spot prizes for the best children’s pirate costumes.
The Old Leigh Shanty is a free community event, supported by Leigh Lions Club, Leigh Town Council, The Hoy at Anchor Folk Club, SK Event Bars and Priority Management Services Ltd.
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