Mariners Away – Dartmoor’s Shanty Singers!

The current hype on shanty songs comes as no surprise to South Zeal shanty singers, Mariners Away, who have been singing at festivals throughout the South West for over a decade.

Mariners Away usually perform with ten to 12 singers in the ‘crew’ at festivals including Falmouth International Shanty Festival, Lyme Regis and Dartmoor Folk Festivals, Widecombe Fair and many others. They have also sung at weddings - and funerals!

Trev Munkenbeck, a a singer and songwriter with Mariners Away, said: ‘The popularity of shanties is down to the rhythm of the songs, and choruses which can be easily learned. They were work songs on the old sailing ships and each song would have related to the rhythm needed for a particular task, be it raising the anchor or hauling up the sails.’

Mariners Away are in concert at the Sidmouth Folk Festival with one of the South West’s top folk singers, Jim Causley, and their ongoing events, and music, can be found on their website at www.marinersaway.org.uk

One of the main attractions of shanty singing is they can be sung by anyone and Mariners Away welcome anyone who wants to come along and meet them. The main qualification is to be able to give and take a lot of friendly leg-pulling!

For more information call Trev on 07737 735400.