The Exmouth Shanty Men made a welcome return to Sidmouth Folk Festival last week.
Fresh from singing at Paimpol in Brittany, Exmouth's own 'buoy band' delighted the crowd with their trademark mix of roaring shanties, historical ballads, and poignant forecastle songs.
Casting off with the storming capstan shanty Randy Dandy Oh, they took the audience on a rollicking journey across the high seas from Rio Grande to Dogger Bank via Lowlands Away. En route they visited dockside brothels and taverns (Little Sally Racket, Pass Around The Grog) while celebrating naval heroes (Lord Exmouth, Brave Benbow). Finally they brought us safe to shore with the haunting Mingulay Boat Song and Rolling Home.
For those that missed their Sidmouth show, the Exmouth Shanty Men’s next appearance in Exmouth is Buoys on the Quay at Mamhead Slipway, Exmouth Marina, from 7.30pm on Tuesday, August 22 and Tuesday, August 29. If it’s wet, the Exmouth Shanty Men will muster in The Beach pub on Victoria Road.
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