Now that the Exmouth Shanty Men are in demand at the world’s shanty festivals, it’s less easy to catch “Exmouth’s own buoy band”.
So I was delighted to find them performing their new show – “Tall Ships and Tavern Tales” – at Sidmouth’s Manor Pavilion during the recent Sidmouth Folk Festival. And what a treat it was.
With new members invigorating the crew, they sounded better than ever, casting off with a rousing “Leaving Of Liverpool” set on board ship, followed by a roaring “Hog’s Eye Man” and a richly harmonised “Santiano”.
The second half, set in a tavern, was more varied, including a pensive “Heaven’s A Bar”, the music hall song “Every Inch A Sailor”, the humorous “Handsome Cabin Boy”, a poignant “Brave Wolfe” and a moving “Shenandoah”, concluding with a raucous “Roseabella”. The show is at Exmouth’s Holy Ghost Church Hall on November 19, so catch it if you can.
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