The sounds of sea shanties, Celtic tunes and folk music will soon fill the streets of Albany as the eighth edition of the International Folk ‘n’ Shanty Festival brings three days of music, storytelling and community celebration to the city.
Throughout the weekend, Albany’s CBD will come alive with shanty crews, folk bands, dancers and performers creating spontaneous moments of music and entertainment in venues, streets and gathering spaces.
The festival is part of the city’s Maritime Festival and will begin at various locations from 5pm on Friday and will continue until 9pm on Sunday, with the annual crowd favourite Shantymen tug of war taking place on Sunday at 10am.
Festival goers can expect performances and gatherings across Albany Town Hall, The Albany Club, The Earl of Spencer Historic Inn, the Uniting Church, Six Degrees, Wilson’s Brewing Company, Premier Hotel, Kate’s Place, Albany’s Historic Whaling Station and Dune Beer Co.
Alongside the free roaming program, the festival will also host four ticketed flagship concerts with two held at Albany Town Hall and two at Wilson’s Brewing Company.
Organisers say this year’s event will be the biggest yet and it takes on an Irish theme with a stomping celebration of Celtic spirit and maritime tradition.
Albany Shantymen will lead the charge and will be joined by the likes of The Lost Quays, She Shants, Savanah Solomon, Last Five Coins International Dance, Fred Smith, Dudes of Grace, David Robertson and The Kiss List and Amaidi Promo across the weekend.
What began as a grassroots gathering of shanty singers has grown into a major event on the Australian folk calendar, attracting performers and audiences from across the country with its unique mix of maritime heritage, community singing and folk traditions.
The festival continues to celebrate the joy of folk culture by bringing people together through music, connection and shared experience.
Festival director Rod Vervest said the festival aims to bring people together through music and create a welcoming atmosphere where everyone can feel involved.
“Irish music and sea shanties share this beautiful, communal heartbeat,” he said.
“They bring people together — strangers become shipmates in about three minutes flat.
“That’s the magic we chase every year.
Mr Vervest said the shared nature of shanty music was what made it so special, allowing audiences to become part of the performance rather than simply watch from the sidelines.
“There’s nothing quite like a room full of people belting out a shanty — its communal, cathartic and just plain good for the soul.
“People come for the music, but they stay for the feeling — that sense of belonging, of being part of something bigger than yourself.
“In a world that can feel pretty fragmented, a room full of people singing the same chorus is a small miracle.”
Full information and festival program can be found at albanyfolknshantyfest.com.
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