Songs and shanties festival returning to Saltash in Cornwall this summer

A festival dedicated entirely to songs and shanties is to make a Cornish comeback this summer. The event will showcase a variety of music genres including folk, rock, blues, and choral music from Cornwall and the Tamar Valley this June.

The Saltash Songs & Shanties Festival will take place in various historic venues across the town between June 15 and 24. Headline acts include Wurlitza, the Martha Tilston Trio, the Diabel Cissokho Band, Bagas Fellyon, Barrett's Privateers and Haunt the Woods.

Wurlitza, hailing from St German's, are known for their unique performances where they provide live soundtracks to classic silent films. On June 20, they will be performing to the comedic One Week featuring Buster Keaton and the suspenseful A Cottage on Dartmoor, which involves an escaped convict, a love triangle and hairdressing.

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Martha Tilston, a Cornish musician known for her silky voice, has garnered a large global following. She has graced some of the world's most prestigious stages, released critically acclaimed albums and was nominated for BBC best newcomer. She will be performing alongside long-term collaborators Matt Kelly and Matt Tweed on June 21 at the stunning and historic church of St Nicholas & St Faith, supported by the Saltash Shanty Singers.

Saltash's own international musician, Diabel Cissokho from Senegal, is set to perform alongside fellow musicians from West and North Africa and St Neot's Canoryon Lowen choir on June 22. His innovative work blends traditional music with elements of blues, afro-beat and more.

He has previously graced the stages at WOMAD, Glastonbury, Africa Oye and the Barbican, and collaborated with renowned musicians such as Baaba Maal, Youssou N'Dour and Paul McCartney.

On June 23, Bagas Fellyon and Barrett's Privateers will take the stage. Bagas Fellyon are redefining Cornish traditional music, blending drums, bass, saxophone, fiddle, accordion and hammered dulcimer to create hypnotic rhythms and textures.

They combine ancient and modern melodies for a traditional Cornish Nos Lowen evening filled with dancing and fun. Barrett's Privateers, led by their captain, Gideon Barrett, are known for their love of sea-faring songs, shanties and folk music. Their performances, enriched by a mix of voices, are always hugely entertaining.

This year's festival also offers a range of workshops, from shanty singing to samba drumming. The festival begins on June 15 with a Saturday Scratch Band event in collaboration with Livewire Youth Music. This event is designed for young people learning guitar, bass, drums or singing who want to gain experience playing in a band. The day will conclude with the new Scratch Band supporting Livewire prodigies The Other Woman and Haunt the Woods for an evening gig.

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There are plenty of opportunities to get involved, including music for pre-schoolers in the library, tango, tea and cake with Tango Sonoro at the Social Club, a pop-up piano session on the Waterside and an acapella harmony workshop with GraceNotes. Additional events include an afternoon of community music by the River Tamar (June 19), folk group Tipil performing in the historic Mary Newman's Cottage and the award-winning Saltash Town Band in Victoria Gardens (June 22).

Since its launch in 2022, the Festival has quickly become a significant annual event in the Cornish music scene. Known for its high-quality performances, creative programming and fun, friendly events in beautiful settings, the Festival attracts audiences from across the Southwest and beyond.

Tickets will once again be sold with pay-what-you-feel options, making the event accessible to all. More information and tickets are available at www.songsandshanties.co.uk.

The festival is backed by Arts Council England through its open-access National Lottery Project Grants, Cornwall County Council, the Scops Arts Trust, Sue Hooper Charitable Foundation and Saltash Town Council. It is produced by Salt Arts CIC.