The Sharpness Midsummer Sea Shanty Festival – back and bigger for 2025.
Saturday, June 21st will see Sharpness celebrating seafarers’ shanties once again, as the 2025 Sharpness Midsummer Sea Shanty Festival brings an extended lineup to delight all lovers of these timeless and rousing songs.
Hosted at the Sharpness Sports & Social Club and starting at 2pm, six acts will deliver a hearty and varied programme of shanties that’s sure to bring an extra glow to Midsummer’s Day.
Shanty crews Friggit, Gloucester Diamonds, Tawny Shantymen and Severn Whalers – all much enjoyed at last year’s Festival – are welcomed back. They’ll be joined by local shanty singer and concertina player Jamie Robinson, plus all the way from Liverpool, duo Yesterday’s Men and renowned songstress Gerry Ffrench.
Entry is free thanks to generous sponsorship from traditional shipbuilders, riggers and restorers T. Nielsen & Company and Bessie-Ellen, who offer sailing holidays and private charters on board their 1904 built West Country sailing ketch. Donations to the shanty crews will be very welcome. The Sharpness Sports & Social Club will be serving drinks and food from noon onwards.
Created by heritage railway The Vale of Berkeley Railway (VoBR) as part of the 150th anniversary of the opening of Sharpness New Dock, last year’s Shanty Festival was the first to be held in Sharpness, uniting the community around an entertaining focal point and attracting visitors to the area.
This year’s event aims to embed the Shanty Festival as an ongoing Sharpness tradition – with Jamie Robinson (who lives close to Sharpness Docks) taking on its organisation, supported by VoBR Trustee Bryan Whitfield and Mike Studden from Gloucester Harbour Trustees.
