'Just for fun' shanty singers progress to album release

"We're five mates who drink beer and sing shanties."

A group of shanty singers from the Isle of Wight who got together just for fun in 2023 have become so popular they are releasing an album.

Pete Badham is a member of five-piece group East Cowes Shanty.

"It started when one of the members of the sailing club asked if anyone fancied starting a shanty group. I went to see what it was about and we were rubbish. But we gradually built up to where we are now", Badham explained.

"This year has been crazy. Upwards of 70 gigs we've done, charity events, shanty festivals, mainland gigs as well. It's gone from a few mates in a pub to playing Wickham Festival, which was great fun."

Badham described how the group recorded their album, Ales and Sails, without any overdubs or musical accompaniment.

"We went into the recording studios here at Rookley and just treated it like a normal gig. We recorded an album of our favourite songs, basically.

"It's a funny genre, shanties. It sits between maritime folk music and normal folk music but we just have fun with it. We all have a great laugh. It's not just singing, it's a social thing for us as well," he said.

Bob Irving came to the group with a musical background and has been instrumental in helping the others achieve the harmonies necessary for shanty singing.

"I was the only one who could sing harmonies to start with, thirds and fifths", he explained.

"What you need is a solid bass who sings a melody and then Pete will sing above the melody and I'll come in underneath and create, hopefully, a harmonious sound. We play it by ear and it just falls into place."

Justin Cheverton, known as Dusty, said the group were "flying high".

"...we know each other's voices and it just fits in. We're nailing it now, which is a really good place to be," he said.

John Luckett was born on the island and expressed his gratitude for the Isle of Wight's arts community.

"There's a strong folk tradition on the island and the island is a creative place, it always has been, and we've managed to plug into it. We've had fantastic support from the local folk and music community."

The group are looking forward to playing more gigs and hope to play the Falmouth Shanty Festival in Cornwall.

"We're ready for anything", said Irving.

"As long as there's some free pints in it," replied Cheverton.