Raise a Pint and Sing a Shanty: Recap of the Real Ale and Shanty Fest!

Ahoy there.

This is Tom Lewis and you are listening to Shipshape and Bristol Fashion.

Shipshape, wondrous little fashion Boys along the hardest side from evil gods to wonderful heaven all the line secure the barrels down below find them, tie and lash em this vessel, she asserts a mine ship shaped from Bristol Fashion.

Ahoy there.

And welcome to the next episode of Shipshape and Bristol Fashion.

This episode is a special kind of highlight of the Real Ale and Shanty Festival 2026.

I'm Oggy, your host and of course a member of the Port of Bristol Shanty crew.

And as you can hear, I am joined by two incredible co hosts.

Of course you can hear.

Ollie the shanty boy.

He is here.

Are you alright?

And the one and only, Tom Lewis.

Good afternoon all.

I don't even know if it's afternoon at this point.

I know it's evergreen these episodes.

It is afternoon, come on.

And I'm looking at Tom enjoying a pint of beer.

So it must be past the, the midday or maybe.

Anyway, it's always past midday somewhere in the world.

Try to drink beer whenever you like.

Well, he's well traveled so he speaks with.

Great.

Okay, I'm just, just passing information to my young, young cohort here.

Yes, Ollie, beer used to be in England.

A breakfast drink.

Genuinely, if you go for a country, country house weekend, you will be served beer at breakfast.

Okay, enough of that.

It's good, it's good.

This episode isn't sponsored by Alcoholic Anonymous.

I'll stick to my apple juice for the rest of this time.

I don't think any shanty CR is sponsored by Alcoholic Anonymous.

I don't think that would ever work.

Anyway, this episode is going to be covering some highlights, some music, captured all that great stuff that we'd like to bring to you that if you didn't come along, you hear a little bit of it.

But if you did come along, you'll obviously might hear yourself or also hear some of the stuff that went on that you missed.

But anyway, guys, we are recording this on day two because day one was super busy.

We had over 500 people come into this building.

Clearly all to see you, Tom.

Yeah, well, of course, yes.

And we couldn't believe what they'd heard.

We all, we all came and heard and we were like, brilliant, Tom, brilliant Tom.

Really good reflection.

Let's, let's, let's talk to the people in podcast land.

All right, Tom, reflections of day one.

How have you enjoyed being here and all of that kind of jazz?

Well, one of the first Things I have to say is the organization is amazingly.

No, seriously, it is amazingly efficient for.

For.

For a young festival.

It's the.

The hospitality, I have to say, has been wonderful.

Thank you all very much.

The.

The multiplicity of.

Of groups and the multiplicity of singing styles is.

Is.

Is an education for all of us.

And the audiences have been.

Have been wonderful.

They've been.

They've sung and they've applauded and they've listened and all sorts of things and they've drunk a lot of beer.

I know.

Is that one of the best things, though, is it?

I don't know.

But I think what's been really good this year that I've noticed, and I think some people have as well, and I think we experienced some of that in the crowd, is that a lot of people have come here because it's a real ale festival and Ashanti festival.

And so maybe the people who were here for the ale didn't quite understand the decorum of what should be happening within a performance.

But.

And I know, Tom, you had a bit of a problem problem yesterday where there's a lot of chat.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

A tiny little problem later.

Later in.

In the evening, people.

And I think that's just because people were not expecting the show to start on time.

This is.

Brian.

Should have been 10 minutes later.

We're normally either waiting for.

Not for Nobby or waiting for someone else, but.

But I have to say, the room I was.

I was in yesterday afternoon, they were actually having to push on the doors to try and get more people in.

And it was.

It was lovely because you.

You could have heard a pin drop until the start of the chorus and then you couldn't hear yourself think, oh, that's so good.

That is so good.

And.

And you know, they're here to see you, Tom.

You know, you've got generations of experience.

He's the Beyonce of the shanty world.

I've told.

I have told him this.

Yeah, no, it's really good.

Really good shanty boy.

We've not heard from you for a while because clearly you are in year 10.

You're in that kind of crazy mo.

Yeah, you know, you couldn't do as much as you would normally like, but how's life treating you?

And how are you enjoying the festival so far?

I've.

I've enjoyed this festival well, recently I've.

Had my first set here.

I was down at the bar playing.

There and that was an amazing.

I had an amazing second.

Second set.

It was brilliant.

Brilliant or everyone, if you do say so yourself.

But all the audience was just brilliant.

The suggestions that they've said was very lovely suggestions for songs, which is what I do.

But yeah, mocks have been great.

I did a Her two weeks of mocks and then other stuff.

But I would really.

This festival was brilliant and I really great that I had to.

Had this festival to like just cool down a little bit.

Just cool down and that's it.

But there.

That's really what.

What I've got apart from little bits here and there.

But yeah, nice.

Well, yeah, it's good to see that you.

We've given you an opportunity to have your own set and it's been great to hear you in the bar.

So well done and we'll obviously hear some of that later.

So Tom, highlights for today.

Highlights for today.

My.

My daughter and son are visiting.

When I say son, my son is.

His next birthday is his 60th.

Wow.

And my.

My daughter of course living in Ireland.

I don't get to get to see enough of them.

It's by the way.

But some advice for younger generations.

I was.

I was just about.

I was within 12 months of being your age when I joined the Navy.

I. I was actually just up the road in Gloucester.

Were you?

Yes.

So although I was born in Belfast, my took my sister and I to live in Gloucester for various reasons and so I was barely 10 years old and I had the.

Had the great fortune to go to a really good school which was Sir Thomas Rich's Grammar School for Boys.

Big shouts out for those.

That was just a couple of years after it had been renamed from Sir Thomas Riches Bluecoat Hospital School for Boys.

And.

And I was coming up for.

For my.

For my gc, GCS or whatever they call them at that time and I wasn't at all confident so I went away and joined the Navy.

Good advice for you.

If you're not confident.

There's a recruiting office around here somewhere, you know.

Yeah, my granddad I think, went into the Navy, I think and if.

Yeah.

That he's definitely had the best time as well.

Like I think what navy does for everyone else and especially for shanty performers really gets you in the mode and gets you in the moment of why you're doing and what the songs actually mean, I guess.

Well, just a disclaimer if mum and dad of Ollie are listening, I'm taking no responsibility.

We'll blame it on Tom.

Look at that.

Thanks, Tom.

Look at that.

Fell over there with a peg leg.

We blame this on you.

The legacy of Tom Lewis.

Oh, bless.

Well, we've got some incredible acts today.

It's a shorter day and we've got a really good final shout where hopefully everyone will be around and there's some really good ale to drink.

So up next we've got the highlights, we've got some interviews, we've got some snapshots of people who have come along to the real heirloom Shanty Festival 2026.

The journey will be your paths to the horizon Leave your fears upon the shore this one life is for the living and we ask for nothing more if it's down, it's bound together if it's up, it's the last one.

So say long boys through stormy weather so spring the joy of wet the weather Away all the way all the way Go call yourselves for second you can eat high A bowling away Haul away All away Joe, you can't even stand straight when the mat you see is rolling away all the way all the way Go away hey.

All the way all the way together away all the way all the way Away hey.

All the way.

You hope the bed to wear away all the way.

The paradise fake today a Liverpool copper A jazz on a mint okay, Some time to ball Instead of singing as a black baller by the cousin Yehuda way Hey.

Bow the man down and the long red top Sea moon says see that you're wear Give me some time to close up.

On the wall I stole the captain's coat and borrowed.

I'm Matt.

I'm with the Rusty Tubs.

And we've primarily come here to raise some money for some good charities.

Drink lots of beer and we've accidentally ended up singing a load of shanties as well.

Accidentally.

Wow.

Wow.

It's just so perfect.

We sort of fall into these things.

We're having a whale of a time.

It's a fantastic venue, but it's been really great.

How your day been so far?

It's been absolutely top stuff.

There's some loads of good friends here and loads of good cheer.

The public have been absolutely fantastic as well.

Yeah, I think what makes you different to a lot of shantus?

I would say so a lot of shanties.

It's a very broad house, I think.

And a lot of the themes and chances we found really lend their sort of spirit to like that old rocker mentality.

So we try.

Try and channel a bit of.

Of ac dc, a bit of into our sex.

So we get a little bit loud, we get a little bit Larry.

We try and do after one of our taglines is shanties with vintage style and punk attitude.

Yeah, yeah, that's.

It's like ours with like.

We signed with Easy Adam and Tank.

Well, yeah, I feel like that Rusty was definitely an operative word when we picked our name.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Can I just say, what's been your favorite movie?

Being in the Rusty type.

Being with the Rusty Tubs.

Wow.

There's lots to choose from, really.

We've had some absolute adventures recently.

We've been.

Luckily, after a go up to the continent, we did.

Where was it?

The Netherlands.

I don't know the name of it.

Appingdam.

Appingham.

Appingham, yes.

And on the way back, it's an absolute overnight slog and they're racing to get back to the.

The ferry to get over and they're driving through the night and Dave and Mark are very respectable paid.

They.

They go into work the next day and they're trying to keep their eyes open.

And look, Norma and Mark's keeping it together and their boss walks past and he goes, how are you guys doing?

And Dave just immediately got.

We've only had an hour and a half sleep.

You're actually helping me with that because I'm actually going to Effingham.

The International Australian Festival.

Are you?

Brilliant.

I'm going with Ksenia.

Lovely.

I'm going.

And then I.

Doing some stuff there.

So that.

Thank you for warning me on that.

Wow.

Yeah.

This is a big crack.

The all festivals.

Incredibly welcoming, lovely people.

And we found.

That's true not just over here in the uk, but in Europe as well.

The people in Belgium.

Ostend.

Lovely.

And it's a real nice global community these days.

Yeah.

Like, what do you think about the shiny community as a whole?

Like, how do you think it's spread?

How I think it's spread?

Well,.

There's been lots of.

Lots of disparate shanti community wars coming in now.

How was spread?

Yeah, it's been going for centuries.

Yeah.

They're pulling on rose and then singing and singing and singing.

And then we've got the work songs over in.

In America, the chain gangs and so on.

It's in people already.

Yeah.

Shandies spread because shandies get people at a very core and it really gets people going and then it's off.

What's new is people just keep coming in and cycling into the genre, finding out shanties.

Oh, yeah, I found a rune.

The cool shandy.

Yeah.

We've been singing that 50 years.

Find another one.

This keeps going.

It keeps going and it keeps going.

Don't Forget Pomeranian don't forget Pomeranian.

The.

SCEPIA crew mounted no rigging as she lay on her side and pulse ends on each.

Preston Truffle took a crew member off before leaving the wreck with all hands, the vessel broke into three pieces.

This cargo washed onto the heavens or can point to the rocks down as.

Far as the locks.

And this is what Bill Burton said.

Don't forget Pomeranian don't forget Pomeranian George.

Don't forget Pomeranian don't forget Pomeranian Go all the way aboard a man of war oh, I wish I was the.

First mage of mortar man of war.

Sam's gone away aboard a man of.

War oh, I wish there was a first made aboard a man of war.

Sam's gone away on board a man of war Brave work Brave bollocks Free work I say Sam's gone away on board Animal Green word Brave boys Green work I say Sam's gone away a.

More who are you and what you're doing here at the Real Aunt Shanta Festival?

I'm one of the Backbeach Boys from Teignmouth.

We've been here a few times and yeah, we need to just come to sing and have a good time.

So how did the Back Beach Boys start?

Well, before my time.

They started in 2013.

Group of guys got together on the back beach in Teignmouth and just decided they wanted to sing and get together and support each other as a men's group and they started doing it for fun and then it sort of grew.

They started learning instruments and singing locally in pubs and, and festivals and it's just grown really.

And now we're a band of 11 brothers and we've got a lot of instruments and we sing all over the southwest of England and overseas as well now.

Well, can I ask, how did you get into.

Into the Backbeat Boys?

Because you said you weren't like, you didn't start in the Backbeat Toys?

No, I didn't move to Teignmouth, so I was living overseas.

I came back to Timothy in about 2017, 18 and watched the band on the, on the back beach and a few mates I knew in the band, I was rowing with them at the time on the gigs and just, just hedging my bets.

I played the guitar and was just waiting to see when they were looking for someone new and when they were, I auditioned and here I am.

Yeah.

So what instruments can you play?

I'm just, just guitar really.

Yeah.

How long have you been doing that for?

Well, I suppose I started as a, as a kid in my teens but didn't really take it seriously.

Stopped for years and years and picked it up again about 10 years ago.

Ah, that's not the same.

Like, I started pretty young doing percussion and now I'm doing, like, performing with my baron, which I know me.

Your brick does.

Yeah, we've got two barons.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I love playing that.

It's such a great instrument.

I love that.

Yeah, it's a good instrument and it gives a good rhythm, a good beat.

And we've got some interesting instruments.

We've got an accordion, which is fairly new the last three years, and a bass ukulele, which has added a little bit of depth to the band.

Yeah.

Like, what's your.

What your.

What's your favorite moment, being in the back?

Beach Boys.

I just think the camaraderie.

We all get together once a week for practice and then the musicians get together in addition another time.

So twice a week, barbecues together in the summer.

And, yeah, our wives know each other very well and sometimes they join us, sometimes they don't.

And just a nice group, not like.

Our Wags, which come over a lot.

Of the time there.

And we've got a few here today.

But it's, you know, it's not compulsory.

Sometimes they're picking shoes.

But some of the big festivals, they come down to Falmouth.

We're there for the weekend.

Quite a lot of the.

Quite a lot of the ladies come down and join us and have a weekend in Falmouth with us when we're singing for three or four days.

Have you heard of Sea Changes before you were with the band?

Oh, yeah.

I'm Plymouth born and bred.

I'm a janner.

So, yes, I've known about sea shandies and songs for a long time.

Yeah.

It wasn't new to me.

I've always liked English folk.

Yeah.

And this was a little bit of a twist on it.

I write my own songs, but I only ever play them.

To me, they're just a bit folky.

But shanties, Shanti is a bit of fun.

We do write about 50 of our songs are our own.

We write about local history.

Yeah.

So they're not all traditional shanties.

That's brilliant.

Like, I love that people are making their own seashells.

It adds a new depth to the style of music we're doing.

Yeah.

We look for the history of what's happened around Timothy and the South Devon coast.

Yeah.

And then if there's.

Whether it be rescues, ships, whether it be histories of shipbuildings, whatever, we'll.

We've Got a lot of songs about it.

So what I go around, I've bumped into these beautiful gentlemen.

Here they are, it's Skipper and old Bill.

How are you both?

Well, that's a wrong description to start with.

You know, beautiful, intelligent.

Like I said before, we are recording on day two, so we're a little bit jaded.

But we're good.

We're good.

Yesterday I was sort of stepping up the steps fairly briskly by.

By the evening I was very slow.

And then I had to go this morning and I was still very slow.

So I took off from where I ended up being last night, which was very good.

A fantastic evening.

It was nice to see our number one fan this morning.

Good.

Lovely one fan.

You know that's Tom Lewis.

Yes, yes.

And on the matter of Tom Lewis.

Oh, Bill, you are the man looking after him.

Yeah.

We are hosting this morning over the weekend and we have had the pleasure of Claire being taught how to play the Melodium.

That is amazing.

We've seen a video on the crew chat this morning.

She.

I think she should start playing for us.

And not only that, Herbie, our cabin boy then had to come down and have a go.

So that is incredible.

We have two Melode and players hooked.

For the future instruments in a shanty crew.

Whatever next, eh?

Well, gentlemen, I'll let you crack on because we were about to go on, aren't we?

And we're looking forward to that.

Any highlights for the rest of the day?

I just think performing in this building in front of a great audience.

Yesterday was amazing.

The building was absolutely packed.

It's a bit of a slow burner.

It's early, just after midday.

But we're hoping will pick up and we will have equally good day.

Yeah.

500 Yesterday came through the door just to see you.

Yes, to see me.

It's good.

I believe I sounded in tune and sang the right note.

Right words.

Right words as well.

We sounded great yesterday.

Anyway, chaps, let's get going on and we'll have a.

Have a good sing, shall we?

Them aboard a Bunsen tosser doesn't toss the Bunsen anymore.

Don't fall on the rope don't climb up the mast if you see a sailor ship it might be a last Just get your sailors ready for another.

R ashore A sailor Anchor sailor anchor sailor anymore with wings that star as razors to cover the crust of the.

Narrows Was near to sailors.

Paid off my score and then ashore midmoney Sink was flying with Judy Lee upon my knee and in my ear she's a lion.

O Lord above, send down and love with wings as sharp as razors to take off.

With me newfound friends.

The big money spends just as fast as we can.

But when I make to clear the slate the landlord says keep drinking O Lord of send out a dove with wings as sharp as great as.

Maggie.

Oh Maggie, Maggie Bay, they're taking you away.

You're leaving Bristol for that distant shore.

I'm a broken hearted sailor cuz you got this foolish whaler and you'll never.

Walk at King street anymore.

That morning when I woke I was the lonely broke.

No shirt, no patch, no waistcoat could I find.

I remember where they be.

And she then replied to me they're down on market for shop number nine to old market we did go, I could not find my clothes.

So the constable he took that girl.

Away and the judge he killed the founder of the robin of a homeward bounder.

And from Bridewell he dispatched to Bombay bay.

O Maggie, Maggie Bay.

They're taking you away.

You're leaving crystal for a distant shore.

I'm a broken hearted savior.

And you'll.

Never open King's treasure.

Chanting for singing and your voice get the rafters a ringing.

You all know what to do.

Harmonize with your throne.

This is a shanty for singing.

There are hymns in the kirk.

There are shanties for work.

Songs from each rhyme and each reason.

There are love songs in trancing and.

Pop songs for dancing and carols when they are in season with the sun on your neck or green water on.

Deck there was always a job to be done.

But down in the pub with fine and good grub the singing is part of the fun.

This is a shanty for singing.

Drink up east side of Georgia.

Get me quite a star.

There's dung on your taters and halfway up your taters and a still more cider in the jar.

Drink up the cider, drink up the cider for tonight O merry day one knock the Milton's over and roll them in the clover for the corns Half cup and so be me.

Okay, so wandering around, of course we're bumping into some wonderful shanti singers.

And I've met a young man that I've interviewed actually a few times before because he's been one of our fans.

But he is now standing in front of me wearing what looks like a shanty outfit.

Introduce yourself and who do you now sing for?

So I'm Matt.

I now sing for the Rusty Tubbs.

Hey Matt, how you doing?

You good?

Yeah, very good, thank you so how long have you been with the Rusty Tubs this weekend?

This is your first one.

Oh, man.

I think Matt is one of the few people that is actually taller than me.

It's unbelievable.

So how did that come about?

How are you now with the Rusty Tubbs?

So I saw them over in Harwich and the Harwich Sea Shanty Festival.

And then saw them again in February in the Gloucester Folk Trail.

And then got talking and I joined the band.

Fantastic.

Well, there's probably not a shanty you don't know, so you can contribute.

The Rusty Tubs are very unique.

Are you managing with all the energetic songs that they sing?

I'm still getting used to the sheer energy that the band has.

I'll get there eventually, but it's unique and.

Yeah, not quite used to that.

I'm used to singing very quiet Ashantis in the corner.

It's very unique.

Very unique indeed.

Have you enjoyed the festival so far?

Oh, absolutely, it's been great.

It's my first time in this festival.

First time in the Freemasons Hall.

It's a lovely venue and it's.

Yeah, it's slightly strange to me being in a shanty fest indoors.

It is funny, isn't it?

And also you don't have to travel miles between gigs.

That's true.

Yeah.

It's maybe one minute at most.

No, it's phenomenal.

While you're at the bar getting another top up.

Anyway, it's been great talking to you.

It's great to see that you've evolved into Ashanti singing or singer with the Rusty Tubbs.

Are you on soon?

Yeah, we're on next.

Fantastic.

Well, get yourself ready and I'll talk to you later.

Brilliant.

Thank you.

All the way you're Rolling Kings Eagle way All the way all the way.

You'll hear me see we're bound for.

Sight all Australia When I walked up one morning Fair Eagle way All the.

Way then I met Ms. Nancy Blair.

We're bound to South Australia all the way Rolling Kings eat away all the way all the way you'll hear me.

Sing we're bound to South Australia.

So who are you and what are you doing at this festival?

We're Scrimshang Ashanti and we hail from Gosport and we're gospel Only to see Shanti Band.

Wow.

You've got a lot to live up to then.

We have and we filmed.

Myself and Phil here decided on forming the band in September last year.

So we're quite new.

Okay, well, welcome to.

Welcome, welcome, welcome all.

Do you Know what a skimshanker is?

I'm gonna sound.

I'm gonna say yes, but I'm just gonna say it for everyone else.

I bet everyone else doesn't know what a skimshanker is, so please explain that to me.

Old naval term for someone who's a shirker, a good for nothing.

Someone who's lazy.

Do anything to get out of doing any worse.

Does that best describe you?

Some of us.

Some of us.

Okay.

At least we got one of us.

What's been your favorite moment of like.

It's a long way.

It's doing this.

I mean we.

It goes back a little bit before September.

We did our first gig in September last year.

Mick came to me in the May of last year, so pretty much exactly a year ago to where we are.

And so he quite fancy putting a shanty crew together.

And we knew each other from open mics and basically we just asked.

Dozen.

People we knew from open mic mics if they fancy giving it a go.

Most of them said yes.

And we started rehearsing in July.

We just, you know, doing it as.

A hobby, as an activity because we're all of a certain age where we've got to fill the timing.

And then the pub where Rehearsed offered us a gig.

Yeah.

And it grew from there.

Then we saw the festival starting to be advertised over this year.

I knew about your crew, the Port of Shant, Port of Bristol and you from the podcast.

Yeah, thank you for listening to that.

Yeah, brilliant.

We got some earlier on.

We get so much material from it and how everything works.

And there was you guys, the Xma shanty there, the 85ers who looking forward to seeing tomorrow.

And you just kind of absorbed the rest of everything as we know what we chose to do with our set list.

And then more and more bookings came in.

Doc came back.

If you want to do the fest list, festival, come up and do it.

And here we are.

We did Cockwoods in March was our first one.

I do like it when you've got.

Like when people are asking you for festivals.

That's when you know you hit the jack.

Morning.

Take him, shake him, try and wake him Take him, shake him, try and wake him Take him, shake him, try and wake him early in the morning Way up she rises Way up she rises Way up she rises her lie in the morning Give him a promotion and call him Bo get him a promotion and call him Potion Give him a promotion and call him Bo in the morning.

Give him a dose of salt and water Give him a dose of salt and water Give him a dose of.

Salt and water in the morning way.

Hey up she rises Way up she rises Way up she rises her lie.

In the morning Swinging through the rigging.

Like a cur monkey Swing through the rigging like a curping monkey Swing through the rigging like a curping monkey her lie in the morning Way up she rides his way up she rides his way up she rides his her lie in the morning time to the mast and then ya flogging time to the must and then ya frogging time to the mast and then yeah frogging her.

Lie in the morning way hey up.

She writes it Way hey up she rushed.

Whilst walking around I've bumped into the man that we all know very well.

Kale Ale.

Dean.

How are you, buddy?

Hello, Justin.

I'm very good.

Unfortunately, I couldn't make it yesterday, so I've had to make up for it today by drinking the bar dry.

How many.

How many of you managed to sink so far?

I think this is number six.

Goodbye.

I've only got another like hour.

Yeah, I know.

You gotta catch up, buddy.

You're normally a ten pint man before you even start singing.

I know, right?

And I haven't even seen the poor bus shouting crew yet.

Oh, blimey.

There's been so many other good crews on.

It's so good, isn't it?

I'm sure I'll see you with the final shout.

Yeah, definitely.

Well, we're on next in number two, but you'll probably want to go and.

See Rusty terms, I'm afraid.

That's all right, buddy.

It's all right.

Your lineup's too good this year.

Oh, well, you know, they don't sing ship shaped Bristol fashion, though.

They don't?

No.

And a bit of an exclusive, guys.

We are singing ship shape and Bristol fashion in Falmouth and we're actually putting that onto the album.

Kayla has been very kind enough to allow us to use it.

So thank you, Kale.

Very well.

I think it's an honor that someone else is singing my song.

And please don't take this.

Please take this as a compliment.

I like that the melody changes from the original every time you sing it.

I know.

That's folk music.

That's how folklore.

We're excellent at that.

That's how folk music evolves.

And eventually I won't recognize the song.

Oh, I hope you will.

There's a funny story.

I was supporting Shawn Dagger.

Yes.

Recently.

Recently.

And someone said, how many originals are you doing And I said three.

I was like, oh, no, there's four.

I wrote Shipshape in Bristol fashion.

Yeah, that is yours.

I forgot that was mine.

Well, Kel, you better get in there too.

The rusty tops.

It's so good to see you, mate.

Thank you.

Have a good day.

Next hour,.

Sam.

Now you put my sweet.

I wish I was a sailor of all the men of war sand on the way up all the man of war I wish I was a sailor Aboard the man of war Sam's gone away up all the man of war Pretty work, brave boys Pretty work I say Saturn's gone away A bullet man aboard Pretty work, brave boys, Pretty work Un slain sound the manly summer sky the setting sun the cornframe steams on a Bristol run Brandy for the waiters Trade the sailors they have earned their pay all sail the Bristol town Load it down with brandy oh sail the Bristol town Load it down with brandy O With brandy O rolling all through 53 lanes falls the Hill of Ra.

Tom Lewis is here.

Tom Lewis is here, folks.

The shanty legend.

Actually, no shanty legend is being a bit too nice.

Shanty God, I would say Shanty God.

I knew the perfect way to kill your mountain man and if you pay attention to secret I will share to any C6A.

You get this advice for free if.

You feel a seasick sit underneath the tree I'm marching inland from the shore over my shoulder I'm carrying an oar when someone asks me what is that funny thing you got?

Then I know I'll never go to sea no more no more Then I know I'll never go to sea no more Columbus.

He sat down to find out if.

The world was round he kept on.

Sailing to the west until he arrived around but then he found the Indies but he found America.

I know some navigators and can still do that today I'm marching in.

Well, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

My name is Tom Lewis.

I was.

I was 24 years in the.

In the Royal Navy diesel submarines.

So don't get too close because I am a recovering submariner and.

But there, there, there were no actual shanties allowed to be sung on board of Royal Navy ships.

For a start,.

They encouraged disobedience and.

Mutiny and all sorts of scallywag stuff.

But also the Royal Navy had loads and loads of sailors who were available for hauling up the anchor or hoisting sailing when they weren't manning the guns.

They also had Royal Marines and they had bands on board, so they didn't actually have shanties, but this is a song, A Royal Navy sailor song come down for us.

So you'll all know this one, I.

Think,.

Without the drum, if you could, please.

Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies Farewell and adieu, good ladies and Spanish we received orders to sail home to England we hopes in a short while to see you again.

We'll rant and we'll roar like turbidish silence Ransom will roar all o' er the salt sea until we strike soundings in the channel of England from ocean to the silly is 35 we live in sunny Mexico Round the corner, sally round Cape Horn we're bound to go Round the corner, sally Round the corner Is a long, long way To Balapo and Caleb Bay Round the corner we must run we don't care if we never go home say, was you ever a Cape Horn?

Round the corner, sally where your ass is never warm Round the corner, Sally Round the corner Is a long, long way to Balupo and call it a bay Round the corner we must roam we don't care if we never go home when is the time I've sung this song?

When the wind's been blowing half a gale Hoisting up a yard or shaking out a reef A hauling of the sheet of a sail I've shipped on board Of a man of war in the merchant service too I fought for me king and me country While I sailed on the ocean blue Illy.

Allely.

Illy.

Alio.

Cheerily, boys, cheerily Bend your backs and give a pull.

Cheerily, I say, I say With a long pull and a strong pull we haul away together, boys.

Belay.

Every inch of that belay, boys.

Belay.

Don't fall on the ropes.

Don't climb up.

If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last Just get your civies ready for another run ashore.

A sailor ain't a sailor, Ain't a sailor anymore.

And here we are, our friends, Steve Olmes.

How are you?

I'm fine, thank you very much, Shoggy.

Have you been enjoying yourself?

Yeah, lovely, lovely.

Fantastic time as usual.

Good.

I'm really pleased that you're enjoying yourself.

Any.

Any particular highlights?

I really, really did enjoy the rusty tubs.

Hilarious.

And then rather really good as well.

But the biggest problem we've got at the moment is you run out of beer.

I know.

I cannot believe it.

I mean, it's a bit of awkward, really, but, I mean, last year we were literally giving it away because we had so much left over.

And this year we're nearly out.

I mean, and Also cider as well.

It's mad.

But that kind of just shows how popular it's been.

Yeah, it's been.

It must have been brilliant.

I wasn't here yesterday, unfortunately, but I understand you had over 600 people.

Oh, yeah, it's been phenomenal.

And that's just paying punters.

That wasn't just the crew.

The Crews were like 250 people.

Is mad.

Wow.

Massive.

So good.

So good.

And it's great to bring the shanty community together.

Yep.

We're very pleased to be here and we thank you very much for inviting us.

Hey, it's all good if our listeners want to meet Stuff Holmers again.

And when's your next gig?

Our next gig is on the 20th of May in the Falcon Ale.

And then I think we're in Leon Sea for their festival.

Oh, that'd be nice.

Weekend.

Oh, no, that's the next one actually.

Yeah, There for the Friday to Sunday.

Yeah, it's going to be good.

It's going to be good.

Well, I'll let you crack on because there's a change around very shortly, so we'll see you later.

Oh, yeah.

Is there a week?

See you later.

Take care.

Where is nishat?

You see the sleeves are worn out and the.

Western ocean.

So walking around, I've obviously found a young man who's enjoying his laughing.

Thank you.

Who is it who is enjoying, hopefully the.

The festival?

Indeed.

Tell us your name and what brings you here.

My name is Jeff.

I come here to hear the Chantilly.

Yeah, yeah, of course.

Any particular highlight?

I've seen you for both days.

So have you enjoyed.

Oh, no, I wasn't here yesterday.

Well, you've just got a familiar face and that's what it is.

We are Sunday.

But yeah, I like the 85.

I think they were called 85ers.

Yeah, really very good, I thought.

Yes.

Very polished.

Polished and nice harmonies.

And also the fact they.

They're all sort of lifeboat people.

I think it's nice to have a backstory, isn't it?

Yeah, but they were just.

They were just good.

They just did it really nicely.

Nice atmosphere.

And the ones who were on first, I can't remember the names.

They were good, maybe.

I think it was scrimmish anchors.

They were very good.

They're new Kids on the Block.

Yeah, they are.

They're really good.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Their sort of first 20 minutes was like classic, Absolute classic.

All the ones I know, basically.

Yeah, yeah, really good.

And then.

Are you Port of Bristol?

You were very good.

I thought you're Very good.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah, very good.

We didn't have to pay you as well, so that was great.

There was a nice bit of humor.

Oh, yeah, we like a bit of humor.

Not overdone.

No, that's good.

That's good.

Somebody else I saw, I won't name because I can't remember them, Marie.

They were.

They were kind of milking the humor.

A little bit too much.

But you did it just nice, I think.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Good day.

Good.

Good day.

Very good day.

A lovely building.

Oh, it's so lovely, isn't it?

Really nice.

And have you managed to see Tom Lewis at all at any point?

Was he the guy with the melode?

Yes, very good.

Yes.

I wasn't sure about him because solo shanty, but actually he won me over.

Well, he was.

He is probably the only living legend of the shanty world.

He's written a lot of the songs that we're singing today.

You're kidding.

Yeah.

Really?

He is like the Beyonce of the shanty world.

I know.

He said he was a.

He was.

It was a submariner for a long time.

Yeah.

Unbelievable.

Yeah.

Have a look at him online.

He's.

It is phenomenal.

Tom Lewis.

Tom Lewis.

Very good.

Yeah, no, he's a special guest, but lovely.

Well, we're about to go into the final shout into dining room one.

So it's coming to the end now.

Yeah.

So I'll let you go and find a good seat.

Just one little thing.

Oh, yes.

The beer was running out by the end.

Yeah.

A bit sad, that, wasn't it?

A little bit.

I was on the side, which I love.

But you would have preferred the beer.

It's.

It's a common thing with beer festivals.

Yes.

You get to the second day, it's running out.

Fair enough.

We'll have a chat with the organizers.

We'll have it much left at the end.

I hear you.

I hear you.

Well, we'll pass that on to the team anyway.

Thank you very much.

But give me wings with like Noah's go I'll fly up harbor to you the girl I love it's once more day on the grave on the light There was a time my heart was free A floating spar on the open sea but now that sparrow is washed.

Ashore it comes to rest at my.

Real love's door it's one more day on the grave of light Living in a submarine Hygiene is a joke.

You don't use shampoo and you don't use soap down by the bathroom.

Hear the tankies swear you better not waste any water in there.

On the surface, on the bottom or somewhere in between?

It really doesn't matter if you're dirty or you're clean Cousin able seaman chiefy.

The skipper or the queen Nobody showers in a sulfur.

That last bit was the chorus.

Give it a try.

On the surface, on the bottom or somewhere in between?

It really doesn't matter if you're dirty or you're clean?

Cause able seaman chippy the skipper or.

The queen Nobody showers in the summer Wood Bristol shanty crew are around.

Perhaps we could get them up here.

I'm about to attempt the.

What do they call it?

Yeah,.

The premier public exposure of a song.

And while they're getting up here, I'll.

Explain to you that it is a.

Song about jumping ship.

It's a song about desertion and it's a song about being lured to desert.

Now, when sailors jumped ship, they did not jump over the side of the ship into the water.

Believe me.

What they would do is they would respond to the blandishments of respond to the blandishments of crimp's runners and the.

Hello.

You know this indian didn't bring your drum.

And Stan Hugill in his book sailor town has a beautiful depiction of a sailor lowering himself down a rope into a waiting dinghy, which has a couple of very suspicious looking characters in it.

And the pen and ink drawing beautiful thing is entitled paying off on the jib down haul.

And paying off was when you're supposed to leave the ship and get paid.

These guys were not going to get paid.

There's a chorus.

I'm not to going to teach it to you.

You'll have to learn it as we go along.

These are obviously not sailors.

They're volunteering for things.

Come on.

Let me know when I start.

Come on.

K.

This gentleman is just joining us.

He's not pointing at me, is he?

Yes, he is.

This gentleman is just joining us is in fact a songwriter of note himself.

And you will have heard, you will.

Have heard at least some of his production because this is the man who wrote the song, shipshape and Bristol fashion.

So in this song, every so often you can sing payoff on the down hall or paying off on the downhaul, depending where you are in the song.

If you want a life of ease pay off on the down hall if you want to join the spree pay off on the down hole Gin and beer and decent grub A nice hot bath in a comfy tub Girls to give you back a scrub Pay off on the down hole Pay enough on the down hole Tis one of the rights of man Pay enough on the downhaul the shipping axe beaten damned.

Next time this tub leaves the pier that bucko mate won't find me here I'll be sure side drinking beer Pay.

Off on the down hole of rotten.

Meat I've had me fill Pay off.

On the down hole this lousy cook just feeds us swill Pay off on the down hole he bakes us bread.

That has no yeast Is for you.

Not fit for man nor beast When.

I'm assure I'll have a feast Pay.

Off on the lan the capstan See.

The cable run down clear heave away and with the willboys for our homeland we will steer.

And we'll see Sing.

In joyful chorus through the watches of the night and we'll sight our land before us when the great dawn brings the light.

Rolling home,.

Rolling home.

Rolling.

Home across the sea Rolling home to Nova Scotia Rolling home, dear land, to.

Thee.

High aloft, up in the rigging blows the loud exultant gale.

Like a.

Bird's wide outstretched pinion spreads on high each swelling sail and the wild wave cleft behind us Seem to murmur as they flow There are loving arms that wake you in the land to which you go.

Rolling home, Rolling home Rolling.

Home across the sea Rolling home to Nova Scotia Rolling home, dear Antony,.

Many.

Thousand miles behind us, Many thousand miles before ancient ocean heaves to waft us to that well remembered shore.

Cheer up, Jack.

Bright smiles await you from the fairest.

Of the fair and their loving arms will greet you with kind welcomes everywhere.

Rowing home, rolling home.

Rolling home across.

The sea.

Rolling home to Nova Scotia Rolling home, dear land, to me.

Rolling home, Rolling home across the sea Rolling home to this prison Rolling home,.

Dear land, to rain.

Thank you for having me.

This order was only given by the first mate once on a voyage, and that was just before the crew paid off and they had made the ship ready to just sit there at the dockside.

And he gave the order.

That'll do.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for your attendance today and for supporting this event.

And Tom, you've been an absolute legend.

We do have to clear out the building by 6pm Due to license restrictions and constraints by our dear city council.

I'm a master of timing.

Perfect.

So thank you so much for coming.

I hope you've all thoroughly enjoyed yourselves.

And as I say, we've been here to raise money for the Severn Area Rescue Authority.

The porters head lifeboat station and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

So thank you so much on behalf of those charities for your attendance and support today.

And Tom, thank you.

Ahoy, shipmates.

It's chilly here.

Stepping in to do the signal again as Ash is scraping his barnacles.

I think he told me.

So I've been press canding to do this, so let's tell you what we did.

So in May, on the 2nd, we went to the NEV, which is near Horfield.

Oh, near Horfield Prison, actually.

And what a lovely little venue.

Really friendly crowd, really got in behind us.

It was excellent.

And they do some fantastic food dishes in there as well, so keep an eye out if you want to visit there.

9Th and 10th of May, we had our own real L cider and shanty festival at park street.

And over the course of the weekend we had over 800 visitors to come along and listen.

Loads of shanty crews from all over the Southwest.

So we thank them.

They were excellent.

Lots of people really enjoyed it and we did as well.

So 16th of May, we did Madison's, which is a lovely little calf on the Westerly Road just up from the Garden Centers, near the Fish place.

What a little gem.

Absolute beauty.

Really friendly, great food, really good atmosphere with the crowd in there, despite the rain.

We.

We went inside and we absolutely blew it to pieces.

They loved it and it was so good.

We're going to go back again when they sort of ask us to, but they will do.

24Th of May, we did Snuffy Jacks on Fish in Fish Ponds Road, and we were there primarily to celebrate the 84th birthday of Henry Davis.

Who's Henry Davis?

I hear you say he was one of the original Wurzels.

And he came up and we sang him Happy Birthday, but he came up and assisted us singing Pill Pill.

And that was something special.

He loved it.

We loved it.

I think the crowd loved it.

And it's a really good micro brewery with some beers in there which will really rattle your sort of rattlers.

Fantastic.

And we just finished the 31st of the month, we did the Newport Shanty.

So we did our missionary work over there and sang at a couple of places.

Really good effort put on by the boys of Brynn.

And we will be back there next year and feel free if you.

If you want to visit sort of, and you miss ours, go to that.

It's very good.

It is in Newport and God bless it, they cancel the trains, but let's not argue about that one.

So what have we got coming up in June?

Well, June 6th, we're at the Thornbury State Sailing Club and that's a members only sort of gig there.

So apologies if you can't get into there or can't make it but that's going to be a good one.

And then 12th to 14th June, the Falmouth International Shanty Festival.

Now it's obviously in Falmouth.

That's where it gets his name.

If you've never been.

It is like the.

The main pinnacle of the shanty festivals all over the country, all over the world.

There are crews from everywhere and we're fortunate again to play the main stage.

So that's going to be a great one.

They have got a app so if you are thinking about coming down it's worth downloading it.

It's the.

The Falmouth International Shanty Festival app and you can break down.

Well, you only need one group to look for a support Bristol Shanty Crew clearly.

And it tell you where we're singing over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday and it'd be good to see you.

And on that Augie and Shanty Boy will be roaming reporters and recording.

So look them out.

Augie will see looks like a pasty with a Port Bristol shanty top on.

And Shanty Boy will always be in his red top and his.

His Cornish tartan yellow and black hat.

So look them out and give them a little interview.

So we'll find out a little bit about you while you're there.

We did a lot of the different crews from around the world last time and it's.

It really is tells you a lot about what happens in the shanty world everywhere.

So we'll be recording for our podcast and don't forget if you want to come down and you want some of our merchandise.

Oh yes, we do.

T shirts and everything.

You look the racing Hound.

You really will.

We do.

You look really nice and they're really good quality.

Look on our website Port Bristol Shanty Crew and you can find it on there.

We had quite a few people last year wearing them.

It was really good to see.

Makes you feel homely.

20Th of June, we're at the West Pennart Village Hall.

That's by request and that's going to be really interesting.

A really nice gig.

We've done quite a lot around there supporting different charities and things.

So we're going to look for that.

And on the 24 for the month.

Month is another private event.

The feast of St. John with the menu apparently is from 1750.

That's not five or ten minutes to six.

It's from the year 1750.

So there's some bizarre things, nettle in something, soup.

So that might be a sting in the towel, but we'll find out about that one.

So hope you have a great summer.

Come and see us in Falmouth and we will look forward to seeing you.

We're ready for some entertainment.

Don't forget our website, don't forget our Facebook.

Join us on there and you'll keep up to date with what we're up to.

Have a great summer if we don't see you, but hopefully we will.

Cheers all signing off.

So that's it for another episode of Shipshape and Bristol Fashion.

Thank you for listening.

I hope you enjoyed the content.

A huge thank you to everyone that was involved in putting together the Real Ale and sea Shanty Festival 2026.

A mixture of people from park street, the Freemasons, the crews that came along, all the volunteers that made it happen.

It was phenomenal and a really, again, a great success.

Next month you'll be hearing our highlights of the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival.

If if you are around and you spot me, please do come over and say hello.

It will be great to have a conversation with you and maybe you will even feature on this podcast.

So fair winds and following seas and.

Take care shape and wristel fashion boys along the harbor side from even gorge to underfour we'll even haul the line Secure the barrels down below Bind them tie and shum this first she is certified shipshape and Bristol fashion so haul away me laddie boys Haul away you're free.

Haul away me laddie boys and save.

A drink for me.

Haul away me laddie boys Haul away your free Haul away me laddie boys and save a Dr.