Real Ale and Shanty Festival 2024

Hi, it's Ash.

You're listening to Shipshape and Bristol Fashion.

Shipshape bristle fashion noise along the harder side from evil gorge to wonderful heaven all the line Secure the barrels down below Find the tie and mash em this vessel, she is certified shipshape from Bristol Fashion.

Ahoy there and welcome to Shipshape and Bristol Fashion, a podcast dedicated to the work of the Port of Bristol Shanty Crew.

I'm Justin and I'm your host.

And thank you so much for tuning in and listening to what the crew have been up to this month.

This is episode five.

So if you're new to this podcast, then please do look back on our back catalog.

There is many different episodes available for you to listen to, but on this particular episode we're going to highlight the wonderful audio that was captured from the Real Ale and Shanti Festival that happened on the 11th and 12th, 12th of May.

And I've got a great big dollop of audio for you guys to listen to.

But before that, we'll pop down to the signaller and catch up with all the latest news from the Port of Bristol Shanty Cru.

Well, there has been so much going on in the last month that it's been so difficult to jam pack all of this into here, but I'll do my best.

Well, first and foremost, a massive thank you to you.

The listeners we have at this point in recording have four episodes live and over the last week we have managed to reach over a thousand downloads of this podcast.

So thank you.

It clearly is worthwhile producing this material because you are listening.

So a massive thank you.

And of course it coincides with an incredible anniversary because the Port of Bristol Shanty Crew are celebrating their second year in existence.

What a wonderful journey it has been so far.

And as you guys are already aware that £1,000 that they wanted to raise for the Teenage Cancer Trust is now so close to £30,000.

A wonderful, wonderful achievement that the crew has achieved and an appeal to you guys.

If you're thinking now I'd like to donate for this incredible cause, then please do pop over to our website or go into the show notes of this podcast and you will be able to click the link and donate as much as you possibly can.

So the website you're aiming for is pobshantycrew.co.uk During May, there has been many birthdays celebrated on Facebook.

As part of our Facebook fans.

Thank you for clicking that.

Like I can't mention you all.

There's been loads of birthdays in May.

But there is three particular that I'd like to mention.

First and foremost, two of our wives that are part of the crew, Theresa Dye and Katrina Hayes.

You've had a birthday this month, so a massive happy birthday and of course all the support that you give the crewmates by being on the sidelines and helping.

And of course a big happy birthday to Eddie Hayes who is who has been celebrating his 21st birthday.

He, like many of us, are behind the scenes helping out and encouraging everyone moving forward.

So a massive happy birthday to those three as well as the rest of you that have enjoyed a birthday this month.

The crew has been very busy since the last episode.

Of course, as we know, this episode is going to feature the audio from the Real Ale and Shanty Festival that was held at Freemasons hall in Bristol on the 11th and 12th of May.

But since then they've been in Portishead as part of a shanty festival.

They have been at a dragon boat race at the Boathouse in Bath, They've been to the Royal Bath and West show at Shepton Mallet and they popped over in the last few days to Barry island to take part in the Barry Island Festival of the Sea.

So as you can imagine, these chaps are absolutely busy and really do deserve a break at some point.

But don't you worry, they ain't having a break yet because June is equally as busy.

If you are looking to see them and support them, then please do pop over to our Facebook page or our website where you'll see a kind of a listing of all the things that are planned over June and into July.

Their next big event will be at the Falmouth International Sea shanty festival on the 14th and 16th of June.

But there's a few other little ones between now and then.

So like I said, pop over to our website or Facebook and find out more.

So next up is the audio that I've managed to capture from the Real Ale and Shanty Festival that happened in Bristol at the beginning of May.

It's an incredibly long podcast, I do warn you, it's about an hour long, so you might want to listen to this in bite sized channel chunks.

So here I am here in Freemasons hall in Bristol.

We're here for the Real Ale and Shanty Festival.

Really looking forward to this day.

I'm here recording on Saturday.

I'm going to be a roving reporter to try and catch up with many of the shanty crews that are here.

I'm hoping to pop into the Port of Bristol Shanty Crew.

This should be here somewhere, so I'm going to wander around and record some stuff for you.

But we are the Port of Bristol Shanty Crew and it is delighted to welcome all of you to Freemasons all in Bristol.

Our beautiful grade two listed frontage.

Everything that you see once you come in through the front door isn't grade two listed.

It was all built in the 1950s thanks to a visit by the German air Force in 1940.

But nevertheless, we are very, very proud of our beautiful building and we welcome you to it heartily.

And the most important thing is that we're all here today to raise money for a number of important charities for the teenage cancer TR which do a fantastic job in supporting young people who have cancer diagnosis.

They're not just those young people, their families and the sort of, you know, the wider family units around them to support those people who are affected and afflicted by a significant serious diagnosis.

But also to the rnni, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and our nearest, nearest based in Portishead.

Sadly, the 85ers, who the RNLI shanty crew based down there couldn't join us today, but they do a fabulous job raising money for the Portishead large boat crew that come all the way up the River Avon to the suspension bridge to, to save the lives of people.

Our third charity that we're supporting is the seven Estuary Rescue Association.

So they, they take responsibility for saving people who are, who are caught in difficulty in the rivers north of the seventh bridge because that's where they are in the line.

Stop.

And then finally to support the Friends of Freemasons Hall.

So this building, as I say, is a great two listed building.

It's in charitable trust to keep it in the condition that it needs to be kept in to the wider community in Bristol.

And we have some serious issues with the roof so we're raising money equally to support the restoration of the building here.

So those are the four charities that are supporting today.

As I say, we are the Ports Bristol Shanty Crew.

Over to our master and commander.

Reverende, the floor is yours.

Okay, ladies and gentlemen, we are indeed the Port of Bristol Shanty Crew.

Our motto is this simple motto, the triumph of enthusiasm over talent.

And we are going to kick off with my dear little friend here, Ian Nobby Die, who's going to start us off, while I'm sure a lot of you know, please join in.

Santiano.

Oh, Santiano.

On the day religion and General Taylor ran away from the plains of Mexico and it's her up and away we'll go your way Santiana Hera by the way, we'll go all on the days of Mexico.

So, of course, it isn't all just about shanti singing.

Of course, it is a real annual festival as well.

And I'm here at a wonderful kind of bar with some amazing beers.

Who am I talking to?

Sam Gregory from the Lodge of Unity.

Ah, hello, Sam.

How are you doing, buddy?

You all right?

Yeah, good, good, good.

So tell us all about what you got here.

That looks amazing.

So we've got 20 real ales on, all from across Bristol.

We've got a couple from South Wales.

Nice.

We've got everything from.

We've got some mild on a cheeky 3.4 and we've got some nice session hours at 3.8.

Some really good best bitters right the way up to a breakfast out at 5.4.

Nice.

Excellent.

I can't to taste for some later, but if I drink a few, I won't actually be able to talk on here.

We've also.

We've also got six guest ciders on.

Okay.

One of them has been donated by the PGM himself.

Oh, nice.

They're from his own orchard.

He's scratted them, he's pressed them.

We're calling it the Provincial Tigla.

I think he'd prefer it to call it something else, but we didn't know the name before we went to print.

Oh, I don't mind.

Hey, it's printed now.

It's printed now.

It's really early.

It's Saturday.

How is it all going?

Are you getting a bit of a.

Now the day's picked on, it's getting a nice buzz to it.

People are milling around, lots of people engaging with the be.

They're eating the food and listening to the shanty.

So, yeah, it's going well.

Definitely.

Well, thank you very much for your time, buddy.

Great, cheers.

Take care.

We are the hay shanty men from the east coast of Wales.

Thanks for coming.

Please stay.

You shanty man Lick new fittings are neat and tight Alleyway.

Get away, you shanty man all very clever but it just ain't right and away.

Get away, you shanty man Shanty man oh, shanty man who's got a word for a shanty man?

Sing you a song of a world gone wrong when you got no use for a shanty man Use to pull and buns to press and away and away, you shanty man and real life sailors, they need them less get away, you shanty man Pushing on Butters and hauling on levers and away get away, you shanty man Ain't got no use for Homie man in heaven get away, get away, you shanty man Shanty man oh, shanty man who's got a vote for a shanty man?

Sing you a song of a world gone wrong when you got no use for a shanty man soon they'll be standing by remote control.

Get away, get away, you shanty man that will be police.

So just caught up with another one of the shanty crews that have just come off the stage.

Introduce yourself.

Who are you?

I'm Grant.

I'm with the.

Hey, Shanty men.

Hey, how did it go for you?

It was good.

It was lovely to play to this crowd.

A group of people who are really interested in shanties and ale.

Yeah, it's a good combination.

And you're in dining room one, and that's got a big space and there are so many people in there singing along with you.

It's great.

Yeah, it's lovely when they.

It's lovely when they sing along, as they say.

You know, thing with the shanties, if you've heard one, you've heard them both.

Yeah.

You clearly aren't a small group.

There was a lot of you there.

How many were there?

That's the full.

That's pretty much the full complement.

There's one missing.

So I think in total we're 18.

Wow, that must be really challenging for rehearsals and getting you all in the same space at the same time.

We're rehearsing a fantastic Nissan Hut just up on the.

On the moor near.

Near Hay.

On Wye.

Okay.

And it's a.

It's a great big.

Very evocative, lovely space, actually.

So we meet there every.

Every week.

Yes.

And it fits us all in nicely.

Oh, you sounded fantastic.

It's really good.

Are you Peter?

Yeah.

We're back up at 6:15.

Fantastic.

Well, thank you very much.

You take care.

Thank you.

Cheers.

Goes away all the way Go away all the way Together away all the way Will all the way Go away all the way Will all the land Together away all the way with all the angels.

Are you used to her?

Right, okay.

So I'm in the dining room now where there is some great food and I believe I've managed to find a shanty crew.

They're having a bit of a break and they're having their food and they're having their beers and I found this chap is willing to talk to me, so that's great.

Introduce yourself, sir.

Who Are you?

And who do you sing for?

The name of the group is Boy Single.

Bryn.

We're a Welsh group and my name is Peter Cox.

Peter, nice to meet you.

I'm Justin.

How has it been so far?

Well, it's not bad.

We had an interesting journey over in a bus that nearly broke down.

But apart from that, they put some beer on here, which has helped the.

Calm the nerves.

Absolutely.

There's some great beers out there, isn't there?

I'm a lager drink man, but there you are, one of those.

But yeah, they have got a good, good selection and a bit of cider as well.

So maybe, maybe that's Be my.

That's been my tipple.

And there is a bar downstairs, so if you want a bit.

I will find that in a moment.

But yeah, no, we.

We've had.

We're having a good.

We've done our first set now.

Receptive audience and the guys sang well, so we're really enjoying it.

It's a fantastic venue.

Yeah, it's really good here, isn't it?

It's very mystical, isn't it?

Yeah.

And it's very nice indeed.

So tell us a little bit about your shanty crew.

Okay.

Boys and Brin, based in Kumran or started in Kumran, Boise.

Brin stands for Boys of the Mount or the Hill.

Okay.

The reason it's the Mount is that there was a local pub that the partner with Melboy Squire used to go and drink in and sing afterwards.

And that's how the group started.

Ah, nice.

And it's grown.

We have had a few.

Quite a few members change.

So we've got some new guys in.

Yeah.

But no, we.

We have found our love of singing shanties and having fun and having a beer more than the historic male voice choir stuff.

Yeah, good.

I think that's the great thing about Shanti singing, isn't it?

Is that you can belt out as much as you like.

You're all joining in together and there's the kind of fellowship and the beer drinking.

It's just great.

Yeah.

And it's not so formal and it's not so you've got to sing those right notes in the right order.

If you make a mistake, you make a mistake.

It doesn't matter.

You get on with it.

Absolutely.

And I think the crowd appreciate that too, don't they?

Too right.

Too right.

Too right.

It's good.

It's good.

And in your day job or your.

In your life, what do you do outside of singing?

Chanting?

I don't Know what I can tell you?

Oh, okay.

I.

I sell industrial extraction systems for Dust and Fume.

Okay.

That's exciting for a Swedish company.

It gets much more exciting when you go into the delves of either things like prisons and stuff like that.

So, yeah, it's good fun.

Do you find yourself singing the tunes while you're out working?

You play them in the car.

Oh, nice.

Because if you're bored with the radio that's on or you don't listen to a chat show, you put some shandies on and sing along.

Nice, nice.

Great work.

Well, that's really good.

What I heard.

You heard before when you.

When are you next up for 5:15?

5:15.

Excellent.

But I'll try and capture more to you from then.

Lovely.

Look forward to.

Take care.

Thank you all.

Thank you for.

It's better weather here than it is on top With a big bow wow Holy rolly Rich poor sailors all on the deck With a blasted rain A tricking down our hands Not a drop of rock With Peter was aboard but he d our eyes at every other way With a big bow wow Bow wow Holy roll we ride away well, there's one thing that we have to bring that our captain meets with a watery brain and we'll fix him down into some dark hole where the structure of his belly and the devil of his soul With a big bow wow to.

Great.

On the passage from the do back to.

So, like I said, there's loads of shanty crews here and I've just bumped into another one that's fresh off the stage.

Introduce yourself.

Who are you?

So, hello.

So my name's Chris and I'm one of the four people who sing with the Severin Whalers.

Severin Whalers.

That's right.

That's important to get that right.

It is because there's seven of you here, isn't it?

It is.

No, no.

We all come from Wales.

We all come from little villages along the banks of the River Severn.

Okay.

And we've probably been singing together, well, properly the four of.

Since 2019.

We went to Perranporth and just loved it.

Just absolutely love how supportive and how friendly.

The shanty scene is so good, isn't it?

So good.

And you sounded fantastic.

So well done.

Well, that's.

That's very kind of you.

At least people didn't learn walkouts, so that's always a plus.

Although I did see one man fall asleep.

But we just sing a bit louder.

That's probably the ale more than anything.

Ah, the true good point.

Exactly.

And.

And clearly very versatile, because I heard right at the beginning there was only two of you because they were still trying to get here through the traffic.

Well, you know, we love Bristol.

I'm a Bristolian myself.

But the one thing you can guarantee is that it's quicker to walk in Bristol than it is to drive in a car.

Bless him.

Bless the mayor, who shall remain nameless.

Yes, of course.

Of course.

We don't want to get into politics.

So how many are there in you of the crew?

Yeah.

So there are the four of us.

Yes.

Like a lot of groups, you know, we started off, we were challenged back in 2017 by a friend from Cornwall to come and sing Ashanti.

And 10 of us stood on the stage very nervously, sang South Australia and thought, oh, this will be one no one's ever heard before, of course.

And, you know, fortunately, seven years on, we've sort of got a bit more of an idea now, we'd like to think.

And after you've done it for a while, you sort of think, well, there should be a shanty about this and a shanty about that.

So we've written a couple of our own chances and we like to perform those, especially in Bristol, in our hometown.

Excellent.

Well, thank you very much for talking to us.

It's been great talking to you.

And you're back on later.

Yep, we're on later for a second time.

So we've just had a fantastic time already here, and it's great to be here again.

Hometown.

Nice.

Go and enjoy some ales and some food.

Thank you very much.

Take care.

Thank you.

Cheers.

Keep your hands upon your wings and your eyes.

So I'm with High and Dry.

They've just finished the set.

How's it going for you?

Oh, it's brilliant.

We.

We love it.

We love it every time, actually.

You know, the nice thing about shanty audiences is they know a few of the songs, they get involved.

It's always a lovely reception.

So we love it.

Tell us a little bit about your shanty crew.

So we actually funn enough.

We were in Port Isaac last week, week before, obviously.

Home of the Fisherman's Friends, of course.

And they were a group that we heard way back in the day, probably about 12 years ago when they first started kicking off.

And we thought, well, we could sing a few of those.

So we sang a couple just for our own Entertainment.

And then 10 years later, 12 years later, we're loving this.

So, yeah, that's how we started.

Well, you sounded solid.

It was really good, really nice, indeed.

Are you back on later?

Yeah, 7:00.

7:00.

Well, fantastic.

Well, I'll go and leave you drink some ale.

Hopefully I'll still be standing at 7:00 because this is also a beer festival.

Of course, you've got to enjoy that.

Is there a particular rule in your shanty crew of how many beers you're allowed to have?

No, but we do.

We do have a saying which is the only person who thinks you sing better after a couple of beers is you.

Yeah.

Oh, bless you.

Well, thank you very much.

You take care.

Thank you.

Okay, so I'm sitting in the bar and I've managed to catch up with a couple of guys and girls that are here who are hopefully enjoying the Shanta festival and the real old festival.

Yeah, yeah.

What brings you here?

Got a friend who's upstairs at the moment and he brings us towards the shanty festival.

Yeah, you're like a roadie.

Yeah.

So it was all like, come on.

But we really enjoy it.

Yeah, yeah.

That's really good.

Do you sing at all?

I think there's a few like John Konakanaka.

I know the lyrics to every now and then.

Yeah.

So I.

Yeah, there's many versions upstairs.

The more times we come, the more I kind of slightly start remembering the lyrics.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely.

It's six, doesn't it?

I guess that's the beauty of shanti, isn't it?

You kind of get that rhythm and have you been enjoying the ale so far?

Yeah.

I mean, right now, drink is San Miguel, so I feel a bit guilty.

That's right.

Don't worry, you're in the bar.

There's plenty of other drinks here, isn't there?

Yeah, this is the one I really enjoyed the Honey Bear, the Honey Beer, but I can't remember the name of it.

Be the Bee's Knees.

Bee knees.

Nice play on words.

Very nice.

Are you enjoying yourself yourself?

Yeah, I'm working through the ciders because I'm a cider girl.

Nice.

So there's six tokens and there are six ciders.

Perfect.

And have you tried the kind of.

The kind of scrumpy style one that's.

I think I'm on Scrumptious coffee at the moment.

Yeah, it's quite.

Yeah, yeah.

Cool.

Good.

Oh, good indeed.

I know you were a big fan of shooting or you like a roadie as well.

Yeah, yeah.

Roadie newbie.

Nice.

I get, as Robert said.

Yeah.

It was two years ago, went to the Bristol Harbour Shanty Festival for the first time and then we started going every year since then, so we went last year and we'll be going again this year, and it's our first time at this one.

Nice.

Have you been to this building before?

No.

No.

Think of it.

It's quite impressive, isn't it?

Yeah.

Yeah, it's very.

If you're.

If you.

Bristol base, you kind of never know it's here.

You walk past it literally all the time at park street, and then suddenly you're in here now and it's.

It's like a rabbit warren of.

Of rooms, isn't it?

Yeah.

Excellent.

I love the blues as well, especially upstairs, like the really nice teal and blue.

They certainly look after the place, don't they?

Yeah.

Well, thank you for your time, guys.

Thank you very much.

Talk soon.

Cheers.

That's frigate in bang from swindon.

Thank you.

Sh.

Skipper.

So frigate has just finished.

They sounded amazing.

I'm with them now.

How are you doing, gentlemen?

We're well, thank you.

Well, thank you.

Yeah, we all good.

How did it go?

Was it all right?

We were happy.

We enjoyed ourselves.

We.

Well, we wouldn't do it.

We wouldn't do it if we didn't enjoy it.

Exactly.

Exactly.

Seemed to seem to go all right.

People were sort of joining in a few of the choruses and stuff like that.

Yeah.

And you're one of the Santa Cruz.

One of the few Santa Cruz, actually, that you've got musical instruments with you.

A lot of people are just using their voices, but you've got unique instruments which sound great.

We like to think of ourselves as a little bit shanty and a little bit rocky and roll.

Yeah, definitely.

And there was some.

Some groovy moves as well going on, I could see.

Not for the listeners.

They can't see it, but, you know, really good.

So tell us a little bit about you guys.

What?

How did you come about how long you've been singing together?

Oh, well, we've been together as a trio now for what, about 11.

11 years.

11 years.

But frigate as a notion goes back a long time.

Before that.

Yeah.

When it's got.

Old friend of mine thought it was a good idea to form a shanty queen landlock swindon before it happened.

He not only moved away, but he'd moved on to pastures new as it was.

Okay.

Yes.

And anyway, it happened one day and we.

We got a bunch of us together and did a little gig at swindon folk club.

Nice.

And.

And then ted and myself decided we'd like to carry on.

And we've had various people.

People come and go since Then.

But as I say, we've been with alan now for 11 years and since we've been without, Alan's been with us.

It sort of seems to adj nicely.

Yeah, it's good.

You're a unique sound, I think, which is great to hear, isn't it?

Very new, very different, very refreshing.

Great.

Fantastic.

Well, thank you, chaps.

We'll go and enjoy the rest of the.

The event.

Are you back on later on?

Yes, we are.

What time we on later on?

7 o'clock.

So going down a few beers, have a bit of food and go and enjoy.

Unfortunately, I'm the designated driver.

Are you okay?

Well, there's a bar downstairs where they've got soft drinks as well, but.

Excellent.

Okay, thanks, guys.

Take care.

Thank you.

One sailing, one song kind the captain who was a jolly dog Served out to all the company a double whack of rob Then next day he got tipsy all to his heart's content and he did have seas over boys Ride over board he went Ride over bo he went right over boy and sing it.

You're good.

So I'm with another Shi Santi crew.

Introduce yourself.

Who are you?

I'm Neil.

I'm Tom.

I'm Paul.

I'm Marie.

And we're the lower deckers.

And you're the lower deckers.

Fantastic.

You've had a really good time in there.

You sounded amazing.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Where have you come from?

How long have you been singing together?

We've been singing together as a group now for about five years, but we're all in a choir in Hereford and one of our guys who's not here today, ken, had a 70th birthday party and he wanted some sea shanties.

So we sang a sea shanty and we've just carried on from there.

So.

Nice.

Well, you sounded great.

Really good indeed.

And ultimately you're here as part of the Real Ale Enchanti Groove.

You enjoyed yourself.

Great time.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Been making most of the ales venue.

These two are.

I'm making a list of Steve.

How many tokens have you got between you guys?

Too many.

Too many.

14 each.

So that's seven pints we worked out.

We're halfway through and there's plenty of beers here.

Dare I ask, are you coming back again to do another set later?

We are.

Okay.

I'm going to talk to the people that aren't drinking.

How do you feel about that?

Because they clearly are enjoying it so far.

Yeah.

Well, we're going to have another pie in the dining room, because it's fantastic.

Yeah.

Some good food, isn't it?

Really good pies.

And if my listeners wanted to hear or find out more about you guys, you have a website.

If you have any social media, do a Facebook page.

Facebook.

Lower Decker Shanty Group.

Nice.

Fantastic.

And on YouTube.

Look at that.

You're everywhere.

This is great.

Can't get away from us.

Lots of festivals this summer as well.

Lots of festivals over this next few months.

Yeah.

So, yeah, we're all.

We're everywhere.

Falmouth and then me.

Everyone migrates down to Cornwall to enjoy themselves.

But this year we're going to go to Barry Island.

Yes, the inaugural Barry Island Shanty Festival.

Yeah.

And I think the Port of Bristol Shanty Crew are going to be there.

They are, yeah.

We had a chat with them about that.

Yeah.

And Boys of Brin are the guys who are organizing all.

They're putting in all the hard work, so look forward to.

Fantastic.

Yeah, thanks for your time, guys.

Take care.

Talk soon.

Bye.

Bye.

All afternoon to chat and gossip.

While everybody else has been on.

We got our youngest group singing here this weekend.

Merchant man corned up down in the Langport area about five, six years ago.

Been singing semi consistently ever since because a few of them are vibrating a bit from like Banor.

There's still a.

There's still a resident there, but gone off to places like Oxford and Cambridge.

What was the other place?

Was it net?

Almost.

Ladies and gentlemen, Merchant man for seven long years, of course.

In this alleyway hey bully me Aliyon ji was a dilly and a dali Bully alley shimbo now so help me baba he bullying me ali way hey bully in the alley Holy ball I'm bullying the alley Bully alley Jimbo now I'll leave salon outcome to sail away hey bow in the alley I'll leave salon ship away the bully Allen Chimbo now so help me bow I'm bullying the alleyway hey bully in the alley we are bullying the alley Bully and Chimbo now well I'll come back and I'll marry Sally way hey bully in the alley we'll have six kids and live on Chimbon Alley Bully now in Jimbo now so help me Bob I'm bullying the alleyway hey bully in the alley Help me Bob I'm bully in the alley I see a rector in without a multi ship to me Sailing down along on the coast of high barbarian Hurry got some ladders to be carried home by Going sailing down along the coast of High Marina well merchantmen well done you Managed to pack out dining room three.

How was that for you?

Yeah, it was amazing.

Fun.

It's a really, really good atmosphere.

It's great to have so many people come along to hear some shanties join in, get singing.

It's kind of what it's all about.

So.

Yeah.

And officially, I mean, you've been kind of nominated as the youngest shanty crew that are here.

I think that might be true for today.

I don't know how true that is in the southwest or in the country.

We'll see.

We might have to put in for the Guinness World.

Guinness, Yeah.

I mean, I'll take it.

We should have thought about that earlier, you know, when we were younger.

But no, I think it's wonderful to see.

So I think what's good about these songs is that you'll hear a lot of the same songs, but they're so different.

Yeah, they are.

And each one tells a slightly different story.

Story in that.

In that vein.

And I think, you know, when, when we first started, I don't think we realized how welcoming every group is.

You know, it really feels like you'll see groups from like you've met at gigs previously at new ones, and it'll be as if you've seen a lost, long lost friend, like, oh, you're here.

What time are you on?

We'll come over.

Community is amazing.

Oh, it's incredible.

It's like one massive family.

It's so lovely and it really, so nice.

Really good.

So I'm guessing you've enjoyed yourself so far and I'm guessing you're going to enjoy some more beers.

Oh, gosh, the free beer is the best part.

Yeah, exactly.

Right.

We need to get out of here.

Thank you.

Cheers.

So I've just found some more people who are enjoying the shanty music.

Introduce yourself, guys.

We're Mark and Carol.

We live in Kingswood.

Nice.

Fantastic.

What brings you here, Mark and Carol?

We like beer festivals.

Nice.

The sea shanty thing was a bit of a, you know, dental extra, but we are really enjoying it.

So.

Came across the event just by.

By chance, really, didn't you?

And we thought, well, we'll go along.

Yeah, that's good, isn't it?

Really good.

Yeah.

Mainly for the beer.

But we are enjoying the sea shanties, so it's actually a much bigger bonus than we were expecting.

It's.

Yeah.

Adds a.

Adds a bit of something, you know, a beer festival.

We've done hundreds of those.

Yeah, I can imagine this with the.

The live entertainment as well is.

Yeah.

And so as you clearly both seasoned beer drinkers.

What's.

What's the verdict?

You've tried a few already.

I can see these amazing glasses that they get given when you come in here.

What's your verdict so far?

Very good.

Very good.

Good choice.

Good.

Yeah.

Mark's.

Mark can't eat gluten, so he's asked them which ones are gluten free and they've looked them up on the website for you, haven't they?

So you know which ones you can drink.

Yeah, very helpful.

Yeah, be very helpful.

And what a great venue.

Have you ever been here before?

No, I don't think so.

Not because we have, but I don't think we are.

It's one of those buildings, isn't it, that just sits there unassuming.

You never know it's there.

My understanding is this building's been around for a very long time and what a great venue for beer and singing.

Yeah.

Although this is basically a dining room, the acoustics are great.

It really suits what's happening here today.

Really good.

Well, excellent.

Well, thanks for talking to me and continue to enjoy.

Take care.

So as I'm walking around the corridors, I've managed to bump into three of the crew from the Port of Bristol Shanty crew.

How you doing, chaps?

Yes, well, very superb day as well.

Are you well oiled yet?

We're two and a half of say today.

Two and a half.

Just about recovered from.

Just about recovered from the pirate festival at Brixham last week.

Saw those pictures, they looked fantastic.

We.

So what was his name with the tentacles coming out of his face?

Octopus Man.

Octopus man, yes.

Superb.

Thousands.

About 35,000 people apparently.

That's phenomenal.

Yes.

We're not overdoing it on the liquid today.

We've had lots of water.

Good.

It's a two point rule, but I think some may have be breaking that.

It's too quite an hour.

See Doc with a point in his hand.

Yeah.

I did speak to Doc earlier and because he is a doc, he said that the two pine rule don't apply.

He's already said that.

But I did then tell him he's drinking and driving.

Yeah, but he would be on his little scooter thing.

Yeah.

For the list the Doc is going around cuz he's got a bit of a peg leg at the minute and he's got a little mobility scooter.

I'm probably not allowed to call him that, but you've seen his hat as well, covered in Tardises.

Yeah.

Because it's Doctor who.

Day.

Oh, yes.

Today the dog is obsessed with the Doctor who, isn't he?

He stayed up until one minute past midnight last night to actually watch it on iplayer because he's going to actually miss the showing on BBC.

Oh, my.

What is he like?

What is he like?

Well, we'll have to talk more later.

So you guys opened up the.

It's all good back on this evening, aren't you?

Yeah, 9:30.

9:15.

9:15.

We're back on.

Long wait, isn't it?

So what are you doing in between ferrying people around?

Yeah, talking to people, you know, supporting the other groups, which.

Excellent.

It's great to have such a well supported event with so many groups from around the southwest South Wales.

And Hay and on.

Why, it's amazing.

We've got some chaps on Wales.

I know they've got some hay on Wye.

Did you set the passports when they come through the door?

Yeah, I should have done that.

This check is.

But I'm on missionary work.

Yeah, I know.

Who's next up exactly?

There's two.

Two of them are stuck in the traffic.

I think it's the Saracens Bears rugby matches causing a few traffic issues.

What do you think?

Saracens or Bears this afternoon?

My heart sounds says Bears.

Nice.

My head is sinking Difficult shape, very difficult show.

But hey, we'll see.

Hopefully they'll get here and it'll all be good.

Right, I'll let you guys to it.

I'm a rowdy soul I'm a rowdy soul Care whether I work or not I'm a rowdy soul I'm a rowdy soul Care whether I work or not I stole the captain's coat Hanging up on the wall I stole the captain's coat and I wore it to the fellow catskull I'm a rowdy solar Rowdy solar yeah Whether I or I'm a rowdy soul I'm a rowdy soul I don't care whether I want or not Next time I build my house Build that chimney higher dawn and swarming Valkyr put me out of my fire I'm a rowdy soul I'm a rowdy soul Whether I look or not I'm a rowdy soul I'm a rowdy soul whether I look or not Next time I'm in my book I'm gonna lock the door first mates doing his rounds there's shit all over the floor I'm a rowdy soul I'm a rowdy soul yeah Whether I work or not I'm A rowdy soul I'm a rowdy soul yeah Whether I work or not Pass that jerk around here, sir, I'll tell you a story.

Come on.

Dixon Claws of attraction by the ridden, mean and hoary I'm a rowdy soul I'm a rowdy soul Care whether I want or not I'm a rodd rowdy soul I'm a rowdy song Come on, let's hear it out.

I don't care whether I work or not oh, join me, boy this mother cried that she violates me amani's pride Them stumps on the tree wouldn't ever I'll get right away from the big papa and now I'll cross the raging vein Turn up olive on a pad and the queen of spray today well.

Wow.

That was fantastic.

Rossi dump.

That was fantastic.

Thank you very much.

Well done.

Thank you.

So tell us a little bit about your she santi cruise.

Well, it's a group that's been running for about five years or so before lockdown.

Yeah.

And, yeah, it was a group of friends who sort of knew each other from swindon and.

Yeah.

Fell in love with sea shanties.

And then a few of us guys, Nick, myself, Mark joined a little bit better.

And, yeah, we've just gone from strength to strength.

Enjoying.

Yeah.

The whole shenta scene.

So.

Yeah, and it's very energetic.

I think you must be.

There's a lot of calories burnt, I think.

Well, yeah, we try.

Oh, yeah, we try.

Yeah.

I think that's quite a key thing that we want to put in.

We're kind of, you know, I don't know, dare I say, a little bit of punk into sea shanties, I think, is the way to look at it.

Yeah.

But a uniqueness.

I like it.

That's good.

And there's a unique style.

Tell us all about it.

Well, that's down to.

That's down to Paul.

He's in charge.

Yeah.

Again.

Again.

It's.

We set off looking a bit like this when we went to shanti festivals way back in the day.

Before we sang.

Yes.

And people thought we were singing before we even were, so we kind of kept on with the look.

Yes.

And try to keep it going as much as we can.

A bit hot in this weather with the flat caps and the tweeds, but never mind.

Yeah.

Keep it going for the purpose of the listeners.

That's kind of.

Can you describe on the angle?

Yeah, it's kind of.

It's kind of.

It's kind of.

I dare I say it's peaky.

Blinders meet sea shanties.

You know, we're kind of looking for the sort of Pre World War II, 1930s, 1920s kind of looks.

So flat caps, collars, cravats, tweeds, if we got them.

Well, I mean, you guys, you look the part.

You sound amazing.

Oh, thank you so much.

If we needed to hit listen or find out more about you, is there a website we can go?

Yeah.

So if you go to www.rustytubs.co.uk, you can.

You can read all about us on there.

And obviously we're on all of the socials.

Check out.

Check out YouTube.

Just make sure you.

You look, you're searching for rusty tubs.

Okay.

Otherwise you'll get a bunch of rusty old tubs.

Of course, of course.

Well, thanks, J, that's great.

I'll let you go.

Are you back on again?

Yeah, we're on a little bit later on today and then we're on twice again tomorrow, so.

Fantastic.

Well, people are in for a treat.

Thanks very much.

Take care.

Thank you.

Right down in the kind of basement level of this building, there's the bar and where there's an open mic and I've managed to find the rev.

How you doing, buddy?

I'm doing all right, thanks, Justin.

You enjoying yourself so far?

Oh, having a great time.

Isn't it wonderful?

It's absolutely heaving.

It's absolutely heaving and it's brilliant to.

Well, to hear all the other shanty bands, actually and steal their songs.

And it's great because you met a lot of old friends who've been sung with before and a lot of new ones.

Yeah, and that's great.

But the number of people here, I think, just shows what an appetite there is for shanti singing in the city of Bristol.

Yeah, really?

Well, it clearly is, isn't it?

Everyone's come out for the real ale has brought a lot of people in and they love the entertainment of the shanty the other way as well.

The shanty circuit are here to enjoy as well.

So it's getting really good and we're really fantastic.

Just about to hear in the bar.

We're just going to hear Mel Bab.

Yeah.

Who you know about, I suspect, is shanty royalty, who's come all the way from Padstow, an incredible singer known to all the shanty groups here.

So I'm going to break off now, Justin, if I can.

We're going to listen to her and go and listen to her.

Sounds good.

Thanks a lot.

A lot of you know her.

She has been described, I believe rightly as Shanty royalty.

Melba.

We're honored to have her here.

She's come all the way up from Pasco this morning just to sing to you.

And without further ado, I'll hand over to the marvelous, sensational Melba.

No pressure.

You had to be completely underwhelmed.

It wasn't a bad drawing up.

But, you know.

So one of the things that I like, ironically is singing with people.

And I know I was with a harmony group.

So my kind of short history for shanties is I set up Cornwall's first female harmony group and then I left them.

So I need you guys.

So there'll be lots of chorusing and it's like, what is Demand, Obedience.

But locked doors are always helpful, aren't they?

So I'll just.

I'll just try and get hold of this one, get into something and then we'll do some joining any things.

Because we all like that, don't we?

Yeah.

That was almost enthusiastic.

Yes.

Fabulous.

Right.

Where should we go?

So, you know, a lot of these shanties and Songs of the Seas are about tragedies and lost love.

So I'll stick to the theme.

So we will start with one of the most famous tragedies, that title.

So please, if you know it, join.

It's not necessary.

We've got moves on the water April 14th day and I got moves on the water Everybody's going to run and pray When Titanic lifts out While other people were bold and game but when they struck that iceberg well, I know their minds would change Got mers on the water April the 14th day I got birds on the water Everybody's gonna run and pray well, the mothers told their doctors well on a pleasure trip they'd go but when they struck that iceberg well, they won't be seen no more Got moves on the water April the 14th day had got merged on the water Everybody's gonna run and pray well, they was warned by your friendship But Captain Smith would not take heed no, he would not hear that why a man he just ran with great speed God moves on the water April the 14th day yeah got moves under water Everybody's gonna run and pray Let the light on the lighthouse shine on me why won't I stay here for very long?

Let the light on the lighthouse shining on me the whole of this we sing this song Let the light on your light shine on me all let it shine, shine so as I mingle around I find a gentleman that's just enjoying himself But I've heard that he's Been up since the early hours of this morning.

Tell us about this story.

Well, well, well, well, well.

Work has it that one has to sometimes get out of bed early in the morning.

Yeah.

As I did, oh, 3:30 this morning.

So I am well and truly, I suppose the word is maybe jiggered.

I don't know if the young people know what that means.

Well, they can Google it.

They can Google it.

But you're here.

I've always wanted to look inside this building.

Yes.

I've lived in Bristol for 30 years and this building has always tickled my fancy, as I'd like to look in there.

But they do keep it under wraps.

They do.

They do.

Now you're here.

What are your.

What are you.

What are your.

Impressive.

It really is.

I mean, the.

The decor, the artwork is just fantastic.

Really.

Which means I'm sat here comfortably numb, enjoying it.

Yes.

And of course.

And I am a very, very short distance from the real ale, which also helps a lot.

Very good.

We are.

Well, you're very well positioned.

Obviously, you've probably listened to some of the songs so far.

How has it been for you?

Well, the music is.

I've heard it from room one and room.

And I've got the list of the bands here.

Nice.

And I love the sound of some of them.

Nice.

The one we.

The Rusty Tubs have been coming out of room one for the last half an hour and they sound great.

They do sound great.

It sounds fantastic.

Yeah.

So.

And the Beach Boys, which I've seen are going to come up next.

Nice.

I see them sat over there.

Yeah.

They're ready to go in, aren't they?

They are ready to go in, so my ears will be pricked up for them.

Nice.

And I thought the sound of the Seven Whalers sounded good as well.

I saw a few of them wandering around.

Yeah.

So I'm in a great position for watching the bands go by or the.

The sick.

Nice.

Well, it's great talk to you.

It's been clearly a very long day for you, but there's no better place to be than right now here.

And I'm in a great Chesterfield chair.

So thank you very, very much.

No, thank you.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

My dear, I am all the way.

You roll with me either way.

All the way.

All the rest of.

My uncle used to tell me when I was just a lad a sailor's life was very hard but food was always bad.

But now I've joined the navy I'm a lord, a man of war and now I find a sailor ain't a sailor anymore don't crawl on the road don't fly like the if you seek a sailorship it might be alive Just get your shoes ready for another run ashore A sailor ain't a sailor Ain't a sailor anymore I've played the wild group for many a year and I spent all my money on whiskey and beer and now I return with Golden Great Storm and I never will Support and attendance today and thank you to everybody who has made a donation to our Tuck and go machines or our cash buckets in support of the Teenage Cancer Trust, the RNLI and Sara or Sarah Necker and the Friends of Freemasons Hall.

Now, as is custom at the end of a shanty event, anyone who's sort of still standing, anyone from any of the shanty groups that's still with us, is welcome to come up and join us at the front here for a sing around.

And anyone else who fancies just mos.

Well, that's it for this month's episode of Shipshape and Bristol Fashion.

Once again, thank you for listening and again, congratulations to the crew for celebrating two years of being together, fellowship and just having a wonderful time singing Sea Shanti.

It's worth knowing that over those two years, from January 2023 to 3 June, 76 gigs have occurred.

That's amazing.

What a great number.

And of course, incredibly important that they're they've managed to raise a large amount of money not only for, of course, the Teenage Cancer Trust, but when they've supported other charities.

So it's a large sum of money where they didn't anticipate at any time that they would raise this kind of volume of money.

So thank you, the listeners, thank you for supporting them.

And like I said at the beginning of the podcast, if you have the ability and you're able to do so, then we would welcome your donations.

If you'd like to give us a donation, then please do pop over to pobshantycrew.co.uk, and there's a link there for you to donate.

Donate directly to to donate to the Teenage Cancer Trust uk.

So fair winds and following seas and we'll see you next month.

Shipshape and Bristol Fashion boys Along the harbor side From Avon Gorge to underfall we'll even haul the line Skew the barrels down below Wind and tie and lash em this vessel she is certified ship shape and Bristol fashion so haul away me laddy boys haul away you're free Haul away me laddy boys and save a drink for me Haul away me ladd lotty boys Haul away your free Haul away me ly boys and save a drink for me.