Morecambe sea shanty group inspired by Fisherman's Friends to perform at Arnside Maritime Singing Festival

Tuesday, 23 August 2022 11:24

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

A Maritime Singing Festival starring local sea shanty groups will raise funds for Morecambe lifeboat crew this Bank Holiday Monday (August 29).

Arnside will host the event with sea shanty groups singing on the Pier in the afternoon and indoor performances in the Sailing Club from 1pm to 10.30pm. The festival is in aid of Morecambe RNLI Lifeboat Station.

Performers include Mizzen Crew, a sea shanty group from Morecambe, and Sunderland Point Sea Shanty Crew.

The festival is being organised jointly with John Metcalfe, a Morecambe-based sea shanty singer.

John said: “I became interested in maritime singing through the Lancaster Maritime Festival, which ran from 1980s to the 2000s, and started to sing maritime related songs.

"I was inspired by the Cornish Shanty Crew 'Fisherman's Friends' and local shanty man Frank Lewis to form the Mizzen Crew in May 2019.

"Mizzen Crew aim to raise funds for the Morecambe RNLI Lifeboat Station from their many engagements."