We’ve had loads of lovely comments about the new songs we’ve introduced to the set for the summer season. And at time of writing, there are still a few we’re keeping in reserve to showcase over the next few weeks. So here’s a quick summary of what’s new, who’s doing it, and a little bit of background …
Marianne
It’s a tough job, joining a shanty crew that’s been around for a few years. So many songs to learn, and in addition, you ideally want to get at least a couple of solos under your belt. Marianne’s hit the ground running.
Strike the Bell arrived with Marianne by accident, a result of us wanting to sing it at St Andrews Church (where the bell of Anchorsholme shipwreck the Abana resides) when Murray, who previously sang it, was away.
To that, we’ve added Stan Rogers’ Barrett’s Privateers, because Marianne’s Canadian and so was Stan Rogers. And, as it happens, so were the plucky privateers in this story as they took the fight to American shipping. Any connection with modern events is purely coincidental etc …
At some point this summer you’ll also hear Le Capitaine de St Malo, one we’ve talked about doing for years. And now we have someone who actually speaks French we can do it properly.
Debbie
Bound for the Rio Grande is a traditional shanty that Steve used to perform yonks ago. We’ve dusted it off over the winter and given it a fresh new lick of paint. And harmonies.
Very much at the ‘working on it stage’ is Bones in the Ocean by The Longest Johns. It’s a story of death and survivor’s guilt. Which when you put it like that sounds a bit grim, but it’s a lovely tune by one of our favourite shanty crews – and if you haven’t seen them live, you’re missing a treat.
Chrissie
The first sea shanties appeared in the 15th century and they peaked in the 19th century before the end of the age of sail saw their decline. Which makes Fire Down Below a real curio as it’s one of the last shanties know to have been sung on British squareriggers, as late as 1929.
Although it’s felt as though we’ve been doing it for ages, we actually only added Wild Mountain Thyme (aka Go Lassie Go or Blooming Heather) to the setlist at the very end of the 2025 season, and we’ve polished it up for 2026.
Steve
Sailor’s Hornpipe, the traditional, Last Night of the Proms favourite with some definitely not traditional lyrics by Steve, has been kicking around for ages and we never quite cracked it. This year, at last, we have, and it already seems to be making an impression.
Clive
Steve’s also been busy singing, arranging and playing on Four Shouts in One Day, a song that started with Clive, who spent a good part of the winter pouring over the wartime history of our local RNLI, provided by friend of the crew and local historian David Forshaw.
This story of a young crewman who was, as the name of the song suggests, called out four times in 24 hours is part of a national heritage project we’ve been working on for the RNLI. We’ll explain more soon.
Murray
Leave Her Johnny needed a new home now that Ken’s no longer with the crew and Murray was keen to take this traditional shanty on.
Mike L
Bonnie Ship the Diamond, a Scottish folk song rather than a strict shanty, has long been one of our favourite songs to perform – and Mike’s taken this one on. He’s resisting doing a Scots accent though.
Tony
Drop of Nelson’s Blood is a cracker of a shanty but it doesn’t half shred the vocal cords. So when Clive decided to give this one a rest, who better to give it some welly than TC?
Julian
New York Girls (aka Can’t You Dance the Polka) is brilliant. And no, we’ve no idea why we haven’t done this 1830s banger before either, but we love performing it.
Mike B
How come, given we have songs about virtually every spot along the Fylde coast including some that are no longer there (looking at you, Kilgrimol Bells), we’ve never sung a song about Blackpool?
Over the winter, we put that right with the Blackpool Pub Crawl. See how many pubs you can count …
We’d love to know what you think of the new tunes – so come up and have a chat at one of our shows, message us on Facebook, or get in touch here.