Oban gets ready for shanty festival
It is anchors aweigh for Oban’s first live International Shanty Festival, which is taking place in June, writes Kathie Griffiths.
Musicians from as far away as France have already booked to perform at a weekend of nautical music and song.
Festival co-ordinator Tom Malone, responsible for Glasgow’s first shanty festival, was in Oban last week to sizeup plans for what will be a big crowd-puller for the town.
And he was here to put out a heave-away holler for choirs and singing groups across the area to get involved.
As well as open-air events and concerts, including on the Station Pier, there will be workshops and open-mic sessions. Some of the concerts will be ticketed but other events, such as the pub sessions, will be free or ‘the cost of a pint’ said Tom.
Shanty festivals are popular down south and attract thousands of visitors, and he said Oban can expect big numbers too: ‘Shanty festivals are very popular down south. They are big crowd-pullers. It’ll be great for Oban. We’re hoping choirs and singing groups from the area will take up the opportunity to come and join us.’
Lockdown put paid to the 2020 shanty festival, originally planned for Oban as part of the Year of Coast and Waters, and Covid put a stop to it last year, although virtual versions of it went ahead online.
Tom is also spreading the word to boating and coastal rowing clubs to come and join in, bringing their vessels to add to the colourful atmosphere.
Putting in an appearance will be internationally-respected songwriter John Conolly whose most popular song Fiddler’s Green is performed and loved all over the world. Franco-British group Les Brouilleurs d’Ecoutes, trio Monkey’s Fist, and closer to home, Muldoon’s Picnic, will all be heading for Oban to take to the stage during the June 24-26 festival.
You can find out more by calling BID4Oban’s Kay MacDonald on 07748 233215 or by emailing her at kay@ bid4oban.co.uk.