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| Part of the backcloth for the band |
Where we differ from other bands is that we get members of the audience acting as crew - hauling on ropes if we are singing a halyard shanty, pumping for a pumping shanty, and pretending to use a capstan for a capstan shanty.
We also give out song sheets so the audience can sing along. Audience participation is definitely our key. People seem to enjoy it.
We give all the money raised to charity, but we expect the organers to raise about £100. Sometimes of course if the organisation is a charity itself then it goes to them. Last November the Writtle Community Association raised in excess of £500 for their building fund.
Jimmy Johns, my art tutor, painted the backdrop. Didn't he do a good job?
I have played with the Brandy Hole Shantymen, from time to time, which play Irish music as well.
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| The Brandyhole shantymen |
"We are the Barnacles Shantymen a group of amateur musicians raising money for worthy charities, in this case West Mersea Lifeboat. We are all connected with the sea, a mixture of commercial sailormen and yachtsmen who enjoy playing and singing traditional sea shanties, fishermen’s songs and forebitters the ballads sung in the foc’sle when off watch.
Our music today includes, accordion, harmonica, guitar, banjo, banjoleylee, melodeon and unaccompanied singing. Although we do sing we need you to sing with us and so have distributed song sheets amongst you. If you can’t sing then whistle, clap or stamp your feet in time with the music.
Let me introduce you to the band :-
Colin on guitar and banjo, is our Musical Director, ex professional musician and long time yachtsman
Jim’s on melodian, harmonica and banjolaylee; He probably needs little introduction. He’s the famous barge skipper, barge racing champion and sailmaker now also a raconteur.
John on 2 guitars, He is a professional boatbuilder, also owns Brandy Hole Yacht Station, and is a deep sea yachtsman, where he tests his own boats.
Geoff is on guitar, He is the experienced racing yachtsman amongst us
Derek is one of our lead singers, He’s an amateur boatbuilder and competitive dinghy racer.
Mike is the other lead singer, An East coast cruiser and dinghy sailor, who had the cheek beat me into 2nd place in a race this year
I’m Doug on accordion, also today’s coordinator, cruiser and dinghy sailor
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Years ago sailing ships depended on the crew using their muscle power for heaving, hauling the yards into place, pumping the leaking ships, winding the capstan to weigh the heavy anchor up or warp the ship alongside a quay.
Heavy work was called for night and day wet or dry, in rough seas and in calm. In merchant ships the crew were as few as they could get away with, so it was important that the sailors heaved or pulled at precisely the same time together ; so sea shanties evolved, the timing of the song coordinating their breathing and effort. When off watch the seamen sung about far away places, humorous ones about ex girlfriends or loved ones, to keep cheerful.
We are a mixture of yachtsmen and commercial sailors who enjoy playing and singing traditional sea shanties- the work songs of the sea and forebitters - the leisure ballads sung when off watch."
Barnacle Shantymen
Heybridge Basin Programme
Heybridge Basin Programme
Shanty / Sea song Introduction Musical Intro
All for me grog Forebitter - Derek Guitar chord
Blow the man down Halyard Shanty - Doug Guitar
Maggie May Forebitter - Mike John guitar
Spanish Ladies Pumping Shanty - Doug Accordian
Sloop John B Shorthaul shanty - Derek Colin Guitar
Roving Kind Forebitter - Mike Banjo
Old Maui Halyard shanty - Derek Guitar
Stormy Weather East coast Barge song- Jim Bandolaylee
New York Girls Shorthaul shanty - Doug Guitar
Eddystone Light Sea song - Colin Vocal
Maldon yachtsman Local sea song by Mike Peyton -Doug guitar
------- Interval 20 mins ----------
Rolling Home Capstan Shanty-Jim Guitar
Shenandoah Negro Spiritual Harmonica
South Australia Halyard shanty- Derek Vocal
Trawler Boy Fisherman’s Ballad - Doug Guitar
Leave her Johnny Halyard Shanty - Mike Accordion
Robin Adair Forebitter/Ballad - Jim Bandjolaylee
The Leaving of Liverpool Pumping shanty - Derek Accordion
3 Score and Ten East Coast Fisherman’s Ballad - Colin guitar
Drunken Sailor Capstan shanty - Doug Drum
Greenland Fishes Forebitter – Mike Vocal only
Wild Rover Irish Folksong - Derek Accordion
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| At Heybridge Basin Regatta |
We recently played at South Woodham Ferrers Yacht Club where the raffle resulted in £100 being raised for the Caister Independent Lifeboat.
Finally I am trrying my hand at writing and composing a Dinghy Cruising Song
C F C
I set sail in the sunset, for a cruise on the sea,
G7 C
in my stable old dinghy, where I’m happy and free.
F C
Some dinghies go racing, but that’s not for me,
G7 C
I creep up the creeks, where the seabirds call me.
I sail from the dawning, all day, if I can,
Till I head for the shore, a contented “yachtsman”
I go where I’ m beckoned, no marinas for me
I sail the backwaters where the anchoring ’s free.
I cook on the stern sheets and savour the view
Then sleep under canvas after a heavy old stew!
If the weather turns nasty, I lounge in my boat
In the lee of some shelter, ashore or afloat.
I go to some rallies, where the DCA meet
With like minded people, and friends there to greet,
We yarn and tell tales well into the night,
Then its up with the sails to leave at first light
When I roam the shoal waters off a coast and its sea
We’re at one with the weather, the dinghy and me.
Red sails in the sunset, I return from afar
I’m happy and contented, then tow home by car.
Saturday 22nd October : The Barnacle Shantymen
Saturday 14 January at the Blackwater Sailing Club.
Last night, there were 8 of us playing as the Brandy Hole Shantymen to a gathering of the Cruising Association at the Blackwater Sailing Club at Heybridge Basin, near Maldon, Essex. We had Roy, one of the 3 singers, also on Penny whistle, accordian, and banjo. Colin a "guest" guitarist who is currently sailing around the world in his fabulous boat "Emerald", Staurt on lead and bass guitar, Geoff on guitar, John on slide and ordinary guitar, Nick leader of the band, as lead singer and on banjo, Lou on electric mandolin, then myself a singer and on accordian. It was a real foot tapping event as a few traditional Irish songs were incorporated to liven things up.
There were about 75 in the audience, who all had a meal first, but still sang lustily, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. As usual songsheets were given out for the audience, so there was no excuse for them not to join in. In fact their singing was pretty fantastic. We played 31 songs during the event so were pretty tired by the end.
