Sea Shanties by the Fisherman’s Friends

By ⋅ June 18, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment
Port Isaacs Fishermen's Friend (Photo: portisaacsfishermansfriends.com)

Port Isaacs Fishermen's Friend (Photo: portisaacsfishermansfriends.com)

More than 300 singers from several nations gathered for an international “sea shanty” festival over the weekend.

Sea shanties are rhythmic songs traditionally sung by sailors and fishermen during their work out at sea.

One of the main attractions at the festival in Falmouth, England, was the group Fisherman’s Friends.

CD cover of 'Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends'Fisherman’s Friends have been singing sea shanties for more than 15 years and the group is credited with starting a revival of this musical genre.

And for the Geo Quiz, we would like you to name the place where the group is from.

It is an old fishing village in Cornwall, near the south-western tip of England. The pier dates back to Henry VIII. One of them is so narrow, it is called Squeezy Belly Alley.

PBS viewers may recognize it as the setting for the Doc Martin TV series.

The village in Cornwall where the Fisherman’s Friends hail from is called Port Issac where the group has been singing for 15 years.

During the summer the group gives free concerts in the old harbor and are credited with starting a revival of this musical genre. The group’s debut CD is called “Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends.”

Reporter Dmae Roberts gives us more details.



Discussion

2 comments for “Sea Shanties by the Fisherman’s Friends”

  • don4u

    I listened to your show during a long driving trip.  The Fisherman’s Friends were an unexpected treat.  I can only say wow.  Their songs are still reverberating in my head.

  • dmaerob

    Thank you so much! I’m so glad you like my piece. It was a pleasure to meet them and to have them sing live for me. What amazing harmonies…