The final chorus may have faded, but the buzz around Ilfracombe’s inaugural Shanty Festival is showing little sign of stopping, with organisers already looking ahead to next year’s event after an overwhelmingly positive response.
Hundreds of visitors filled venues across the town over the weekend as sea shanty crews from around the UK performed during the two-day festival on Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28.
The event featured performances across twelve venues, alongside a town-wide treasure hunt, celebrating maritime music and Ilfracombe’s coastal heritage.
Following the festival, organisers thanked everyone who attended and supported the event, saying they had been overwhelmed by the response.
In a message shared after the weekend, organisers said: “Thank you to everyone who came out to the festival at the weekend, and also for the deluge of love on social media. We are beyond words!
“Our inbox and email got red hot!”
The organisers have also confirmed preparations are already under way for the 2027 festival, with dates due to be announced on Saturday, August 1.
The Ilfracombe Shanty Festival was organised by Scuttlebutt Shanty and featured visiting shanty crews performing throughout the town. A percentage of profits from the event will be donated to RNLI Ilfracombe.
Festival updates and future announcements will be shared through the Ilfracombe Shanty Festival social media channels.
