A local man is tapping into the current popularity of seafaring songs by encouraging men who love sea shanties and enjoy singing to join his latest venture.
Stuart Butterworth, an experienced musician, and teacher from Rockcliffe is forming a new group of sea shanty singers – ‘The Solway Buoys’ – which will meet once a month on Mondays, 7.30 – 9.30 pm at The Clonyard House Hotel, Colvend, DG5 4QW. The first session is on February 5th and if you would like to come along, please contact Stuart on: [email protected] and 01556 630476/07557 531880. All sessions are free and there is plenty of parking at this disabled friendly hotel.
There are no auditions, all men are welcome and as the songs come from an aural tradition there is no requirement to read music (although it will be available for those who do). Twenty-five ‘shipmates’ have signed up so far but there’s always room for more who can join at any of the sessions on the following dates in 2024: 5/2, 4/3, 25/3, 29/4, 20/5,17/6, 9/9, 7/10, 11/11 and 9/12.
Stuart says: “The ‘Fisherman’s Friends’ films, Nathan Evans singing ‘The Wellerman’ on social media and the music for the game ‘Assassin’s Creed’ have all done wonders to give sea shanties something of a renaissance. My book of sea shanties – ‘Haul Away!’ – comes with audio files, rehearsal tracks and ‘follow the score’ videos and will give us a good starting point. These traditional songs, specially arranged for a range of inexperienced and experienced singers have timeless melodies, easy to sing harmonies and can be accompanied or unaccompanied.”
