Salty Yaks

The Salty Yaks are a six-voice sea-shanty crew from the south coast of Western Australia, hauling traditional maritime songs back into the daylight with big harmonies, humour, and plenty of audience participation. With three female and three male vocalists trading leads and choruses — backed by fiddle and acoustic instruments — the Yaks bring old working songs of the sea roaring back to life. Expect stomping rhythms, rousing harmonies, and tales of sailors, storms, rum, rebellion, and the occasional shipwreck. Drawing from centuries-old shanties once sung aboard tall ships, their performances blur the line between band and sing-along. In true shanty fashion, the audience quickly becomes part of the crew.

Catch em’ live at Albany International Folk ‘n’ Shanty Festival!  10-12 July 2026 — 2026 Festival Program Biography