Overview
This is a legacy festival the ran in previous years, around the early 2000s. Festival organizer, Jack Coutts, reports, “The festival arose following several organized by Tony Davis of The Spinners. We had performers from Liverpool, all around UK, plus France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Estonia, Poland and USA.” He further adds, “Very important to add that the co-director of the festival was the incomparable maritime singer and musician, Bernie Davis, with the showcase concerts hosted by the legendary Stan Ambrose and Geoff Speed, all sadly no longer with us.”
Andy Kenna posted to Chris Lock, “The first Liverpool Shanty festival in recent years was started in 1997 by Bernie Davis and myself with a lot of help from the brilliant Hughie Jones.
We struggled getting funding ( note the cheap poster in b&w). We were literally washed out, the weather was horrendous. However the festival continued for quite a few years after.
There was an earlier festival, in the 80s – I think. It was organised by Radio Merseyside/Stan Ambrose. It was held in the Seaman’s mission by the Pier Head. The only guests I can remember are Stormalong John and me.