Overview
The Silver Darlings is an all-female band, originally from Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
Living in the estuary of the Thames, with stories about the work of the river and the fishing industries, they are naturally attracted to the shanties, the songs of the sea capturing the traditional nature of these songs and ling a capella harmonies with 2 or 3 voices. The group, formed in 2017, produced a first album, Maiden Voyage, in 2022, which received 4 stars in British folk magazines.
A note on the name, “Silver Darlings.”Silver-coloured, as slick and bright as mercury, the herring has poetically been nicknamed ‘silver darlings’ in the U.K. From the Middle Ages onwards, herring, one of the most used marine resources, provided Britain with a precious, cheap, plentiful and nutritious source of food. Fishing was first a subsistence activity, and it then developed into an industry. Once in unbelievable abundance—the Old German word ‘herring’ means ‘multitude’—herring attracted thousands of boats from all over Europe to local waters, and at the peak of the herring boom, Britain exported a quarter of a million tonnes a year.
Unfortunately, severe competition and intensive methods of fishing have in recent years endangered the species in these waters.
They write: We love the story-telling aspect to shanty-singing and we are passionately committed to ensuring that these songs remain in the public domain and not lost at sea!
Our hometown of Southend-on-Sea in Essex is steeped in fishing and cockling industries, which has drawn us naturally to sea shanties, the sailors’ working songs. We love the story-telling aspect to shanty-singing and we are passionately committed to ensuring that these songs remain in the public domain and not lost at sea!
The crew:
CAPTAIN DARLING – Enjoys whipping this motley crew harmonically-shipshape.
GRACE DARLING – Steers the crew steady amidst the turbulent seas of bad harmonies and bum notes.
BABY DARLING – The youngest EVER member of an all-female sea shanty crew in the world. Probably.
SALTY DARLING – Possessor of a fiercely dry sense of humour, making us chuckle with her escapades and unique observations.
VIKING DARLING – The Nordic one, keeps us howling with laughter with her comic timing and theatricality.
CAULKHEAD DARLING – Historian, custodian of all facts nautical, and general lanky show-off.
RANDY DANDY DARLING – Jack(ess?) of all trades musical – especially if it involves hitting something hard.
Band Members
Ali Cater Laura Tanner Yael Bebb Kate Wight Sam Johnson Emily Barnes
2021
Yes
Contact Information
Ali
Cater
Southend-on-Sea
Essex
United Kingdom