Liverpool Sea Shanty Festival

The Liverpool Shanty Festival was part of the Folk on the Docks Festival in Liverpool, England on 24-27 August, 2018.  Activities were on the Liverpool Docks and in the Baltic Fleet Pub.

It appears that the event was also held in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

There appears to be no official website, nor a dedicated Facebook page.

From Rhona Friend on 28 August 2026:  “It was run by Derek and Julia Batters (Trim Rig and a Doxy). Sadly the last festival was in 2017. It was based around The Royal Albert Dock, down by the Pier head, on the River Mersey. They used the maritime museum foyer, several of the historic ships that were moored in and around the dock and one of the courtyards for venues where stages were set up. It was held over the August bank holiday weekend, so the last full weekend in August. In the evening everyone crowded into The Baltic Fleet pub for a sing around. I would sell draw tickets for a bottle of wine and a CD or two donated by the various groups. It was a great festival with some really good performers as you can see from the information you have gathered. Unfortunately funding from the City Council dried up, and then covid came along. The Council decided there was more call for one big stage to hold rock’n’roll, and whatever genre was in vogue at the time. Much noisier than shanty festivals, and they provided fast food and beer outlets, which of course drew in bigger crowds. Most of the historic vessels have either been scrapped or moved elsewhere now. The Baltic Fleet has become an up market pub, serving food and has the edition of a covered outdoor space, making it bigger, to cater for the refurbished warehouses around it that are now luxury apartments and student accommodation.

“You can find pictures on FB if you put in Liverpool Shanty Festival.”