The Shanty Buoys

The Shanty Buoys are a wandering acoustic group home-brewed in rural Suffolk with an unmistakably bold and original harmonic sound covering folk, sea shanties ('The Wellerman'!) and acoustic folk covers of contemporary songs and '90s classics.

Price from £1,189 + travel

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Event Photos

  • Event The Shanty Buoys Sea Shanty Singers / Folk Choir Suffolk
  • Event The Shanty Buoys Sea Shanty Singers / Folk Choir Suffolk
  • Event The Shanty Buoys Sea Shanty Singers / Folk Choir Suffolk
  • Event The Shanty Buoys Sea Shanty Singers / Folk Choir Suffolk
  • Event The Shanty Buoys Sea Shanty Singers / Folk Choir Suffolk
  • Event The Shanty Buoys Sea Shanty Singers / Folk Choir Suffolk
  • Event The Shanty Buoys Sea Shanty Singers / Folk Choir Suffolk
  • Event The Shanty Buoys Sea Shanty Singers / Folk Choir Suffolk
  • Event The Shanty Buoys Sea Shanty Singers / Folk Choir Suffolk
  • Event The Shanty Buoys Sea Shanty Singers / Folk Choir Suffolk
  • Event The Shanty Buoys Sea Shanty Singers / Folk Choir Suffolk

Set List / Repertoire

Sea Shanties & Whaling Songs:
(This is just a selection of our repertoire)

  • SOON MAY THE WELLERMAN COME
  • PAY ME MY MONEY DOWN
  • WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH A DRUNKEN SAILOR
  • THE JOHN B. SAILS (WRECK OF THE JOHN B.)
  • THE BALAENA
  • BLOOD RED ROSES
  • BLOW THE MAN DOWN
  • BOUND FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA
  • DON'T FORGET YOUR OLD SHIPMATE
  • HAUL AWAY, JOE
  • JOHN KANAKA
  • LEAVE HER JOHNNY
  • LET THE BULGINE RUN
  • MAGGIE MAY
  • MOLLYMAUK
  • NEW YORK GIRLS (CAN'T YOU DANCE THE POLKA)
  • RANDY DANDY-OH
  • THE RATTLIN' BOG
  • ROUND THE BAY OF MEXICO
  • SAM GONE AWAY
  • SPANISH LADIES
  • WE'LL ROLL THE OLD CHARIOT ALONG / A DROP OF NELSON'S BLOOD
  • YARMOUTH TOWN



"Shantyfied" Covers of Contemporary Songs:


  • UPTOWN FUNK (Bruno Mars)
  • ICE ICE BABY (Vanilla Ice)
  • HIT ME BABY ONE MORE TIME (Britney Spears)
  • MESSAGE TO YOU RUDY (the Specials)
  • PARKLIFE (Blur)
  • WANNABE (The Spice Girls)
  • GALWAY GIRL (Ed Sheeran)
  • BAGGY TROUSERS (Madness)
  • REACH (S Club 7)



Foc's'le Ballads and Sailors Hymns:

  • THE PADSTOW FAREWELL
  • GOD MOVES ON THE WATER
  • THE ARBROATH TRAGEDY
  • FIDDLER'S GREEN
  • BEYOND THE SEA
  • FAREWELL TO TARWATHIE

Full Biography

Please Note: Quotes for events based in London currently include a ULEZ / Congestion Zone charge. Any London events outside of these area’s would receive a discount of the charge amount. Please speak to an Alive Network booking agent for details.

The Shanty Buoys take their cue from the likes of The Fisherman’s Friends and The Sheringham Shantymen, giving performances which are an authentic mix of traditional 19th century pub singaround, offbeat fun performances with a dash of medicine show huckster but primarily a fresh and dynamic approach to folk music that has seen them described as “A slightly salty Mumford & Sons”.

With a hugely diverse repertoire, ranging from the Middle Ages - the present day, they are as at home singing rousing traditional sea shanties, whaling arias, smuggling and wrecking refrains, murder ballads and tunes of ne’er-do-wells as well as acoustic and “shantyfied” covers of contemporary songs and ’90s bangers by the likes of Vanilla Ice, S Club 7, The Spice Girls, Bruno Mars, Britney Spears and others - all performed with their own unique “shanty” twist.

The group have a traditional shanty line-up of between 3 and 7 vocalists (according to your requirements and budget) but also with a percussionist playing cajón, occasional guitar-backing and even the occasional dulcimer and mandolin and with over 10 years’ experience performing at some of the most prestigious venues across the U.K., festivals and high-end corporate events, the Shanty Buoys promise to bring something fresh, memorable and fun to your event or wedding day - the perfect mix of chilled-out acoustic background with block-part harmony, unique entertainment and lots of fun.

PREVIOUS CLIENTS AND EVENTS:  
“In the Heart of the Sea” movie premiere (Leicester Square), Birds Eye, “Black Sails” TV Show, HMS Belfast, Adnams, BBC Radio 2, Royal Ascot, Royal Epsom, Olly Murs (private birthday party), Channel 4, Lloyd’s Banking Group, Sodexxo, The Leadenhall Building, Heathrow Terminal 5, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mondelez International, the BBC, King’s Cross St Pancras, The Paddock Club Silverstone, The Savoy Hotel, The Mayfair Hotel, The Westminster Estate, Charles Street Banker’s Club,
Harwich International Shanty Festival, Shrewsbury Folk Festival, FolkEast, Jimmy’s Farm Festival, Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival and when they were 12 years old in their parents’ front rooms (twice, during Casualty).

Lineup

Default lineup: 4 members

4 x Performers (2 x vocalists/hand percussion, 1 x vocalist/guitar + 1 x cajon player)

*More or less performers available - please see booking options.

Performance Times

2 x 40 minutes


From £1189 + travel

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Booking Options

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Prices

Price from £1,189 + travel from Suffolk

Based on 4 members performing 2 x 40 minute sets

  • Scotland From £1,025
  • East of England From £1,189
  • South East From £1,235
  • East Midlands From £1,281
  • West Midlands From £1,405
  • Yorkshire and the Humber From £1,405
  • North West From £1,451
  • South West From £1,451
  • Wales From £1,496

Most Alive Network artists travel UK wide and internationally. Get a guide price instantly by clicking the 'get quote' button and entering your event date and location. Make an enquiry and we will liase directly with The Shanty Buoys to confirm price, availability, and the provide you with a confirmed quote.

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7 Customer Reviews

Performance quality: 5 stars
Sound quality: 5 stars
Behaviour: 5 stars
Communication: 5 stars
Audience engagement: 5 stars
Value for money: 5 stars
  • Excellent 7
  • Good
  • OK
  • Unsatisfactory
  • Poor

Fantastic

5 stars - The Shanty Buoys are Highly Recommended
booked The Shanty Buoys for their event in Suffolk May 2024

“The Shanty Buoys were terrific. We had a large birthday party and everything and everyone was great. The music was performed brilliantly and Stephen and the boys were just so friendly, helpful and good fun, it made everyone’s day. Thank you”


Guests were immediately wowed upon arrival. 100% book again.

5 stars - The Shanty Buoys are Highly Recommended
booked The Shanty Buoys for their event in London September 2023

“The Shanty Buoys were a massive hit at our event held on one of our vessels in London. Guests were immediately wowed upon arrival. A special touch was a shanty version of Britney Spears in set two. Communication prior to and on the day of the event was faultless. We would 100% book again.”


Fantastic!

5 stars - The Shanty Buoys are Highly Recommended
booked The Shanty Buoys for their event in Warwickshire

“The Shanty Buoys were brilliant, they really made our seaside themed party complete!”


They made a good party even better

5 stars - The Shanty Buoys are Highly Recommended
booked The Shanty Buoys for their event in Suffolk

“I've waited nearly two years for this event to take place and the Shanty Buoys didn't disappoint !!!! They interacted with everybody there and even invited my nieces 6yr old daughter to sing with them. The guys were very polite and friendly and i would not hesitate in recommending them to anybody. Thank you so much Ian”


Worked a treat. Just right for this event

5 stars - The Shanty Buoys are Highly Recommended
booked The Shanty Buoys for their event in London

“A very amicable bunch of performers, interested in their audience and accommodated accordingly. Definitely on our to rebook list. Indeed for any Naval type event, appreciated by all guests, they liked the singalong and interaction.”

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