About Shantyhead
Shantyhead are a folk band based in the Meon Valley in Hampshire, England.
Much more than just another bunch of shantymen, Shantyhead are far from Fisherman's Friends clones (although they do admit that those famous chaps from Port Isaac are a great influence).
Shantyhead use a veritable plethora of instruments including mandolin, melodeon, tin whistle, low whistle, banjo, guitar, bodhran, bouzouki, northumbrian pipes, big f**k-off drum, cittern and didgeridoo, not to mention the Shantyhead patented 'Morris Man's Leg', to play their own brand of folk.
As a band, they have strong nautical ties, with every member having sat on a beach and thrown stones at the sea or seen a seagull at least once in their lives, but the repertoire of Shantyhead also reflects their landward roots. Songs of Hampshire, Ireland, Scotland and other odd places like Australia and once, although they will probably deny it, America, have appeared at Shantyhead gigs.
Recently, Shantyhead, being the go-to guys for sea shanties in the Hampshire area, were asked to provide backing vocals for a track being recorded by Southampton band 71 Chain. You can hear the band on the track 'Sea Shepherd' on the album 'Stories of Life, Love and Loss' which was released in April 2014.
We can occasionally be found at 71 Chain gigs singing 'Sea Shepherd' and accompanied the band at Wickham Festival in 2015.
Before you ask, there is a Shantyhead album in production, provisionally entitled 'Songs In The Key Of D'. It's being recorded at Steam Driven Studios - a top secret location somewhere within an SO postcode and should be out some time this year.
Follow @Shantyhead on Twitter for up to date news and ramblings!