how we started
The Barnacle Buoys have known each other for many years but we did not realise that we all had something in common; the appreciation of shanty music. After making the discovery the Buoys got together in February 2013 and shared a pint or two in the Old Inn, Clevedon and experimented with a few shanties. The rest, as they say, is history.
The Buoys have their own unique style, pleasing our audiences and raising money for charity, primarily Children’s Hospice South West and the RNLI. We also regularly support our wonderful pier in Clevedon and have organised shanty events on board the cherished MV Balmoral.
We have become very popular in the North Somerset area and have performed at many events in the South West, creating musical mayhem in order to raise money. Venues have included
Clevedon’s unique Curzon Cinema
Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023
Porlock Weir Festival of the Sea 2022 and 2023
North Somerset Show 2108, 2019, 2022 and 2023
Mid Somerset Show 2108, 2019 and 2022
St Ives Shout 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023
Portishead Arts Festival 2021 and 2022
Bridgwater Quays Festival 2018
Gloucester Sea Shanty Festival 2016, 2017 and 2019
Mevagissey Shout 2021, 2022and 2023
Bristol Folk Festival 2015 and 2016
Exmouth West Country Traditions 2016, 2017 and 2018
Bristol Harbour Festival 2015 and 2019 and ShantyFestival 2021
Bristol Shanty Festivals 2015, 2018, 2021, 2022and 2023
Teignmouth Shanty Festival 2018, 2019 & 2021
Clovelly Maritime Festivals 2016, 2017 & 2018
Watchet Live Music Festival 2015
We hope to continue with our development, adding numbers to our audiences and increasing the volume of funds raised for our chosen charities.