Based in South Zeal on the edge of Dartmoor, Mariners Away is a well-established and widely celebrated shanty crew, now in its eighteenth year. Formed in 2007, the group has become a fixture in the folk and maritime music scene, performing traditional sea shanties and songs of the sea with authenticity, passion, and a deep appreciation for the genre’s rich history. Sea shanties, once the lifeblood of maritime labour, were sung by sailors to coordinate their work and maintain morale on long voyages. Mariners Away bring these time-honoured songs to life, delivering spirited performances that transport audiences back to the age of sail.
Mariners Away performances take them across Devon, Dorset, and Cornwall, and further afield across the UK, including appearances at the Weston-Super-Mare Shanty Festival. They have also had the distinction of featuring on BBC Spotlight, where they serenaded the South West audience during a regional broadcast. However, one of their proudest moments came in December 2024, when they were invited to perform at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, entertaining first-year officers at their private graduation dinner—a particularly special honour given the college’s prestigious naval heritage.
Repertoire
Mariners Away specialise in the following areas:
- 9 to 12 Member Crew
- Live Shanty Singing
Act information
The crew typically performs with nine or ten members, though their full line-up consists of twelve seasoned singers. Over the years, they have taken their rousing harmonies to an impressive array of events, including renowned shanty and folk festivals and beer/cider festivals. In a particularly memorable moment, they performed aboard the SV Britannia, a century-old fishing smack now berthed in Exeter Quay, during her relaunch in 2023.
2024 was a landmark year for Mariners Away, with over 50 sets performed across more than 30 gigs. A remarkable achievement for a crew whose combined age exceeds 800, proving that sea shanties and camaraderie are truly timeless!
For those looking to experience the energy and tradition of live shanty singing, Mariners Away continue to perform throughout the year, bringing the songs of the sea to audiences far and wide across the UK.
