The Selsey Shantymen: Keeping Sea Shanties Alive on the Sussex Coast

If you have ever strolled along the seafront at Selsey in West Sussex on a summer’s afternoon, chances are you’ve heard the rousing harmonies of The Selsey Shantymen. This much-loved local group has been singing together for eight years, keeping the tradition of sea shanties alive while raising vital funds for the RNLI Lifeboat Station in their home town.

Who are The Selsey Shantymen?

Formed by a group of friends with a passion for music and maritime heritage, The Selsey Shantymen perform across the south of England and even further afield in Europe. Their repertoire ranges from powerful working songs once sung aboard tall ships to the more melodic fo’c’sle ballads sung in sailors’ quarters.

With strong links to Selsey’s proud seafaring history – from its centuries-old fishing fleet to tales of smugglers on the beaches – the Shantymen embody the spirit of their coastal community. Throughout the summer they can be found singing on the apron of the RNLI Selsey Lifeboat Station, helping to raise much-needed funds for the crew, the Shannon class lifeboat, and the station’s lifesaving work.

What is a Sea Shanty?

A sea shanty is a traditional maritime working song, sung in a call-and-response style to keep rhythm during hard physical labour at sea. Different songs matched different tasks – from short haul shanties for raising sails to capstan shanties for weighing anchor. The very word ‘shanty’ is thought to come from the French chantez – “to sing.”

But shanties were not just about work. Sailors also sang more melodic fo’c’sle shanties in their off-duty hours, often adapted from poems, ballads, or folk songs. The Selsey Shantymen’s performances mix all these styles – and they always encourage audiences to join in with their choruses.

Upcoming Performances

The Selsey Shantymen have a packed diary of performances this season, bringing their infectious energy and maritime spirit to venues across the region:

• Sunday 7 September 2025, 2:00 pm – RNLI Selsey: Free fundraising concert to close the summer and support the lifeboat station.
• Saturday 20 September 2025, 7:00 pm – StonePillow Sleepout: Supporting the homeless charity.
• Sunday 21 September 2025 – South Downs Folk Festival.
• Wednesday 1 October 2025, 2:30 pm – Lavant Friendly Club.
• Sunday 5 October 2025 – Warner Leisure, Hayling Island.
• Saturday 1 November 2025, 7:00 pm – Pickle Night.
• Saturday 17 January 2026 – Matinee & Evening – An Evening with The Selsey Shantymen, Minerva Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre.

The Big One: Minerva Theatre, January 2026

The highlight of the Shantymen’s calendar – and their biggest gig yet – will be at the Minerva Theatre in Chichester on 17 January 2026. Part of the Chichester Festival Theatre’s Winter Season, this double performance promises to be a landmark moment for the group.

The theatre’s programme describes them perfectly:

“Selsey in West Sussex is famous for Selsey Bill, its seafood and fishing fleet, the RNLI Lifeboat station and the rousing sea shanties of The Selsey Shantymen! The Shantymen have been singing together for eight years and perform across the south of England and in Europe. They are delighted to be performing at the Minerva Theatre for the first time.”

Tickets are available now from Chichester Festival Theatre.

Selsey’s Seafaring Heritage

Selsey is more than just a picturesque town on the Sussex coast. With its fishing fleet, lifeboat crews, and proud maritime traditions, the sea is woven into everyday life. It’s even mentioned twice daily in the BBC Radio 4 Shipping Forecast. By performing shanties rooted in this history, The Selsey Shantymen keep alive the stories of mates, gaffers, skippers, heroes and rogues who lived – and sang – by the sea.

Join in the Song

As The Selsey Shantymen like to say:

“We will sing of mates and gaffers and skippers who are mad; we will sing of heroes and villains of the good and of the bad, but whatever we sing we know that you will join in every song – and if you don’t we will just go ON and ON and ON!”

To learn more, book tickets, or even enquire about joining in, visit selseyshantymen.co.uk.

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