Old Gaffers
Old Gaffers is the name of our shanty crew, based in the South Hams of Devon. All members have some association with the sea and have been singing traditional songs for many years. We can be seen and heard performing from a large repertoire of songs at a number of different venues throughout the year. For more details, see our ‘gigs’ page.
You can listen to samples from the forthcoming album on the listen page. If you’d like to book Old Gaffers for your venue or event please get in touch through the contact page.
In the meantime, you can read our news articles below.
Open Evening for Grayhound Lugger Sailing
Old Gaffers will be performing at the Fundraising Open Evening celebrating the progress in the build of the magnificent ‘Grayhound’ lugger.
A fun, festive night is planned with music and stories, licensed bar, mulled wine, cider , spicy fruit punch and mince pies, hot food available from the marina cafe stand, chestnut soup & warm turkey and stuffing baguettes.
The evening is in the boat shed so it will be dry but wrap up warm. All welcome , all proceeds go towards the boat build.
Friday 16th of December 2011, 5pm – 10pm
Voyager Yachts, Southdown Quay, Millbrook, Cornwall, PL10 1HG.
For more information, visit www.grayhoundlugger.blogspot.com
Fishstock Festival, Brixham
Fishstock, Brixham
Old Gaffers performed on Saturday 11 September 2011 at the Fishstock Festival in Brixham. We had an enjoyable set lasting about 50 minutes, and a good number of audience members for the entire show. Earlier in the crew enjoyed the performance by Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends, and some of them were kind enough to watch us in return (looking for tips we suspect).
East Ogwell – 20 August
East Ogwell, August 2011
The folk of East Ogwell soon hope to be hearing ringing in their ears. On Saturday 20th August 2011 the Old Gaffers provided the entertainment at a barbecue to raise funds for the church bells. A delicious array of salads accompanied the barbecued items followed by scrumptious puddings. At one point in the performance the smoke nearly over whelmed the performers but they battled manfully on aided by their throat-lubricating pints of beer. The singing was appreciated so much an invitation to the village summer fete in 2012 was issued.
Kingsbridge – Royal British Legion 90th anniversary
Kingsbridge, July 2011
On Saturday 9th July the Old Gaffers helped The Royal British Legion celebrate its 90th anniversary. We entertained the crowds, on the town square in Kingsbridge, for a well-received 30 minutes. This was extended, by special request, as the following act failed to show. An impromptu performance in The British Legion Club completed a successful afternoon.
Kingsbridge Celebration, Sunday 19 June
An enjoyable gig, which was a performance at the event celebrating the 550th anniversary of establishment of the Kingsbridge Charter. The Old Gaffers did two 25-minute slots and they went down very well with the audience – as usual!
Also performing were Compagnie Giulia, and a ceilidh with the ever-brilliant Rumpus.
Teignmouth Folk Festival 2011
We had a great day on Saturday 18 June, singing a couple of sets to great reception in the Courtenay (where we were rewarded with free beer – thank you Landlord!).
Singing in the open air a while later at the Triangle, we were joined by a couple of enthusiastic singers and had a good audience that seemed to enjoy our songs. A great atmosphere and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Thanks Teignmouth FF – see you again!
‘Tis Our Lot
We’ve just finished recording our first CD and decided to call it ‘Tis Our Lot. We are pretty pleased with the finished product (surprised, even) and are now working on the art work so that we can get it reproduced. Watch this space for further news!
In the meantime you can hear samples here on our website.
Victoria Inn, Salcombe, 21 April
A packed crowd gave a warm reception to the Old Gaffers, with the regular members plus a couple of Spare Parts. With passers-by watching and listening through the windows to the bar, it was clear that the singing was appreciated. This impression was underlined when a member of the dining audience kindly bought every man a drink – now that’s something we think we could get used to!
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