24th annual International Shanty (or
Chantey) Festival
Friday 14 October - Monday 17 October -
Workum 2011 (The Netherlands)
The festival will be held from Friday October 14 until Monday October 17
in the Friesian harbour town of Workum. Scroll down this page or use the
blue links to find information about the
performers, the program,
tickets, how to travel,
housing.

Jim Mageean in Workum
The festival is always very pleased, proud and honoured to welcome, year
after year, many guests and visitors from all over Europe and the United
States. The festival hopes to see them again this year, and also hopes to
welcome new visitors. But beware; this famous festival is extremely
addictive! If you want to come to the festival and need support such as
transportation or a place to stay, don't hesitate to contact the
organization. Mail your question to:
Anneke van der Wal. But first try it yourself on the website of
Tourist Information:
Tourist Information: VVV Workum. This site is only in Dutch and
German though. You can mail the tourist information with a question in
English at
info@vvvworkum.nl
The festival provides concerts, singalongs, theatre,
harbour acts and an open stage.
The focus in 2011 is on
't Kliekske(Belgium),
Four 'n' Aft
from UK and
Jim Mageean.
Other groups will perform with shanties in the harbour.
As always, the festival begins a week of sailing events with traditional
vessels, the so-called Strontrace(www.strontraceworkum.nl).
Therefore part of the festival will be held in the harbour of the old
Zuiderzee city of Workum. The start of the race with traditional ships built
for the inland waters is on the Monday.
Programm 2011
Friday Oktober 14
With : Rosita & Herman Dewit.
Time : 8 pm
location : Jopie Huisman Museum
Admission : € 7,50(incl. coffee or thee)
Saterday Oktober 15
'Om de Loden Kiel 2011'
Time : 1 pm
location : water "The Dolte" behind the church
Admission : free
A wooden shoe race for children.
± 2.30 pm Concert for children, with children after the race has
finished (admission is free)in the church.
Shanty concert
Time : 7.30 pm
Location : Doopsgezinde kerk
Admission : € 15,-- A shantyconcert with Jim Mageean, (UK) 't Kliekske
(B)and Four 'n' Aft (UK)
Liereliet
Time : 23 pm
Location : De Klameare
Admission : € 3,--
A Singaround for shanties, everyone can join
Sunday Oktober 16
Time : 11 am.
Location : De Klameare
Admission : € 10,--
Koffieconcert in the Klameare with Jim Mageean, 't Kliekske and Four 'n' Aft
1 pm. Traditional sailor and ship market with music in the harbour (Free
admission)
Open Stage
Time : 3 pm
Location : Scheepstimmerwerf "De Hoop" with Dutch Courage
visitors admission : € 5,--
Individual artists and groups up to 5 or 6 persons will perform
authentic shanties. This is your chance to perform at Workum. Sign up as
soon as possible to be sure of your performance. Please contact
Hans Weehuizen.
Zonder deining
Time : 5 pm
Location : De Klameare
Admission : € 8,--
A concert without any maritime character, but with the best of their
folksongs in all languages
Meal in the Klameare
Only in combination with a ticket of a concert
Time : 6.30 pm Cost : € 12,50
De 4Tuoze Matroze
Sample and experience the raw seafaring life with the 4Tuoze Matroze.
Time : 8 pm
Location : De Klameare
Admission : € 8,--
't Kliekske
Quit an understanding in Vlaanderen.
For many years collecting, playing and recording these traditional Vlaamse
songs and reconstruction old traditional instruments, 't Kliekske was named
to be "Cultural ambassador of Vlaanderen" in 1995. From their extensive
repertoire the group can compose a complete program for children, for
Christmas and songs from the 'deep-sea'. This is going to be the theme at
their performing in Liereliet concerts. Sea shanties from Vlaanderen and the
deep-sea, the entertainment on shore and homesickness far away. Presenting
this with a lot of humour, accompanied with traditional instruments and
illustrated with tough sailor stories.
Four 'n' Aft
Four 'n' Aft became a group in 2002. As Chris and Ian and Helen and
Steve met each other so often at a lot of festivals they thought to
start to sing as a group. As 'Loctup Together' Chris & Ian sang together
for about 20 years and Steven & Helen for about 15 years.
They are the masters of harmony, and their renditions are reflective and
at times powerful. They have been at many festivals in Poland, Norway,
France and Germany, but never at the Liereliet-festival in Workum. They
love to sing with the audience as their choir.
Four 'n' Aft loves to
sing and it shows.
Jim Mageean
I started singing as a very young child, learning songs from my
grandmother, but didn’t know they were folk songs until much later.
In 1963 I went to my first folk club as a teenager in Newcastle upon
Tyne.
I fell in love with the songs and particularly the sea shanties which
were regularly sung there by Louis Killen, Johnny Handle and others.
Then in 1964 I went to my first folk festival in Scarborough, Yorkshire
and there I met Stan Hugill who was singing there with The Spinners (my
favourite group at that time). It was a life changing experience. I’m so
glad I went there.
I started writing to Stan and invited him to Newcastle where he did a
short tour.
I’ve been singing shanties ever since and through them I came to meet my
singing partner for 35 years, Johnny Collins, who passed away in 2009
when we were in Gdansk. For 30 years Johnny and I sang at the Workum
Festival and made many friends there. It was always our favourite and,
for us, the best shanty festival in Europe.
2009 was the first year that I sang at Workum without Johnny and it was
difficult for me but I know he would have wanted me to go on singing
these great songs and keep his memory (and Stan’s) alive.
Johnny Collins & Jim Mageean
Johnny Collins & Jim Mageean have cheered up the opening of the
Strontrace for the past 26 years with their powerful duets and inspiring
chorus songs. They have been the backbone of the annual song festival since
its origin. The two British singers joined up as a duo in 1975 and have been
performing at maritime festivals all over the world. They always manage to
surprise their audience with new songs and they challenge the Frisian
audience with fresh choruses.
Their first experience as a duo was at the start of the Strontrace in
1980 which was held at the occasion of the third Frisian Tsjoch Festival
(its 29th anniversary is held on 16 th September). They were instantly
enchanted with the audience and haven’t missed a Tsjoch Festival since.
Johnny and Jim perform together as well as solo or with other musicians. Jim
sings with The Keelers, a shany group dat frequented the Shanty Festival
Workum in the 1990s. Johnny travels around the planet as solo shanty singer.
Since 1960 he has been a frequent guest at folk festivals in his native
country where he is famous for his shanties and traditional songs,
accompanying himself on the guitar.
Their close link with the Shanty Festival Workum has been established on
two CDs: ‘Strontrace’ and ‘Coming of Age’, both recorded live during the
Workum Shanty Festival. Johnny Collins & Jim Mageean are highly appreciated
performers and experts in historical facts and usage of shanties.
Monday October 17,
12 pm: Free admisssion
Traditional sailor and ship market with music in the harbour by Dutch
groups
1 pm: Free admission
Start of the traditional boat races and fishing days; Stront- and Beurtrace
and Fishing days (www.strontraceworkum.nl)
Tickets
Tickets are required for most concerts. Some other activities are free
of charge. There will be tickets at the counters but to be sure of access,
it's better to make a reservation After september 15th call: 0031-515-543377
or e-mail to
ticket@liereliet.nl.
Do you want to support the Workum Festival? Then you can become member.
Call Rob Laarhoven tel: 0031-512-544692 or email:
shantyfestival@antenna.nl
To perform at the Open Stage,
Sunday, October 16 please contact Jan Buijs
Take a sail in the Beurtrace
On Monday the cargoboats will leave on a round trip to Amsterdam. In the
old days they took passengers and that is what they do now. You have to work
a little, though. To make a reservation for this amazing trip call 0031 75
6212667 of email to
fam.swart@hccnet.nl.
For more information and prices:
www.zeilvracht.nl

Traditional ships
loaded with dried cow manure (stront = manure) leave Workum.
How to get to Workum
Workum is a harbour town in the province of Friesland. It is situated on
the IJsselmeer. When you come by car, there won't be any problem. The
town has free parking.
As for public transportation there are busses, but it will be faster to
come by train. First travel to the town of Leeuwarden, then take the train
to Stavoren and exit at Workum station, this takes more that half an hour.
The train leaves every hour from Leeuwarden, 22 minutes past the hour. The
last train is at 10.22 pm.
If you take a plane to the Netherlands you will arrive at Schiphol
Airport, Amsterdam. From here there are trains to Leeuwarden. Sometimes
there is a direct line, but most of the time you will have to take 1 or 2
trains (change at Amersfoort and Zwolle) Trains leave twice every hour. From
Leeuwarden, you take the train to Stavoren and exit at Workum station. The
whole trip will take approximately 3 hours.
Information airport:
Schiphol
Information trains:
Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Workum station is just outside the town. It is walkable. If you need a
ride you can try to contact the organization of the festival, so someone can
pick you up.
Where to stay
Workum is a popular tourist attraction. Lodgings and restaurants are no
problem in Workum. For housing you can find a good overview on B&Bs and
hotels on the website:
www.vvvworkum.nl. For contact tourist information mail to
info@vvvworkum.nl
There is even a camp site, if you want to bring a camper or caravan. (this
site is only in Dutch and German). You can mail the tourist information with
a question in English at vvvworkum.nl or contact the organization of the
festival.
If there is important information missing or if you see any mistakes on
the page, please contact the webmaster. Mail to the
webmaster