The Rogues Shanty Chorus
The founders of the Rogue Shanty Buoys – Stephen, Paul and Andy also run The Rogues Shanty Chorus.
…a unique choir who sing the traditional songs of fishermen and sailors.
We meet and sing within ear-shot of the Suffolk shoreline, which almost allows our music an accompaniment of the sound of waves and the sea, and are based at the Seagull Theatre – the most easterly community theatre in the United Kingdom.
The Rogues Shanty Chorus celebrate the culture and legacy of local seafaring communities by reviving the folk music that they created in order to celebrate the musical heritage and traditional customs of those who fished off of East Anglian coast. The groups sing sea shanties and arias about the sea as well as whaling songs, naval songs, working songs, foc’sle songs and romantic old century tunes of ne’er-do-wells, which includes refrains of seafarers, wreckers, smugglers and murder ballads.
The choir are a committed and passionate group who work with and within the community, producing and performing their own bespoke theatre shows (with seven complete sell-outs to date, as of 2022) as well as arranging and curating performances for charity events and other groups and services; including at older people’s residential homes; care groups, school fetes, W.I. branches and local community events and fundraisers, including for RNLI and the Fishermen’s Mission.
The choir formed in 2015 as part of a broader coastal cultural/heritage community project designed and delivered by The Voice cLoud – a not for profit arts and music organisation run by Stephen and Paul. The aim of the choir was to explore the social and historical importance of the folk music and work songs created by the fishing and seafaring communities of Suffolk and East Anglia. The project also included school workshops, talks and demonstrations at WI groups, scouting/guiding and social groups and delivery of one-off music workshops among other activities and engaged with over 4,000 participants.
The group are one of only a few shanty choirs in the UK (and as far as we are aware the only one free to attend) and promotes the social, health and wellbeing benefits of group singing whilst expanding the sharing of Lowestoft’s unique coastal, cultural and musical heritage.
New members are always welcome! If you would like to join the choir, fill in the form below, visit our Facebook page or get in touch for further information.
JOIN US!
Submit your details below and we’ll send you any further details that you need to join us – next session, times and location and anything you need to bring.
ANNOUNCEMENT October, 2022
The Voice cLoud in partnership with The Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft are DELIGHTED to have secured investment from the Arts Council, England to expand upon our highly popular The Rogues Shanty Chorus – to celebrate the folk music and associated heritage created by traditional fishing communities in North Suffolk.
The choir is led by trained musical practitioners who promote the social, health and wellbeing benefits of music and the creative arts whilst also expanding the sharing of Suffolk’s unique coastal, cultural and musical heritage.
We are really looking forward to expanding upon this wonderful project that has seen us work with people ranging from 2 – 93 years old in Waveney over the past seven years including our wonderful fishing choir The Rogues Shanty Chorus.
If you would like to find out more about this project, including how to be involved, please get in touch with us on our Facebook page, by email contact@thevoicecloud.co.uk or call Stephen 07909 510976 or Paul on 07903 105930.
2025 sessions and rehearsals
To access more information about our rehearsal venues on Google maps, including directions, just hover your cursor/mouse over the address and click.
TUESDAY 14th JANUARY, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 28th JANUARY, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 11th FEBRUARY, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 25th FEBRUARY, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 11th MARCH, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 25th MARCH, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 8th APRIL, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 22nd APRIL, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 6th MAY, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 20th MAY, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 3rd JUNE, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 17th JUNE, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
Please note that this is NOT a standard session – we will be joined by people taking part in the ‘Sunrise Upon Us’ and this session will be dedicated to practising that song. Consequently, we will not be singing from our usual repertoire.
If you are not taking part but wish to come along anyway, you are very welcome to do so.
TUESDAY 1st JULY, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 15th JULY, 7:30pm
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS NO SESSION ON THIS EVENING!
TUESDAY 29th JULY, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
** SUMMER BREAK **
TUESDAY 9th SEPTEMBER, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 7th OCTOBER, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 21st OCTOBER, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 4th NOVEMBER, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 18th NOVEMBER, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 2nd DECEMBER, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
TUESDAY 16th DECEMBER, 7:30pm
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, NR33 0JH
We will advise whether this session is taking place nearer the time
REPERTOIRE AND SONG LIST
To check out our repertoire and download or print songs so that you are ready to join us in rehearsal, please click on the button below.
PERFORMANCES
This information below is for existing choir members about upcoming performances
SUNDAY 22nd JUNE, 1.00-1.30pm
First Light Festival
Garden Stage (Kensington Gardens)
The Rogues Shanty Chorus very own slot at First Light Festival
Arrive from 12.30pm
Songs will be advised on the day
SATURDAY 28th JUNE, 1.30-2.00pm & 2.30-3.00pm
Beccles Hospital Fete
Beccles Hospital, St. Marys Road, Beccles, NR34 9NQ
Sallie will be leading these performances
Arrive from, 1.00pm
Parking will be very limited onsite
SUNDAY 13th JULY, 1.00pm +
Seaside Weekend
East Anglian Transport Museum, Chapel Rd, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft NR33 8BL
Sallie will be leading this performance
Arrive from, 12.30pm
Car sharing may be required – Charles will advise
SUNDAY 2nd NOVEMBER, 7.00pm
‘Lowestoft Fishermen, Tales Of Heroism’
The Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft, NR33 0JH
Our own show – surely another sellout!!
Details will (as usual) follow nearer the time