About
Shanty Festivals
We have performed at several festivals since we began. Mevagissey, Port Isaac, Teign and Bristol as well as organising, and performing, at the
Weston-super-Mare Sea Shanty and Folk Music Festival
Steepholm
Steepholm, from which the band takes it's name is an island in the Bristol Channel visible from the beach at Weston-super-Mare. It is uninhabited and is a bird sanctuary.
The Steepholmers
The Steepholmers are a sea shanty group that formed in Weston-super-Mare in early summer 2018, with a little help from a certain popular video game with a nautical theme (seriously). We meet every Wednesday for rehearsal 7.30pm until 9pm (please call Robin on 07790 156 486 if you would like to join us) and perform a range of popular sea shanties while always remaining keen on learning new ones to enhance our repertoire. Some of us like dressing up a bit - think tricorn hats and the 'Poldark' look you won't be too far off - and we are now performing in public for community groups and at our regular monthly 'Shanty Night' in the Fork 'n' Ale .
WHo are We?
Nigel Glanville-Gittins
As the group musical director and arranger, Nigel is by far the most important person in the group. Without him, we wouldn't have got anywhere, except perhaps for producing a somewhat unorganised dirge. Nigel has been singing in choirs and pub bands since he was 8 years old. He recorded for Radio 3 at the age of 11 and has sung as one of the basses in Bristol Rock Choir - with which he has sung with Russel Watson, G4 and Kiki Dee. He is also a classically trained pianist and oboeist
Dave Townsend
Dave is another Steepholmers stalwart. Musically skilled, Dave can arrange music for us and provides musical direction in the absence of Nigel. Outside of The Steepholmers, Dave is active in local and national politics, especially in the campaign for the rights of disabled people.
Robin Whitlock
It was Robin who founded the group originally, after hearing shanties sung by characters in an Xbox 360 game called "Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag" and deciding he'd rather like to sing shanties for real. After discovering there wasn't a shanty group in Weston, he decided he'd form one instead, and thus The Steepholmers was born. Robin works from home as a freelance journalist, with all sorts of interests, including military and naval history.
David Stott
Following a career in education - and having a background in folk music, choral singing and amateur operatics and drama, David is a keen bowler and former Team Manager of Visually Impaired Bowls England. He now volunteers as National Development Officer for VIBE and is also a 'Shoreline Member' of the RNLI and member of Weston Lions. Having not had much of a musical element to his life in the years immediately prior to joining, David eagerly grasped the opportunity to become one of the original members of The Steepholmers and has written some new songs for the group - one entitled, appropriately, Steep Holm.
Jodie Read
Jodie has a great soprano voice. She has added a new dimensions to our sound and harmonies. A great assest to the band.
Bill Thomas
One of our basses with, without doubt, a bit of a sense of humour!
Cathy Mounsdon
A valuable alto that adds depth to our harmonies
Thurstan JB
Probably the deepest bass in the band, Thurstan has experience in singing in other bands/choirs
Quill Townsend
This young alto is not afraid to take on leads and is a talented singer
Photo Gallery
