Our Programme for the 2025 Festival is packed with a wide variety of exciting maritime events.

We have a fantastic line up of Artists, with concerts large and small; there are pubs and clubs, boats and trains, a Napoleonic Fort, a Palmerston Fort, a Victorian Pier, Edwardian Cinema and Georgian Church in which to enjoy the entertainment.

Artists performing at Harwich Museum (subject to change)

Robert Palomo

Sunday 12th October 12pm

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Robert Palomo is an American-born musician who resided in the historic port city of St. Petersburg, Russia for 26 years. Following the invasion of Ukraine, he and his wife, a prominent independent journalist, together with their two dogs, reluctantly abandoned Russia.

Known in maritime folk music circles for his “new old sea songs”; — a modern take on traditional maritime music – he brings a fresh perspective to seafaring tunes while honouring their rich traditions. His output extends well inland from the sea, drawing also upon his classical training and American roots music background.

Gunnar Wiegand

Sunday 12th October 2pm

Folk singers have always been the guarantors of maritime music being passed on to future generations and Gunnar Wiegand continues this tradition. He sings songs from the maritime world – shanties, sea songs, forebitters, anything to do with living and working on the water.

The stories behind the songs can be strange, funny or surprising, with new and old songs from the English and American tradition together with some from his home country of Germany.

The UK’s Premier Shanty Festival

Celebrating the songs of the sea