THIS year’s Festival of the Sea has been moved from Barry Island to Newport, with organisers citing logistical problems as the reason for the change.
In early June last year, musicians from south Wales, Bristol, Cornwall and elsewhere gathered on Barry Island to perform traditional sea shanty maritime songs, and the festival also included a performance from the Vale of Glamorgan Brass Band.
The event was organised by Bois y Bryn, a sea shanty band based in Cwmbran, in conjunction with the RNLI, who incorporated it as part of their bicentenary celebrations.
Events were held at Finnegans, The Bierkeller, Ship Inn, Barry Yacht Club, the Mount Hotel and at a marquee near the RNLI, where Bois y Bryn performed a foot-tapping, audience-engaging yet harmonious range of shanty and folk music, including some with a Welsh flavour.
The festival attracted a large crowd and raised around £4,500 for the RNLI. Organisers provisionally announced that a similar event would be staged this year, but following a number of logistical hurdles, they have decided to relocate the festival to Newport. Peter Cox, a member of the organising committee said: “There’s no sour grapes from us because we had such a wonderful time last year, but attempts to liaise with Barry Town Council, the Vale Council and other local bodies haven’t gone as well as we’d hoped, so we’ve decided to relocate to Newport for this year’s festival.
“We’ve been welcomed in Newport by their council, the business community and other organisations, which has been a breath of fresh air.
“The big advantage Barry Island brought was that many of our musical performances took place overlooking the sea, but in other ways, Newport offered us a better option.
“All the venues we’ll use this year are under cover so weather is not a prerequisite. The venues are in close proximity and major transport links are better. There’s a railway station in Barry Island and a limited bus service, but it’s not the easiest of places to get to, and there’s also only a small amount of hotel capacity in the area.
“In terms of costs, it works out at 85% cheaper to host it in Newport. We’d rather be by the sea, but I haven’t won the lottery, though Newport also has its plus points. They even have a rich maritime history with the medieval ship,” he said.
Peter thanked the Barry community for their help in making last year’s festival a success and hopes to perform again in the area one day: “It was a pleasure to hold a sea shanty musical event on Barry Island. Most of these festivals are held in southwestern England and East Anglia, but with our maritime tradition and beautiful coastline, it’s great to be able to host an event in south Wales.
“I can understand why people in and around Barry are disappointed that we won’t be returning this summer, but I’d encourage as many people as possible to come along to Newport on 31st May and 1st June to enjoy the singing and fun,” he said.
Photo: Vale Council.
Cllr Bronwen Brooks, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Sustainable Places, said: “The Vale of Glamorgan Council helped stage the Festival of the Seas Sea Shanty Festival on Barry Island last year in conjunction with the RNLI bicentenary celebrations.
“The Council was fully supportive of the event returning to Barry Island this year – Council events staff met with the organisers and offered the use of facilities – however the organisers decided to move the event to another location.”
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