A deep dive into musical sea lore.
Just you and your crew alone, against the unforgiving force of the open sea. If you want to survive, you must band together and get to work, fast. And there’s no quicker way of building camaraderie than through song. The rhythm is what binds you.
Join Manchester Collective as we chart an unlikely course through the world of sea shanties – a centuries-old folk tradition at the heart of maritime culture. At the helm is Sean Shibe, a master of the guitar in its various guises across the ages, from acoustic to electric.
There’s no one better to join the dots between the sea shanty’s rich history and its TikTok success than Ben Nobuto. The British-Japanese composer brings a whirlwind of avant-garde, contemporary classical and video game sounds, playfully reflecting our fragmented lives.
Ben Nobuto’s new work is co-commissioned by Manchester Collective and Southbank Centre, with support from The Leche Trust and The Fidelio Charitable Trust
Dates
28 Mar – London – Southbank Centre
Check times, ticket prices and access info via the booking link
Approximate runtime: 75 mins
Setlist
John Dowland Lachrimae Antiquae and Captain Digorie Piper his Galliard from Lachrimae, or Seven Teares
John Dowland Can She Excuse My Wrongs
Henry Purcell Come Away, Fellow Sailors and The Sailors’ Dance from Dido & Aeneas
Trad. arr. Donald Grant selection of sea shanties
The Unthanks Big Steamers
Henry Purcell arr. Thomas Adès Full Fathom Five
Ben Nobuto New commission
Line-up
Sean Shibe Guitar, Lute
Jonathan Morton Violin
Donald Grant Violin
Alex Mitchell Viola
Peggy Nolan Cello
Beibei Wang Percussion