Dreadnoughts to headline Historic Lewes Shanty Fest May 16-17

The inaugural Shanty Fest will hold events from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, May 16, and from 1 to 7 p.m., Saturday, May 17, at the Historic Lewes Town Campus, 110 Shipcarpenter St.

Kicking off the weekend from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, will be a VIP acoustic session with The Dreadnoughts, limited to an audience of 25, at the Sussex Tavern. The high-energy band is known for blending sea shanties with punk rock and European folk. 

Sea shanty bands will perform throughout the main event Saturday, celebrating Lewes’ maritime heritage through music, art, food trucks, refreshments and hands-on history. Local tattoo artists will offer live demonstrations inspired by maritime and folk traditions.

The music lineup includes Ship’s Company Chanteymen at 1 p.m., Sussex Shanty Singers in the tavern at 2 p.m., The Susquehanna Shantymen at 2:30 p.m., and Bards of Gungywamp 
at 3:30 p.m. An open shanty sing will take place in the tavern at 4 p.m., followed by My Druthers at 4:30 p.m.

The Dreadnoughts will give an electrifying performance at 5:30 p.m. to close out the fest.

To learn more, go to historiclewes.org/event.