Building upon our desire to continue to improve on the success of the Sea Ilfracombe Maritime Festival, in 2025 we were very proud to present what was undoubtedly one of our most popular musical line ups to date plus we only had a little bit of rain! So for our 17th year in 2026 we are welcoming back some old favourites and some new local talent young and not so young.
We really do have something for everyone as we feature Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Funk, Shanty, Ska, Vocal Harmonies a helping of Galic abandonment and much, much more.
And all this for FREE!
Saturday 5th September 2026
Over Two Main Stages
Music starts at 1230 Curfew 2200
The Ilfracombe Town Council Stage
The TBC Stage
Born in the heart of Ilfracombe, Scuttlebutt Shanty is a lively community sea shanty crew that has quickly become one of North Devon’s best-loved maritime music groups. Blending powerful harmonies with traditional sea shanties, original songs and plenty of pirate-inspired fun, the crew brings energy, humour and audience participation to every performance. They regularly perform at festivals and community events across the South West while proudly supporting local charities, including the RNLI.
The group rehearses and performs weekly in Ilfracombe, welcoming locals and visitors alike to join in the singing and celebrate the area’s rich maritime heritage. Their passion for keeping the traditions of the sea alive makes them the perfect ambassadors for the town’s vibrant coastal community.
We are delighted that Scuttlebutt Shanty will officially open the Sea Ilfracombe Maritime Festival with a rousing performance at 12:30pm on Saturday 5th June, setting the tone for a fantastic weekend celebrating our coastal community and maritime heritage. Expect stirring sea songs, infectious enthusiasm and a warm Ilfracombe welcome that will have everyone ready to join the festivities.
You can find out more about Highway over on their Facebook page – HERE
In their own words
Nothing But Treble are an acoustic band with a focus on three part harmony based in North Devon.
You can find out more details over on their Facebook page – HERE
Hailing from the shores of St Austell Bay in Cornwall, The Press Gang have been entertaining audiences with powerful harmonies, foot-stomping sea shanties and evocative maritime songs since 2012. Blending traditional shanties with songs celebrating Cornwall’s rich coastal heritage, the group has earned a reputation as one of the South West’s most engaging and accomplished vocal acts.
Known for their energetic performances and warm audience interaction, The Press Gang breathe new life into classic seafaring songs while adding their own distinctive arrangements and Cornish character. Their repertoire ranges from rousing work songs once sung aboard sailing ships to stirring ballads and contemporary maritime favourites, making every performance both entertaining and memorable.
Regular performers at major sea shanty festivals, theatres, concerts and community events across the UK, The Press Gang have built a loyal following thanks to their infectious enthusiasm and authentic love of Cornwall’s maritime traditions. Whether performing in an intimate harbour-side venue or on a festival stage, they never fail to get audiences singing along.
Sea Ilfracombe is delighted to welcome The Press Gang to the 2026 Maritime Festival, where their blend of traditional seafaring songs, Cornish spirit and outstanding vocal harmonies promises to be a festival highlight.
We have a very special artist performing at Sea Ilfracombe this year and we are very proud to introduce Ruby Darbyshire.
DO NOT MISS THIS PERFORMANCE!
On Saturday you get two helpings of sea shanties, well we are a Maritime Festival!
Making their Sea Ilfracombe debut we welcome the wonderful Lynmouth Shanty Crew
In their own words
The Lynmouth Shanty Crew are based in Lynmouth on Exmoor, where the moor meets the sea. We enjoy singing a broad range of shanties and sea songs, and we can usually be found in The Ancient Mariner, Lynmouth on a Thursday night.
Check them out over on their Facebook page – HERE
The popular local covers band return to the festival by popular demand. So make sure you get down here and catch them on Saturday evening.
Check them out on Facebook – HERE
Ever popular and back to close out the Saturday night at the 2025 Festival, this 6 piece Ska/Reggae tribute band never fail to fill the dancefloor.
Bring your dancing shoes!
Check them out on Facebook
Sunday 31st August
Over two Main Stages
Music starts at 1300 Curfew 1800
The Devonshire Homes Stage
The Fullabrook CIC Stage
Follow The Press Gang on Facebook
Alternative French fusion with a drizzle of Gallic cool and a whiff of bohemian funk – What’s not to like ? Gypfunk are one of the highlights of the festival and their crowd will be pulling off some fantastic dance moves again! Not seen them, check out the Sea Ilfracombe Facebook page for past videos plus check out Gypfunk on their own Facebook page – HERE
To close off your weekend of fantastic music we have the ever popular Greater Good in their FULL BAND mode!
You can guarantee that there will be some great floor fillers and sing a long classics for everyone, so make sure you get here early grab yourself a drink and be prepared to be entertained by one of Ilfracombe’s and North Devon’s best Live Acts.
In the words of Charmain
We’ve played Sea Ilfracombe Maritime Festival for the last few years as a duo and this year we are really excited to be finishing the Sunday off as a band!
It’s such a fantastic weekend with so much to do, see, eat and drink, so come and join us late Sunday afternoon to finish the weekend in style! 🎶 🏴☠️ 🌊
We have a special treat to close the festival this year as Press Gang, the Lynmouth Shanty Crew and Ilfracombe’s very own Scuttlebutt’s take to the stage as a massed shanty ensemble.
As with all things “live” artists and timings are subject to change, so on the day please keep an eye out for any updates that will be announced on the festival site as necessary.
Rewind to 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019 and 2018!
The sun returned to shine over our double stage set up in 2024 sponsored by Fullabrook CIC and TDK. Everyone seemed to be even more involved this year as more people took to dancing all day and into the night in front of our amazing artists who once again delivered and much, much more. As the sun set, the crowd for The Nomads on the Saturday was very impressive and we were treated to the very best of shanty sets from Anchors Aweigh and Pressgang.
2023 saw the two stage set up continue, and we were blessed with glorious sunshine. There was much dancing, especially from the younger crowd who were loving being right in front of the stage doing their thing.
2022 saw the two stage set up continue, which despite a few showers continued to be a success. The shanty tones of Anchors Aweigh and Press Gang were very well received with the return of Gypfunk and a festival 1st appearance from The Greater Good getting people up and dancing. Both Basils Blues Band and The Nomads packed the front of stage with fantastic performances ensuring everyone went home happy.
2021 saw a change in the stage set up as things were moved from within the huge marquee to our twin outdoor staging, less time between band changes equaled more music! Again a great mix of music with Gypfunk on the Sunday bringing a huge smile to eveyone’s faces after having been truly woken up by some hard rock courtesy of Highway.
2019 featued the ever popular sea shanty bands (before they even became a worldwide phenomenon) but an eclectic mix of magical acts saw The Rivals, Such & Vincent, Samba and Sonic Fusion play awesome sets to a marquee full of happy dancing festival-goers of all ages
2018 saw not only the return of the popular sea shanty bands but an eclectic mix ranging from blues, rock, folk, popular acoustic, pop, rock & roll, soul, jazz funk and ska.
Saturday night l2018 saw The Liquidators play to a packed marquee of ska fans whilst folk rock duo Sound of the Sirens closed the festival with an amazing set on Sunday evening.
