IN PICTURES: Songs and smiles at third edition of the Albany International Folk’n Shanty Festival

Musicians travelled from interstate and as far afield as Canada for the 2022 Albany International Folk’n Shanty Festival last week. The third edition of the festival started on Friday and kept four venues busy at the weekend, namely the Albany Club, Earl of Spencer Historic Inn, Six Degrees and Premier Hotel. The festival is best known for its shanty groups, but there was plenty of variety on offer from artists such as James “Banjo Werm” McAnulty and Deb “Spoons” Perry. The program also featured daily poets breakfasts and an interactive audience singing session with Albany’s Playlist Choir. The inaugural shanty tug-of-war was a highlight, with The Anchormen from Bunbury getting the better of The Albany Shantymen in a gruelling contest outside the Albany Boatshed on Sunday morning. The festival culminated in the Shipload of Shanty finale at the Premier Hotel on Sunday night.