THE first-ever Sea-Shanty Festival will take place in Barry this summer with more than 40 singers celebrating 200 years of the RNLI saving lives.

The weekend event is the first of its kind for Wales and takes place from Saturday, June 1 until Sunday, June 2 across six venues in Barry.

RNLI will be celebrating its 200th anniversary on Monday, March 4, with a series of events around the Vale of Glamorgan and UK.

The Festival of the Sea will be hosted on Sunday, June 2, at the island gardens and the promenade and will include live music and entertainment.

Peter Cox, one of the organisers of the event, said: “I am part of a shanty group called Bois-y-Bryn in Cwmbran and we have attended sea shanty events across the UK.

“The event ties in with the festival of the sea to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the RNLI on Sunday and I feel proud to bring the first Sea Shanty Festival to Wales.

“Sea shanties have become popular, especially during lockdown with Nathan Evans and his song of Wellerman and we want to bring a more varied event for the people of Barry.”

Mr Cox, from Newport, told the Barry and District News that he hopes the event will bring more people to Barry.

He added: “Barry Island is a great place to go, if you look at all the places a lot of them are within walking distance.

“We have bands from Cornwall, Bristol and further afield coming to the event and I am proud to be organising the first one for Wales.”

The six venues that have been confirmed are Finnegans, The Bierkeller, Ship Inn, Barry Yacht Club, The marquee near the RNLI and the Mount Hotel.

Saturday, June 1, will see bands from Cwmbran, Bristol, Cornwall, and other parts of the UK perform traditional maritime songs with free live music and more.

The festival of the sea for the 200th anniversary of the RNLI on Sunday, June 2, will see more live music, street food, artisan makers, a lifeboat display by Barry Dock Lifeboats, children’s events and entertainment, and health and wellbeing stands.